Dhaka, the historic city and capital of Bangladesh, lies on the Buriganga River. The river connects the city with all major inland ports in the country, contributing to its trade and commerce, as it has done for centuries.
The old part of the city, to the south of the center and on the banks of the river, is dominated both by the commercial bustle of the waterfront and several old buildings. These include the uncompleted 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, the stately Ahsan Manzil palace and museum (sometimes referred to as the pink palace), the Chotta Katra and a large number of mosques. To the north of this region is the European quarter (also known as British City), which contains the Banga Bhavan, the presidential palace, several parks, the Dhakeswari Temple and the National Museum. It is worth noting the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery near Central Railway Station at Kamalapur (established in 1962), which enshrines the thousand-year-old black stone Buddha. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens are a bus or taxi ride into the suburbs. The waterfront has two main water transport terminals at Sadarghat and Badam Tali, located on the Buckland Road Bund. The famous ‘Rocket’ ferries dock here and boats can also be hired. There are many buildings of interest along the river and in the old part of the city. The Khan Mohammed Mirdha Mosque and the Mausoleum of Pari Bibi are worth a visit, as are the Baldha Gardens with their collection of rare plants. There are dozens of mosques and bazaars to visit – the Kashaitully Mosque is especially beautiful.
The modern part of the city comprises the diplomatic and commercial regions and is to be found further north in areas such as Motijheel and Gulshan.
City tours of Dhaka and its environs are available: contact the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation for further information.