Dhaka
More than 1500 years old city, Dhaka became capital of the country in 1608
under the Mughal rule. During ancient and medieval periods the city was known to
the world for its unique product, the Muslin – the finest fabric ever produced in
the world. As the capital of Bangladesh it has grown into a bustling city of trades
and commerce, cultural and sport activities, vibrating with full of life. The city
has two parts – the old part and the new part. The old part is known as the Old
Dhaka, which developed during the Mughal period. With the happy blending of the
old and new architectural trends, traditions and modernization, Dhaka has been expanding
so fast since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.
Now the city of Dhaka is filled with history, tradition and culture. It has
endless numbers of activities, attractions accommodations and business opportunities.
National Assembly
This striking building, known as Sangsad Bhaban, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the new
part of the Dhaka City is one of the best examples of modern architectures in the
world. The central octagonal block of the building rises to a height of 155 feet.
The building made of concrete and white marble stone and designed by the world renowned
American architect Luis Kahn, being assisted by a famous Bangladesh architect, Mazharul
Islam, was completed in 1982. It is one of the largest legislative complexes in
the world.
Shaheed Minar - Central Monument for the Martyrs of Language Movement
The symbol of nationalism, the Shaheed Minar, is a national monument established
to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during the historic Language Movement
demonstrations of 1952. All subsequent movements, including the Liberation War,
in the country gathered inspiration from this monument. Today, the Shaheed Minar
is the centre of cultural activities in Dhaka. The columns of the monument are constructed
with pure marble stone upon a 4.3 m high stage. The stairs and railings are painted
white to create a heavenly appearance.
National Museum
The museum, located at Shahbag, started its journey in 1913. It has very rich collections
of a large number of sculptures, paintings, old coins, metal images, silver filigree,
calligraphy, folk art and handicrafts etc. of ancient and medieval periods. The
museum is well organized and displays have been housed in several departments like
department of ethnography and decorative art, department of history and classical
art, department of natural history, and department of contemporary and world civilization.
National Memorial
The striking 50m high memorial is located at Savar 35 km northwest of Dhaka. It
has been built to commemorate the numerous martyrs of the War of Liberation. The
Monument tower is composed of seven isosceles triangular planes, each varying in
size in its height and base. The planes are folded at the middle and placed one
after another. The Monument complex is spread over an area of 34 hectares wrapped
around by a green belt of 10 hectares. Some of the beautifully kept grounds of the
Monument contain the mass graves of some of those slaughtered in the War of Liberation.
Lalbagh Fort
It is an old Mughal fort in the southwestern part of Dhaka City. The construction
of the fort was commenced in 1678 by a Mughal prince, Muhammad Azam. The fort, with
its three gateways, is a combination of three buildings: the Diwan-i-Aam or Audience
Hall with a Hamam Khana or Turkish bath downstairs, the Tomb of Pari Bibi and the
mosque. The fort covers 18 acres of land. Of the three gateways of the fort, the
southern one is the most imposing. Seen from the front, it is a three-storied structure
with a front-on, bordered with slender minarets. The southern fortification wall
of the fort running westward from the South Gateway stretches up to the huge bastion
in the southwestern corner of the fort. On the southern part of the fort there are
utility buildings, and its western part accommodates a beautiful roof-garden, with
arrangements for fountains and a water reservoir. The double-storied Diwan-i-Aam
is an imposing building. The Hammam complex includes an open platform, a small kitchen,
an oven, water storage area, a masonry brick bath-tub, a toilet, a dressing room
and an extra room. It has an underground room for boiling. The tomb of Bibi Pari,
located in the center, is the most impressive of the surviving buildings of the
fort. Eight rooms surround a central square room that contains the mortal remains
of Bibi Pari. The central room is covered by a false octagonal-shaped dome, wrapped
by a bronze plate.
Ahsan Manzil
Ahsan Manzil is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Bangladesh.
It was built in 1872 in the style of Indo-Saracen Revival architecture on the bank
of the river Buriganga. Also known as the Pink Palace for its color, the two-storied
building stands on a raised platform of one meter. The lofty dome of the palace
stands 27.13m above the ground. Once the residential palace of the Nabob of Dhaka,
its now houses a splendid museum, which gives a good insight into the luxurious
life-style of the past Nabobs of Dhaka.
Star Mosque
Star Mosque, locally known as Tara Masjid, is located in old part of Dhaka. The
early 18th century picturesque mosque has ornate designs and is decorated with motifs
of blue stars, thus it has got the name. Originally three domes crowned the mosque,
the central one being the larger; now it has got five domes. Towers accented the
corners of this typical Mughal style mosque and the façades display plastered panel
decoration. The mosque is one of the few remaining architectural example of the
Chinitikri (Chinese pieces) method of mosaic decoration. Curiously, a very interesting
decorative element, the Japanese Fujiyama motif, is found on the surface between
the doors.
Dhakeshwari National Temple
Dhakeshwari National Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Dhaka first built in 12th
century, and later rebuilt and renovated numerous times. This state-owned temple
is the ‘National Temple’. The name ‘Dhakeshwari’ means ‘Goddess of Dhaka’. Dhakeshwari
Temple is the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh. The four Siva
temples in a line inside the temple complex are covered by tall pyramidal roofs
of curvilinear Bangla style – an indigenous style of Bangladesh.
Sadarghat River Front
Sadarghat River Front, located in the southern part of Dhaka, on the river Burignaga,
is one of the most dynamic places in Dhaka. Here, the Sadarghat Lunch Terminal is
one of the largest river ports in the world. About 200 large and small passenger
launches (motorized boats) depart and arrive at the terminal every day. According
to the officials at the terminal, 30,000 people, in average, use the terminal for
departure and arrival every day. At this place the scene of hundreds of country
boats laden with passengers and merchandise crossing the river is fascinating.
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery Located near the central railway station at Kamalapur,
this monastery was established in 1962. The complex houses the main Shrine, the
international prayer dormitory, an academy for fine arts and Nikko Niwano Clinic.
The main monastery enshrines a marble stone statue of Buddha, made in the 12th century
AD. There is also a bronze statue of immense religious value, which came as a gift
from the Thai Government. The thousand year old black stone Buddha, many other statues
from many parts of the world, the holy ash relic of great Buddhist scholar Atish
Dipankar (1Oth century AD) are among the historical treasures preserved in this
monastery for worship by devotees.
Sonargaon
On the Dhaka-Chittagong highway about 29 km south of Dhaka, Sonargaon is one of
the oldest capitals of Bangladesh. Sonargaon is the eastern terminus of the Grand
Trunk Road which was built by Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya (ruled c. 320 BC – 298
BC) and later renovated by Emperor Sher Shah (1486 – 1545 AD). The highway extended
approximately 2500 kilometers from Bangladesh across northern India to Peshwar in
Pakistan. At present, Panam Nagar (the City of Panam), now a dead city, more than
five hundred years old Goaldi Mosque, the Folklore Museum that houses artifacts
from every cultural trait of the country are the main attractions of Sonargaon.