Dhaka/Central

Central Dhaka includes Motijheel, the centre of finance and business, the University of Dhaka, a historic area with a number of museums, and Tejgaon-Dhanmondi, home to large shopping malls, markets and a variety of eateries.

Get in

See

Motijheel

• Baitul Mukarram Mosque, 23.72944444°, 90.41222222°. The national mosque of Bangladesh. It was built in 1968, and is the 10th largest mosque in the world.
• Banga Bhaban (বঙ্গভবন, House of Bengal), 23.723302°, 90.41782°. Official residence of the President. This grand palace of the British India era is only visible from the outside.
• Ramakrishna Mission, 27 R K Mission Road, Gopibag, Dhaka, 23.720867°, 90.423388°, +880 2 9553703, info@rkmdhaka.org. A Hindu temple and complex that was founded in 1916. The architecture is Indian-influenced. 2018-11-17

Dhaka University Campus

• National Museum, Shahbag Rd, 23.73755°, 90.39492°, +880 2 9674796, dgmuseum@yahoo.com. Apr-Sep: Sa-W 10:30-17:30, F 14:30-19:30; Oct-Mar: Sa-W 09:30-16:30, F 14:30-19:30; Ramadan: Sa-W 09:30-15:30. Contains a large number of interesting collections, including sculptures and paintings from the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods. Next door is a popular public library. Foreigners: Tk 75, locals and SAARC citizens: Tk 10, disabled persons: free
• Liberation War Museum, Civic Centre, Plot : F11/A & F11/B (in Agargaon), 23.7755945°, 90.3695090°, +880 9611-677223. M-Sa 10:00-15:30. A leading private museum which documents the liberation struggle of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971, including the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide and the political and armed resistance movement of the Bangladeshi people
• Musa Khan Mosque, University of Dhaka, 23.7268°, 90.4007°. Located west of Shahidullah Hall at Dhaka University, this historical mosque was built to honour the former ruler of the region. The inscriptions on the mosque seem to state that it was built in 1484 CE, but was repaired heavily in 1700 CE.
• Greek Memorial, 23.7318°, 90.3963°. A memorial of the Greeks of Dhaka built somewhere in the early 1900s. 2015-07-02

Buildings

• Old High Court Building, Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave, Ramna, 23.730756°, 90.402513°, +880 2-9562941, registrar@supremecourt.gov.bd. It was built as the residence of the British Governor, it illustrates a happy blend of European and Mughal architecture. Now houses the Supreme Court.
• Curzon Hall, University of Dhaka, 23.727353°, 90.401852°, +880 2-8614150, duregstr@bangla.net. An architecturally beautiful building named after Lord Curzon. Once intended as a town hall, it now houses the Science Faculty of the University of Dhaka.
• International Buddhist Monastery, Merul Badda, Gulshan, Dhaka, 23.776098°, 90.425635°, +880 2 881-2288, pratimbarua@hotmail.com. A Buddhist monastery that was founded in 1981, and has been at its current site since 1989. It is popular with visiting Buddhist businessmen and foreign dignitaries.

Monuments

• Aparajeya Bangla (Unvanquished Bengal), University of Dhaka, in front of the Faculty of Arts, 23.733621°, 90.392766°. A statue dedicated to those who died in the 1971 Liberation War. Designed by sculptor Abdullah Khaled it is built of reinforced concrete and reaches a height of 11 feet. It was inaugurated on 16 December 1979. The sculpture consists of three humans with the central figure of a farmer carrying a gun on his shoulder and a grenade in one hand. On the left is a women carrying a first aid box and on the right is a bare-bodied young man carrying a gun. The statue represents the general public of Bangladesh, who fought for the 1971 Liberation War.
• Central Shaheed Minar, In front of the Dhaka Medical College, University of Dhaka, 23.727222°, 90.396667°. A symbol of Bengali nationalism. This monument was built to commemorate the martyrs of the historic language movement of 1952. Thousands of people with floral wreaths and bouquets gather on 21 February annually, paying respect to the departed in a solemn atmosphere. The date was designated by the UN as International Mother Language Day due to the event. Celebrations begin at midnight.
• National Poet's Graveyard, University of Dhaka, 23.735°, 90.394722°. Revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam died on the 29 August 1976 and was buried here.

Parks

• Suhrawardi Uddyan (Ramna Racecourse), Suhrawardi Uddan Rd, 23.731619°, 90.399633°. A race course of the British times, it has been converted into a park. It was the place where independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Raman delivered a historic oath of independence speech before the 1971 War, and where the Pakistani army surrendered a few months later. The Shadhinota Stambha monument, a 50-m-high tower of light composed of stacked glass panel, has been erected here. The Museum of Independence, an underground museum of Bangladesh independence, is below the tower. Suhrawardi Uddyan also houses the eternal flame to mark its significance.
• Ramna Green (Ramna Park), Ramna, Dhaka (Near the Sheraton Hotel), 23.73818°, 90.401371°. A vast stretch of green surrounded by a serpentine lake.

Suhrawardi Uddyan

• Museum of Independence, Suhrawardy Uddyan, 23.733066°, 90.3985°. At the spot where Sheikh Mujibur Raman delivered a historic oath of independence speech before the 1971 War, and where the Pakistani army surrendered a few months later. The museum consists of a 50-m-high glass tower of light. The museum is underground and is centered round a fountain of falling water. The museum houses a large collection of photos of Bangladesh's War of Independence. It was inaugurated on 25 March 2015, the 45th anniversary of Bangladeshi independence.
• Eternal Flame (শিখা চিরন্তন), Northern end of Suhrawardy Uddyan, 23.735555°, 90.398055°. The eternal flame was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheik Hasina on 7 Mrach 1997. The flame burns eternally at the Northern end of Suhrawardi Uddyan, beneath the Bangladesh National flag.
• Mausoleum of Three Leaders (তিন নেতার মাজার), Southwestern corner of Suhrawardy Uddyan, 23.728889°, 90.399722°. Eternal resting place of great national leaders, Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque, Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy and Khaja Nazimuddin. All the three men served as Prime Minister of Bengal in British India.
• Shahbaz Khan Mosque and Dargah, Suhrawardy Uddyan, behind Mausoleum of Three Leaders, 23.72930°, 90.40057°. This mosque and tomb, constructed in 1679 by Haji khwaja Shahbaz, a rich merchant of Dhaka.
• Ramna Kali Mandir, Suhrawardy Uddyan, 23.7312°, 90.3995°. A thousand-year-old temple, dedicated to the goddess Kali. The temple was vandalized during the Pakistan war of 1971 and later reconstructed. 2015-07-02

Tejgaon-Dhanmondi

• Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, 23.7625°, 90.3785°, +880 2 8171323, visit.branch@parliament.gov.bd. Open normal office hours. Designed by the famous American architect, Louis I. Kahn, it is renowned as a modern architectural wonder of the region. The Parliament is surrounded by gardens that form a peaceful getaway from the chaos of the city. The building is also surrounded by heavy security. Foreigners have to fill out a form and provide passport photocopies to visit the building. No cameras or phones allowed inside. Tk 500 for advanced bookings, Tk 600 for on arrival visits
• National Museum of Science and Technology, Agargaon, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, 23.778823°, 90.371610°, +880 2 9114128, info@nmst.gov.bd. W-M 09:00-17:00. A museum and modern learning centre displaying the latest scientific discoveries. Each weekend, a starwatching evening is held for Tk 10. Tk 5
• Bangladesh Air Force Museum, BAF Base Bashar, 23.7789°, 90.38089°. M-Sa 14:00-20:00. Representative Bangladesh air force planes and history on display.
• Holy Rosary Church (Tejgaon Portuguese Church), Holycross College Rd, 23.759399°, 90.392322°, +880 2 814-2093. An old Portuguese-influenced church built in 1677. The façade has been repainted into heavy Indian-style colours. A large, new building has been built next door to allow a larger congregation.
• Novo Theatre (Planetarium) (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre), Bijoy Sharani, Tejgaon, 23.759814°, 90.391317°, +880 2 9138878. Th-Tu; closed W. Shows start F 10:00 to 18:30; other days 10:30 to 16:30. A planetarium built on 5.46 acres of land, its spaces range in size from its 21-metre dome, seating 275 people; to three-metre inflatable and portable domes where people sit on the floor. The Planetarium dome simulates Earth and its cool blue sky. This dome-shaped theatre was built with the latest equipment, enabling visitors to soar into space as well as experience the thrills of an interplanetary journey in a three-dimensional environment. The curved ceiling represents the sky and shows moving images of planets and stars through projection onto a large-screen dome at an angle of 120 degrees. This planetarium features three kinds of exhibits. They Journey to Infinity presents a celestial show of stars, planets and other heavenly bodies in virtual reality. The Ei Amader Bangladesh features Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 7 March lecture, while the Grand Canyon describes North America's settlement clan, Garikhad, which existed in the Grand Canyon 4000 years ago. The planetarium also has a 30-seat Space Ride Simulator. Tk 50 for Planetarium; Tk 20 for Space Ride Simulator 2017-02-16

Do

• Institute of Arts and Crafts (Charukola Institute), University of Dhaka, Shahbag, 23.7357°, 90.3947°, +880 2 9675219 (ext 8570 or 8571), duregstr@bangla.net. Houses a representative collection of folk-art, modern art and paintings by numerous artists of Bangladesh.

Buy

University

• Banga (or Bango) Bazar, is a block west of the Gulistan bus station on Kamruzzaman Sharani Street at the edge of Old Dhaka. For shopaholics this is probably a paradise but for others it can be a nightmare. There are thousands of small stalls intersected by narrow walkways which are often jammed with people. The quality varies widely but the prices can be very cheap after hard bargaining, such as US$1 for a T-shirt, US$3 for blue jeans and US$5 for jackets. However, this is not a market for the brand-conscious.

Tejgaon-Dhanmondi

• Bashundara City Mall, Pantha Path (just west of the Pan Pacific Hotel), 23.7512°, 90.3909°. A modern 10-storey shopping complex with a wide variety of shops, a supermarket, a food court, cinema, and more. 2019-11-03

Eat

University

• New Café Jheel, 18/1 Topkhana Road (Opposite the National Press Club), 23.730165°, 90.407814°, +880 2-9552255. Serves good local dishes for the budget traveler. Expect to pay Tk 150-200 for a 3 course meal. Although you can possibly get lunch/dinner for as low as Tk 60.
• Jharna Grill, 107 Kazi Nazrul Islam Ave (In Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel), 23.74957°, 90.39437°, +880 2 811 1005. The top restaurant in the hotel serves very good seafood. Expect to pay Tk 3,000 for a 3-course meal with drinks. The hotel has other good restaurants too.
• The Amber Room, 1 Minto Road (In InterContinental Hotel), 23.74134°, 90.39711°, +880-2-55663030. A fancy steakhouse and seafood restaurant in the InterContinental Hotel. Also has wine pairings. Tk 3000 2019-11-02
• Elements, 1 Minto Road (In InterContinental Hotel), 23.74134°, 90.39711°, +880-2-55663030. A good but very expensive buffet with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tk 4000 2019-11-02
• Aqua Deck, 1 Minto Road (In InterContinental Hotel), 23.74134°, 90.39711°, +880-2-55663030. A lounge next to the pool in the InterContinental Hotel with things like sandwiches and salads. More affordable than the other restaurants in the hotel. Tk 1200 2019-11-02

Tejgaon-Dhanmondi

• Mama Halim, 6 Mirpur Road (across from Dhanmondi Lake Park), 23.748084°, 90.380211°, +880 1955382239. Biryani, kebabs, cakes, ice cream, biscuits, fruit, and also gifts.
• Coopers Bakery, Mirpur Road, Kalabagan, 23.746846°, 90.380951°, +880 1729076914. Very famous for cakes and fast food. 2021-07-22
• Red Tomato, 46 Road No. 27 (Rangs Nasim Square), 23.752857°, 90.369431°. A medium quality, old Chinese restaurant which serves Chinese and Thai food. 2021-07-22
• Voot, House 36 Road No. 2, 23.738698°, 90.378094°, +880 1754833855. An upscale restaurant with a haunted theme (VOOT-meaning ghost in Bengali), high quality food, next to the well known Rifles Square Market. 2021-07-22
• Bashudhara City Food Court, Pantha Path (8th floor of Bashundhara City), 23.7512°, 90.3909°. A large food court in the Bashundhara City Mall with all manner of fast food, western food, Bangladeshi food and more. There is also a slightly higher end Food Hall in the food court. 2019-11-03

Other Areas

• Bella Italia, Gulshan 2 (2nd floor of the Eastern Bank Limited building - beside Shoppers' World), 23.784296°, 90.417285°, +880 1732-706038. The proprietor was employed in the restaurant business in Italy and this place serves fairly authentic thin-crust pizzas and pastas. Mains are around Tk 300-600
• El Toro, House 9/A Rd 36, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh, +880 1 861 6343. 11:30-22:30. A Mexican restaurant serving burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas and others. Mains around Tk 250-300
• Sura, House 32, Road 43, 23.791811°, 90.412658°, +880 1726-070059. Korean restaurant near the Egyptian embassy. Table-top barbecue and most popular Korean dishes are available, along with a selection of sushi and sashimi. Popular with Koreans and other expats. Expect to pay at least Tk 500 per person for a 3-course dinner.

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Hotel Motijheel, 28/i Toyenbee Circular Road (near Dainik Banglar mor). Tk 300-600
• White House Hotel, 155 Shanti Nagar Road (near Siddheswari Circle), 23.738827°, 90.416478°, +880 2-8317726. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Rooms have air conditioninig, television, and internet connection with a decent speed. Tk 2,500-5,000

Mid-range

• Grand Azad Hotel, 55 Purana Paltan, 23.730652°, 90.412082°, +880-2-9559399, info@grandazadhotel.com. 500 metres from the main city and some of the main tourist attractions. Modern hotel with facilities including a gym, lounge, restaurant, snooker room and an on site beauty salon. Prices from US$37-106.

Splurge

• Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka, 107 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, 23.749587°, 90.394542°, +880-8111005, dhaka@panpacific.com. For a long time was considered one of the top hotels in the city. In room internet access is available and works well. The hotel also has a swimming pool to enjoy. A room on the Pacific floor (7/8) will cost US$290 including breakfast. These rooms are a good choice since laundry and wired internet access are included in the price, plus a free bar in the Pacific lounge from 18:00-20:00. There are good restaurants and service is excellent throughout the hotel.
• InterContinental Dhaka, 1 Minto Road, 23.74134°, 90.39711°, +880-2-55663030. A very nice outpost of the InterContinental Hotel brand, part of IHG. Several restaurants, a bar, conference space, pool From US$150 per night 2019-11-02
• Hotel Sarina, Plot # 27, Road # 17, Banani (in the diplomatic area of town), 23.793337°, 90.404630°, +880 2 8859604, reservations@sarinahotel.com. 5* hotel, all rooms have high speed internet connection along with dedicated port for laptop, mini bar, in-room safe and satellite TV. Has an Italian restaurant on site. $110-450
• Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan 2 (in the diplomatic area of town), 23.790380°, 90.412444°, +880 2 8859991, info@lakeshorehotel.com.bd. Luxury 80-room hotel, rooftop pool, fitness, wireless and LAN Internet. Corporate discounts of 30% available. Probably the best medium-sized 5* in the city. US$100-220
• The Westin, Plot-01, Road 45, Gulshan-2 (In the diplomatic area), 23.793163°, 90.414517°, +880 2 989 1988. Relatively new, modern, clean, great service, and would be at home in any major western city. However, extortionately expensive - over US$10 for a small beer US$200-240 in winter, varies seasonally up to $1,100
• Six Seasons Hotel, Road 96, House 19, Gulshan 2 (In the diplomatic area), 23.7945233°, 90.4174264°, +880 9604 666 666, info@sixseasonshotel.com. 82 rooms with all modern facilities for visitors. Menu options include Bangladeshi, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Continental.

Connect

Related Wikipedia article: Motijheel