Dhaka

Few people think about spending a vacation in Bangladesh. For me, Bangladesh has always been both an attractive and scary place. Attractive because it is only here throughout the country that people speak Bengali (in the language I taught). It’s scary because there are a lot of rumors about the religious component of the country, because there are a lot of rules that are difficult to follow, and because it is simply dangerous in Bangladesh. From my story, I would like to give the most objective point of view on what is still the capital of the People's Republic of Bangladesh - Dhaka.

Dhaka is the largest city in Bangladesh; population density is one of the highest in the world. The entire territory of the city is used so carefully that the few city parks have become real oases for those who love hiking. Suitable places for walking in Dhaka are necessarily surrounded by a fence, otherwise they turn into a roadway, field or place for the construction of a new building, store.

I am of the opinion that Dhaka is a city for a sophisticated traveler who is not looking for a place to have fun for 10 days of vacation, but trying to learn other cultures and is interested in the way of life of people from the other end of the world.

And, finally, in the introduction I want to add that if you do not focus on the conventional wisdom that Dhaka is a stuffy and dirty city, it will open from the pleasant side: after all, the history of independent Bangladesh was created here, monuments to the national language were erected here, it is better here the contrast of history and modernity, wealth and poverty is visible. And people in Bangladesh are so open and responsive that you will love them at first sight.

How to get there

I was very positive about Dhaka, and the city answered me with hospitality and friendliness. And Dhaka begins for a traveler arriving from Russia from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (Zia International Airport), since you can only get to Dhaka from Russia by plane.

Of course, you can try to get to Dhaka through other countries: for example, via India. In this case, not only a plane is suitable for you, but also a train and a bus. However, in this case, you will encounter a number of inconveniences:

  • A simple tourist visa for 30 days is issued only at the airport: if you arrive in Bangladesh by land, you need to take care of the visa in advance: for example, get it at the Bangladesh Embassy in Moscow;
  • The land border between India and Bangladesh is considered not quite safe for a European traveler: the border territory periodically becomes a hotbed of religious unrest and clashes;
  • You can’t do without knowledge of the language and / or accompaniment of an experienced local guide: knowledge of the English language is hardly a necessary requirement for admission to the land border service.

Therefore, I propose not to tempt fate and (if you still do not have the appropriate preparation) use the plane to get to the capital.

By plane

There are several flight options from Moscow to Dhaka, but there is not a single direct flight among them. Depending on the airline, it will take you 3 to 18 hours to transfer, during which you can and need to recharge all the gadgets and relax. The flight itself from the starting point to the final will last from 12 hours. And if from Moscow to the place of transfer, as a rule, the flight is normal, then from the place of transfer to Dhaka, he can somewhat tire of the seeming bustle of Bangladeshis returning from their vacation.

The following airlines fly from Moscow to Dhaka:

  • Emirates (transplant in Dubai);
  • Turkish Airlines (transfer in Istanbul);
  • Aeroflot (change in Delhi);
  • Air Arabia (transplant in Sharjah);
  • Etihad (transplant in Abu Dhabi);
  • Fly Dubai (transplant in Dubai).

Emirates and Turkish Airlines also offer flights from St. Petersburg to Dhaka with transfers in Dubai and Istanbul, respectively.

Flight prices

Prices depend only on the offers of a particular airline. For example, two of the above airlines (AirArabia and FlyDubai) are the so-called "low-cost airlines": these are companies that, due to the lack of certain services, offer flights at a lower price. Therefore, the choice is yours: take "all inclusive" with lunch, a TV and luggage, which costs from 710 USD (42,000 RUB or 56,443 BDT, Bangladeshi taka) for a round-trip ticket, or save on lunch, TV or luggage, however enjoy the flight for 669 USD round trip.

In general, tickets to Dhaka cost about the same, so saving on a flight is very difficult. You can find out the prices of tickets on the websites of airlines, but here you can easily compare prices for all options on the dates you are interested in.

How to get from the airport to the center of Dhaka

I was very lucky and all the times, when I had to go from the airport to the center of Dhaka, I had a rented car that did it with confidence. Therefore, the best option is if you make sure you are met at the airport in advance. Many hotels, as I will describe below, offer a free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel: pay special attention to it and be sure to use it if possible. Drivers usually expect passengers either directly at the exit of the airport, or in the parking lot to the left of the exit. Therefore, when you leave the airport, carefully look at the crowd of people: whether there is one of the signs on your name or the name of your hotel. If not, you'd better go back to the airport and call the hotel. If you go far from the doors, you cannot go inside anymore, so do not rush, do everything calmly and without fuss.

If it so happens that no one meets you, go to the taxi desk, which is called a pre-paid taxi, and order a taxi there. A trip to the city center will cost you about 5 USD (400 BDT), payment is made at the taxi reservation desk. If you take an ordinary city taxi, agree with the driver about the price before starting the trip.

In Dhaka, there are a lot of autoriches (tuk-tuk), which are called CNG, but they are denied access to the airport, so you can catch the autorix only from the main road: you will have to move a bit from the airport building. The cost of a trip to the city center at autorix is ​​approximately 1.5 USD (100 BDT). It is very important here to agree on the price of the trip in advance. If the driver will have a meter installed, insist on driving the meter: you run the risk of traveling longer than necessary, but you will be sure of the correct price.

Another way to get to the city center is by bus. A bus costs about 0.06 USD (5 BDT), but I personally would not recommend this method of transportation, especially when you just arrived: there is no air conditioning in the bus, there are always a lot of people, the conductor calls out incomprehensibly and very quickly. Being in such a bus with suitcases is not a very pleasant prospect, in my opinion.

hint: Dhaka - time is now19: October 13Difference in hours: Moscow - 3Kazan - 3Samara - 2Ekaterinburg - 1Novosibirsk & plus; 1Vladivostok & plus; four

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

The most favorable season for visiting Dhaka is from the end of November to the end of February. Since Dhaka is not a tourist destination, there will be no influx of tourists at this time, however, you will definitely like the weather more than in summer or in the rainy season. At night, the temperature drops to +10 ° C, during the day it rises to 24 ° C, so grab sweaters and T-shirts with you. Unfortunately, this time is not very rich in exotic fruits, but in abundance you will find local tangerines and apples.

If you decide to come to Dhaka from March to October, be prepared first for the heat (from March to June) to 49 ° C, and then for constant rain (from June to September). But at this time there is no shortage of fruits such as lychee and mango: some of the most delicious fruits in Southeast Asia, in my opinion.

Again, due to the lack of tourist flow, airfare prices do not differ much from season to season, but still, during the summer season and in the rainy season, prices fall somewhat.

Dhaka in the summer

In the summer, Dhaka, as I said, is full of fruit. I would come here only for their sake. The temperature at night does not fall below 30 ° C, and during the day rises to 49 ° C. Constant rains do not bring any relief: the clothes get wet, but do not dry in such a heat. Moving around the city is difficult, and it is not recommended to be in the air for a long time. Therefore, in the summer, it seems to me, it is not worth spending time on exploring the capital, but it is better to go to other places in the country.

Dhaka in the fall

September and half of October can still be attributed to the summer season: rains are ending, and the air temperature is still high. But from the end of October to November there has been no rain, and the weather is like summer in St. Petersburg: it's cool.

Dhaka in the spring

March is still considered auspicious time, since at night the temperature is at around 22 ° C, and during the day it reaches 32 ° C. There are still a lot of mosquitoes at this time. But April and May are very hot months: the rains have not yet begun, so there is dust everywhere. Even sunsets at this time are called dust suspension.

But in the spring they celebrate all the most interesting holidays with noisy celebrations: Independence Day of Bangladesh (March 26), Bengal New Year (April 14-15).

Dhaka in the winter

Winter is the best time to visit Dhaka. During the day, the weather does not rise above 28 ° C, and at night - no higher than 12 ° C. At this time, you must have a sweater with a long sleeve, a scarf. Locals even wear hats. Winter is the time of flowering of bushes, trees and just flowers, which looks amazing!

In winter, the time of mosquitoes begins, so be sure to have repellents with you, and ask for a fumigator in the hotel if it is not provided.

Dhaka - monthly weather

hint: Dhaka - weather for the months of January January + 18.7 February ± 21.6 March ± 26.2 April ± 28.2 May ± 28.6 June ± 28.4 July ± 28.3 August ± 28.3 September ± 28.6 October ± 27.6 November ± 27.6 23.8 December & plus; 20.1

Areas. Where is better to live

When I say that Dhaka is not a tourist city, I mean that Dhaka attracts little tourists from Europe. For the population of Bangladesh, Dhaka, on the contrary, is very attractive: tourists willingly come here from villages, from small and large cities. Therefore, the accommodation options are different: apartments, low-cost hostels, middle-class hotels and luxury hotels. However, in my opinion, it’s better to choose something more expensive, but to feel completely safe: after all, a European tourist does not often look here, therefore, interest in white-skinned foreigners is high.

International platforms with rental offers for an apartment or a separate room for daily rent are gradually gaining popularity in Bangladesh. Landlords interested in foreigners usually place their ads here - you can find a room or apartment for every taste and budget, however I would advise you to carefully review guest reviews and the location of the accommodation before booking it.

Areas of dhaka

The city is divided into seven districts. The central one is called Dhaka, and all other districts are already considered a suburb. It is best to settle in this central district, since there will not be any problems with either housing, shopping, or visiting interesting places.

Traditionally, the most "foreign" in Dhaka are the areas of Gulshan, Baridhara and Banani. These areas belong to the so-called New Dhaka, the embassies and representative offices of foreign organizations are concentrated here. On the one hand, being in these areas is safe because there is security everywhere, but on the other hand, visiting them can be dangerous precisely because everyone knows that foreign citizens live here.

From the center of Dhaka, you can easily reach the airport, train station, shopping complex. If you leave early, you can easily reach even more distant places.

Many attractions are concentrated in Old Dhaka, Dhaka University is also located here. By districts - this is Lalbagh or Ramna, these areas are well suited for exploring exactly Old Dhaka. From a security point of view, both Lalbagh and Ramna are considered less secure than New Dhaka: here you will be more often asked for alms and photographed. However, here you can find beautiful and inexpensive souvenirs.

New Dhaka is considered to be a more chic area, again, due to the large number of foreign citizens, so we can expect that the price of accommodation will be higher than in Old Dhaka, where there are many students. I’ll talk more about housing prices below.

There is also a Uttara area, where you can also settle if the proximity to the airport is important to you, but, in my opinion, the area is more remote than the main attractions and is not of great value for travelers like us: who want to get to know the place where we arrived.

Hotels in Dhaka

In the city there are quite a lot of hotels of different categories of comfort: from five stars and down to completely “without stars”. The most expensive hotels include Le Meridien, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, Westin and Four Points by Sheraton.

Less expensive but conveniently located hotels include the Fars Hotel & Resort, Lakeshore Banani, Golden Tulip and many others, which can be easily found on Booking.

When choosing a hotel, it is worth paying special attention to:

  • The provision of airport transfer services. For the first time, navigating in a city without a guide is very difficult, and it will be much better if hotel transport meets you at the airport. Moreover, this service is provided by many hotels: both five-star and more modest.
  • Area. Dhaka is famous for its traffic system, because of which the city stands in endless traffic jams. In order not to spend all your time in traffic, try to settle near the most interesting places for you. Leave distant places on Friday, because it is on Friday that traffic jams are usually less: most of the population spends Friday at the mosque.
  • Traveler reviews, especially non-Asian travelers: in our time, Internet resources really help to better navigate the choice of accommodation thanks to subjective assessments of those who have already tried it on themselves.
  • Security. Please note whether there is security at the hotel, how the rooms are located, how best to handle personal belongings. Again, do not neglect the reviews of experienced travelers regarding this or that hotel.

Hotel accommodation options can be viewed at Booking, and on this site you should definitely compare prices.

Breakfast at the hotel

Many of the hotels in Dhaka include breakfast in the price: food is inexpensive, and having breakfast can attract more tourists. If breakfast is not included in the price, then it is quite possible that your hotel will have a restaurant where you can dine for a fee.

If the hotel is expensive, breakfast will be varied: both traditional dishes of Southeast Asia (paratha, dal and others), and traditional European dishes. Plus, the menu always has fruits and pastries.

If the hotel is less expensive, it is possible that you can meet only one breakfast option: traditional dishes. For breakfast, the food, as a rule, is not very spicy; they always serve fresh cakes. You can eat doi (a cross between yogurt and sour cream) or mashi doi (vanilla doi).

What are the prices for vacation

A plane ticket is one of the most expensive expense items when traveling to Dhaka, so do not doubt that you will save, for example, on:

  • food;
  • movement around the city;
  • souvenirs;
  • museums.

It all costs much cheaper than in Russia.

Food in Dhaka is quite cheap, even in a good restaurant you can have a tight lunch for 18 USD (1500 BDT) per person. And if we are talking about street food, then a hearty meal will cost you no more than 1.5 USD (123 BDT).Just always remember hygiene when you eat outside.

You can move around the city in a tuk-tuk, negotiating the price, as I already said, before getting into the vehicle, the cost of the trip will be approximately 0.8 USD (70 BDT) - depending, of course, on the distance of the trip. You can also hire a car with a driver with the help of hotel staff (which is important, because you need to get used to traffic in Dhaka) for 8-12 hours, this will cost you an average of 62 USD (5000 BDT). You can use the bus to move around the city, but in this case you should always have an accompanying Bangladeshi who will not allow you to take the wrong route, pass your stop or just be deceived.

Again, it is worth remembering that Dhaka is a tourist destination only for tourists from Bangladesh, therefore, if you do not speak Bengali very well, it will be quite difficult to find an excursion on the street just like that: as a rule, all signs are in Bengali. Therefore, to order an excursion, it is easiest to contact the hotel reception, however it will come out quite expensive.

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Taka, ৳ Prices in restaurants and cafes
Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant155 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant617 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch328 rub
More details

The main attractions. What to watch

Dhaka is a rather old city, however, unfortunately, it is not famous for its many attractions that attract tourists from abroad. To justify the city, I can only say that after all, its history is quite dramatic: several hundred years in prison, and then the oppression of the Pakistani government, which could only be freed from in 1971 through a long and desperate struggle of partisan detachments.

The inhabitants of the country very often are not very careful about the monuments of architecture and culture, so do not be alarmed if mountains of garbage appear on the territory of the attraction.

Museum tickets are more expensive for foreign citizens, but this is a worldwide practice.

Quite often, so-called guides are on duty near museums, who offer their services to foreigners: such guides are not always museum employees, so ask him three times about the price of the issue and agree in advance. Just always remember that using the services of such guides is a kind of lottery: you can never be sure that the information provided is reliable.

Top 5

At first glance, there is not much interesting in Dhaka, but when you start to think, it turns out that there are much more places than just 5. The difficulty is that due to the very dense traffic on the roads it is quite difficult to see several sights in one day : More time will be spent in traffic jams.

However, my personal top 5 attractions of Dhaka include:

  • Parliament building. In my opinion, a very interesting construction, which is often bypassed. Perhaps the problem is that the entrance to the building is carried out only on passes issued in advance.
  • Campus of Dhaka University. The campus houses the largest Shahid Minar (a memorial in honor of the victims who fell in the struggle for the status of the Bengali language) in Dhaka, the grave of Nazrul Islam, one of Bangladesh’s most famous poets, and many other interesting contemporary and not very sculptures and monuments.
  • Lalbagh. Unfinished fort of the 17th century, located in Old Dhaka. It is interesting to see the fort itself and take a walk in the garden around it. Traditionally considered one of the main attractions of the capital of Bangladesh due to its centuries-old history.
  • Ahsan Manzil or Pink Palace. The residence of the rulers of Dhaka, built in the 19th century, attracts not only with pink color, but also with an interesting exposition inside. It attracts huge crowds of tourists and local residents who love the park around the palace - parks are quite rare.
  • National Museum of Bangladesh. A very modest but interesting museum is one of the few museums in Dhaka. Located next to Dhaka University, it will take no more than 2 hours to view it: the exposure is small.

Other interesting places in Dhaka.

  • Bengali Taj Mahal. A copy of the famous Taj Mahal, which was built by a businessman so that the inhabitants of Bangladesh could also enjoy the beauty of the palace. It looks much more modest than its predecessor, but it also does not have such a romantic and tragic story.
  • Traveling on the Burigang. This is a very pleasant experience in Dhaka: in the boat you can hide from the sun and from the views, but the water is still refreshing. There is an opportunity to explore the landscapes of Dhaka from the water: they are not very picturesque, but curious.
  • Dhakeshwari Temple. This is one of the few Hindu temples in Dhaka, but with all the attributes: removing shoes and paying for their storage, prasadam (offering in the form of food), wide spaces for prayers.
  • Dia Bari. Just a place for walking along the canal. Bangladeshis love to come here with friends and families, here you can safely sit by the water, ride a catamaran, eat cotton candy, and take beautiful pictures. One of the entertainments is to calculate how many concrete columns are installed in this place, intended for a failed large-scale construction. Dia Bari is located in Uttar - an area near the airport, so you can always watch the planes here.

Museums Which are worth a visit

There are not many museums in Dhaka. The largest museum in the capital is the National Museum near Dhaka University. This is a historical museum, I already talked a little about it above. Museum Address: Shahbag. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 17:00 (Friday - from 15:00 to 20:00; closed on Thursday).

Another interesting museum is dedicated to the struggle for independence of 1971. Here you can see photos, documents and objects used by partisan units during the war. Museum Address: Sagunbagicha. Opening hours: 10: 00-17: 00 (closed on Sunday).

The residence of the "father of the nation", Mujibur Rahman, whose portraits you will see in Dhaka (and in general in Bangladesh) everywhere, also became a museum at the end of the 20th century. In this museum you can see how the "friend of Bengal" lived (as he is called here), his photographs. Address: Road 32, Dhanmondi. Opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on Wednesday).

Parks

All the best parks in Dhaka, as I mentioned, are behind the fence. Often, to get behind the fence, you need to pay a small fee, because there is an attraction in the park. These parks include, for example:

  • park around Lalbagh;
  • park around the Rose Palace.

I would classify the Dhaka University campus as a free park, a must-see: here it’s calm, you can sit on the grass, and those who approach you for the sake of interest are likely to speak English.

Tourist streets

As such, there are probably no tourist streets in Dhaka. It is very interesting to walk around the old Dhaka district - the streets are narrow there, you can find something interesting in the shops.

Also tourist can be called a street with souvenir shops near Shahid Minar at Dhaka University.

What to see in 1 day

Suppose you decide to explore Old Dhaka, so it will take you a minimum of time to move. In one day, you can try to master the following route:

  • 09:00 - Lalbagh. On average, 2 hours are enough for viewing and photographing Lalbagh, for a walk in the garden and for inspecting the nearest streets of the city. Then you need to get to Dhaka University: either by tuk-tuk or by bus, which can take up to 40 minutes (traffic).
  • 12:00 - Dhaka University. Here you can sit, and take a walk, and go to the campus, and buy souvenirs. 1.5 hours is enough: you will have enough attention. After the campus, you can go to the museum, you can walk, on the way, peeking at the Nazrul Islam memorial, installed at the place of his burial.
  • 14:00 - National Museum. It works until 17:30, but this time is enough for us to inspect the entire exposition in detail.
  • And only then you can have lunch. In Dhaka, places of interest close early, and after dark it is better not to roam the streets: unfortunately, this can be dangerous. But the restaurants are open until 21:00 for sure.

Due to traffic, because of the climate, because of the large crowds of people, Dhaka may seem tedious, so it is very difficult to set aside an entire city for inspection. It’s better to go to bed early, and get up early the next day to enjoy the dawn on the banks of the Buriganga - the river that flows through Dhaka.

What to see in the surroundings

In the vicinity of Dhaka there are several very pleasant and interesting historical places, a visit to which, in my opinion, must be included in the traveler's list if he wants to enjoy a trip to Bangladesh:

  • Panama City. I highly recommend it: it's nice to walk, you can climb onto the roof of the house, see the interior decor. Panam City is a settlement of merchants who are actively conducting business here in the 19th century, since the city, Sonargaon, was an important shopping center. Some buildings belong not only to the XIX century, but also to the XIII. Now Panama City is in a dilapidated state, but is protected by the state. Sonargaon is 30 kilometers from Dhaka.
  • Museum in Sonargaon and the park around it. Again Sonargaon, but the museum is located some distance from Panama City. The museum is small, but the park around it is very pleasant, here you can walk and sit, and ride a catamaran. The fact that it’s possible to enter the park only by tickets is why it’s not so crowded.
  • Memorial to the victims of the Revolutionary War of 1971 in Savara. The monument is striking in its scope: not quite typical for Bangladesh. Here you can take a walk, take great pictures. Savar is located about 35 kilometers from Dhaka. Unfortunately, 30 kilometers is a rather long distance for Dhaka: due to traffic jams it can be overcome for more than one hour. The easiest way to get to the places described above is by rented transport or taxi, but you can also use the services of suburban buses.
hint: Routes to neighboring citiesDhaka - Bājitpur 78 kmDhaka - Comille 86 kmDhaka - Sirajganj 107 kmDhaka - Mymensingh 113 kmDhaka - Barisal 113 km

Food. What to try

Bangladeshi cuisine is very similar to Indian. This is essentially the same thing, only in Bangladesh they eat beef and do not eat pork. There are few vegetarian dishes, the choice of salads is also small, despite the fact that the variety of vegetables is huge.

However, you should try the traditional Bangladeshi Fallud dessert - ice cream with fruits, which you will not find even in India.

In Dhaka itself, the choice of restaurants is very large: there are budget places, and places of the middle price category and indecently expensive restaurants. There are also food delivery services.

Please note that in the menu all prices are indicated without VAT, but VAT of 15% will certainly add to the total amount of your order.

I can’t say that there is one largest market in Dhaka, since there are quite a lot of markets here, but all of them are concentrated mainly on the outskirts, in less expensive areas. In the city center there are two largest grocery stores - Lavender and Unimart, whose prices are slightly higher than market prices, but at once everything is in one place and you can pay by card

Budgetary

Here are some budget restaurants:

  1. Star Kabab & Restaurant. Address: Kauran Bazar, Dhaka-1215. Type of food: Bangladeshi.
  2. Nirob Hotel Restaurant. Address: Najimuddin Road, Dhaka-1100. Type of food: Indian, Bangladeshi.
  3. TakeOut Address: Shimanto Squaa, Dhaka-1209. Type of food: European.
  4. Beauty Lacchi. Address: 30A Johnson Road 1100. Type of food: Bangladeshi.

Mid level

And here are the best mid-level restaurants and cafes:

  1. Bar B Q Tonight. Address: Dhanmondi 27, Dhaka. Type of food: Indian, Bangladeshi.
  2. Nando's. Address: Dhanmondi 27, Dhaka. Type of food: European.
  3. Pizza Roma. Address: Road 108, Gulshan-2, Dhaka. Type of food: Italian.
  4. Kostori. Address: Gulshan, Zaman Chambers, 7th floor, Dhaka. Type of food: Bangladeshi.

Expensive

I will give 4 places with the highest rating:

  1. Izumi. Address: house 24, road 113, Gulshan-2, Dhaka. Type of food: Japanese.
  2. Seasonal Tastes. Address: Main Gulshan Avenue Road, 45, Gulshan-2, Dhaka. Type of food: Asian, Italian.
  3. Bunka. Address: Building 19, Road 96, Gulshan-2, Dhaka. Type of food: Japanese.
  4. Prego. Address: Main Gulshan Avenue, 45, Section 01, Gulshan 2, Dhaka. Type of food: Italian.

Holidays

Since Dhaka is a capital city with a population of about 15 million people, quite a lot of holidays are celebrated here. Specifically, city holidays, such as city day, are not, therefore, all holidays are nationwide. The only difference is the scope with which this or that walk takes place.

So, the largest holidays are:

  • Kurban Bayram. Celebrated, as a rule, in September, in accordance with the lunar calendar. Accompanied by the sacrifice of livestock. In 2016, his celebration in Dhaka was so wide that they even wrote about it in some Russian online publications.
  • International Mother Language Day. Celebrated on February 21 and is accompanied by the laying of flowers at the memorial to the victims of the struggle for the status of the Bengali language. Similar memorials are installed throughout the country, but the largest of them is located on the territory of Dhaka University.
  • Bangladesh Independence Day. Celebrated on March 26 very widely, with mass celebrations and concerts;
  • Bengali New Year. According to the lunar calendar is celebrated on April 14-15. This is one of the few holidays that is celebrated equally widely both in West Bengal (one of the Indian states) and in East Bengal (as Bangladesh was called before it gained independence).

Security. What to watch out for

Unfortunately, Dhaka began to be considered unsafe for foreign citizens after the terrorist attack that occurred here in July 2016. Therefore, it is always worth observing such simple safety rules that are relevant for many Muslim countries:

  • Do not walk in the dark, especially at night;
  • it is better to move around the city in a rented car, rather than on a bus or auto rickshaw;
  • a foreigner attracts attention, so show special respect for local traditions;
  • do not drink alcohol in public places: alcohol is banned almost everywhere in the city;
  • girls are better off not appearing alone, and with a husband or a young man you should not hold hands and even more so kiss in a public place;
  • do not get carried away by large crowds;
  • try to walk along the main wide streets, avoiding narrow alleys.

In addition, beware of pickpockets and scammers who, under the guise of helping, can get money out of you. Always negotiate a price in advance.

Things to do

Here are just some of the quotes from travelers from Europe that I have heard about Dhaka: “a very specific place”, “for everybody”, “how many things!”, “Interesting experience”, etc. The reviews are different, but they all point to one thing: Dhaka is such a unique city that you will remember about it for a long time.

As I have repeatedly mentioned, in Dhaka there are many kilometers of traffic jams every day, so you should have plan A and plan B every day.

In Dhaka, you will not find many of the usual entertainment, so the question "What to do in Dhaka?" I will answer this: ride along the river, eat exotic fruits, go to the university campus. By the way, if you are lucky and manage to get into the parliament building, visit the parliamentary meeting itself: this is not forbidden, and it should be very interesting. There is no dress code: it is allowed to come even in slates.

Shopping and shops

Many of us have garments that say: Made in Bangladesh. Because the production of clothing in Bangladesh is very cheap, and clothing is generally inexpensive.

The two largest shopping centers where you can buy clothes are Jamuna Future Park and Bashundara City. They sell European-style clothes and clothes that women in Bangladesh wear, including burqa and niqaba (a hat that covers all but the eyes).

Jamuna Future Park is located in the city center, while Bashundara is somewhat distant. Sales are carried out at the end of the season, but without sales, you will like the price of clothes.

Bars Where to go

Bars are, alas, not about Dhaka. The predominant region in Bangladesh is Islam, which prohibits alcohol consumption. It is also not customary for girls to sit publicly in the company of men and have fun (although this rule is less and less observed by young people), and even less so when dancing at all. And although you may find light alcoholic beverages on the shelves of retail stores aimed at the European consumer, the culture of bars and other evening / night establishments is in an embryonic state.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

In Bangladesh, in principle, and in Dhaka in particular, it is very difficult to find such a simple, but such a souvenir Russian travelers' souvenir as a fridge magnet. I managed to find it only in the market near Dhaka University, where one magnet costs 0.6 USD (50 BDT).

There you can buy other souvenirs from Dhaka - jute toys and home decoration, wooden beads, etc.

In general, there is a network of souvenir shops Aarong in Dhaka: here you will find paintings with traditional embroidery, and small cycle rickshaws, and brass animal figures, and bedding, clothes and much more. One of the shops, by the way, is located in the Jamun shopping center.

Also, pearls are brought as a gift from Dhaka - it is sold at DCC Market in the Gulshan-2 area (do not confuse it with Gulshan-1), however, you need to know how to distinguish real pearls from fake, and also bargain desperately.

Personally, I brought as a gift, first of all, sheep’s scarves, jute bags, traditional embroidery and clothes, tea and sweets soan papri.

How to get around the city

Unfortunately, there is no metro or tram in Dhaka: all public transport travels only on highways, which results in huge, many-hour traffic jams.

My personal opinion is that it is best to travel around Dhaka in a rented car with a driver - finding such a car can be helped at the reception at the hotel. It is safer, more convenient and faster.

If nevertheless you decide to use the services of CNG, then I repeat that the price must be agreed upon before starting the trip. And it’s better to repeat the destination several times to the driver, carefully pronouncing sounds (it is possible with a Russian accent).

The bus will cost you the least, but using the bus will not bring you much comfort, as I said.

Vehicle rental

Personally, I speak English, Bengali and Anglo-Bengali, but still I am of the opinion that it is better to spend a little more money, but rent a car to move around the capital of Bangladesh. As a rule, a car is provided with a driver: this is better, because the traffic is crazy, all the signs are in Bengali, and it is better if you are carried by a native speaker with many years of driving experience in Bangladesh.

All companies providing car rental services are local, so the most important thing is to find a common language with the manager of one of these companies, a common language in the literal and figurative sense.

The car is provided for your use for a certain number of hours, you negotiate the price in advance. If the manager does not want to talk to you about the price and says something like: “You will like the price”, insist on your own. Determine the number of hours and bargain. Please note that this price will include the payment of gasoline and all toll roads.

I don’t advise renting a moped or scooter, even if it is offered to you: it is very dusty on the roads, traffic, again, is active, traffic lights and signs are minimized.

In general, I repeat again that using a rented car in Dhaka is incredibly convenient: in addition to everything else, you can also save valuable time on finding the road.

Dhaka - holidays with children

My personal opinion: before showing the child Dhaka, you need to wait until he grows up. There are very few entertainments for children (at least, they are not striking when visiting those places in which I was).

A lot of time will be spent on traffic jams, and you will attract even more attention.

Ski vacation

Watch the video: DHAKA Official Full Video Sidhu Moose Wala. Afsana Khan. PBX1. New Punjabi Song 2019 (March 2024).

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