Bangladesh Airport Guide
The country is divided into five administrative areas: Dhaka
(North Central); Rajshahi (Northwest); Khulna (Southwest); Barisal
(South); and Chittagong (Southeast). Formerly, 'Dhaka' was spelt
'Dacca'.
Dhaka (North) (Discount
Dhaka Airfare)
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 centre 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 spectacular Ahsan
Manzil palace museum, 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. To the north and the east are to be
found the commercial and diplomatic regions of Dhaka. 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 Parjatan Tourist Information Centre for further information.
Rajshahi (Northwest)
Rajshahi Division, in the northwest of the country, is often
ignored by tourists, but it contains a large number of archaeological
sites. The most important of these are at Paharpur, where the
vast Buddhist monastery of Somapuri Vihara and the Satyapir
Vita temple are located; there is also a museum. Other places
of interest in the region include the ancient Hindu settlement
of Sherpur, near Bogra; Mahastanagar, also near Bogra, which
dates back to the third century BC; Vasu Vihara, 14km (9 miles)
to the northwest, the site of an ancient but now ruined monastery;
Rajshahi, on the Ganges, which has a museum displaying many
of the archaeological relics of the area; and Gaur, very close
to the border with the Indian state of West Bengal, which contains
a number of old mosques. Bogra is a useful base for visiting
the archaeological sites of Paharpur, Mahastanagar and Sherpur,
although not intrinsically interesting itself. The Bangladesh
Parjatan Corporation (NTO) offers package tours to these sites.
Khulna (Southwest)
Khulna Division is principally marshland and jungle. The city
of the same name is the administrative capital of the division
and is mainly a commercial centre, particularly for river traffic.
The principal place of interest in this area of the country
is the Sundarbans National Park, a supreme example of lush coastal
vegetation and the variety of wildlife which it can support.
The most famous inhabitants of this region are the Royal Bengal
tigers, but spotted deer, monkeys and a great variety of birds
are also to be found here. Tours (usually for ten people or
more) are organized by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation during
the winter; otherwise boats can be hired from Khulna or Mongla,
which is the main port for the Khulna region. Accommodation
is available at Heron Point. Other places of interest include
the mosque of Sat Gombud, and the town of Bagerhat (home of
Khan Jahan Ali, a well-known Sufi mystic).
Barisal (South)
Barisal is the administrative centre of the division of the
same name. Situated in an area dissected by rivers, it is the
most important river port in the south of the country. Just
10km (6 miles) outside Barisal at Madubashah is a lake and bird
sanctuary. Kuakata is the most outstanding tourist attraction.
It is a scenic beauty spot on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh
in the district of Patuakhali and has a wide sandy beach which
is an ideal vantage point to watch the sun rise and set.
Other attractions include two pre-Moghul mosques: one, which
boasts nine domes, is situated at the village of Qasba Guarnadi
and the other, built in 1464, is near Patuakhali.
Chittagong (Southeast) (Discount
Chittagong Airfare)
Chittagong, the second-largest city in the country, is the principal
city of the southeastern administrative division of Bangladesh.
It is a thriving port set amid lovely natural surroundings studded
with green-clad knolls, coconut palms, mosques and minarets,
against the background of the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal.
The Old City retains many echoes of past European settlements,
mainly by the Portuguese, as well as many mosques. These include
the 17th-century Shahi Jama-e-Masjid - which closely resembles
a fort - set astride a hilltop, and the earlier Qadam Mubarek
Mosque. The Chilla of Bada Shah stands to the west of Bakshirhat
in the old city. The higher ground to the northwest was, in
due course, settled by the British, and this is now where most
of the city's commercial activity is conducted. The Dargah of
Sah Amanat is a holy shrine located in the heart of the town.
|
|
|
|
