Rajshahi - metropolitan city in Western Bangladesh

Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh.

Understand

Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi District and Division in northwestern Bangladesh. The Rajshahi municipality was established in 1876, one of the first in Bangladesh. There is a total population of 700,000 people. One of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Padma, runs along the southern end of the city.

The city is home to many educational institutions, leading to a large student population and the nickname of "education city". The city is in proximity to many ancient capitals of Bengal, notably 'Lakhnoiti' or 'Lokhnaboti' and 'Pundra'. Rajshahi is famous for trade in many exotic items, including pure silk, mangoes and lychees. Attractive silk products are cheaper in Rajshahi than anywhere else in the country, with the city often referred to as the 'silk city'. There are also a number ancient mosques, shrines and temples in and around Rajshahi. The city of Rajshahi was declared as the happiest city in the world by the World Happiness Survey in 2006.

Get in

By plane

• Shah Makhdum Airport (IATA: RJH), 24.436944°, 88.616389°. is the primary airport of the city. United Airlines has flights to Dhaka on Thursdays and Sundays, and flights to Saidpur. But the schedule changes frequently, and sometimes the airport has no services at all.

By bus

It takes approximately 5 hours by road to reach Rajshahi from the capital, Dhaka. A number of bus services are available from Dhaka via Natore, some with air-conditioning. Bus services to other major districts are also available from the bus terminal.

Renowned bus services are Hanif Enterprise, National Travels, Shamoli Paribahan, Desh Travels, Grameen Travels. Bus fare: non-AC BDT 710, AC-BDT 1400.

By train

There are a number of luxurious intercity services between Dhaka and Rajshahi each day. The main ones are the Padma Express, the Silk City Express and the Dhumketue Express.

• Silk City Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 2:40PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 7:35AM.
• Padma Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 10:45PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 4PM.
• Dhumketue Express - departs Dhaka at 6AM, reaching Rajshahi at noon, and departs Rajshahi at 11:20PM, reaching Dhaka at 4:50AM

The Silk City Express does not operate Sundays, the Padma Express has no service on Tuesdays, and the Dhumketue Express does not run Mondays.

The major station for long-distance trains is Rajshahi Railway Station 📍, located north of the city centre.

By car

The journey from Dhaka is 261 km, taking approximately 5 hours, depending on traffic. You must cross the famous Jamuna Bridge to reach the city.

Get around

The usual forms of Bangladeshi transport are available in the city; taxis, rickshaws and auto-rickshaw CNGs. Negotiated and metered fares will usually be cheaper than in Dhaka. Like anywhere in the country, there are a lot of people and vehicles on the road, but the traffic is significantly quieter than in the capital.

See

Further Afield

For more detail, see Rajshahi District article.

• Bagha Mosque. A historical mosque situated in Bagha of Rajshahi. There is a picture of this mosque in one side of Tk 50 note.
• Puthia Palace. Situated a little far away from the city. Its an ancient palace which attracts all to visit.

Do

Buy

Look for both traditional and western style clothes at Rajshahi stores.

• Shaheb Bazaar, 24.36537°, 88.60002°. a raucous street scene of commerce. 2022-05-01
• RDA Market, 24.36489°, 88.59816°. on the south side of Shaheb Bazaar, this is the largest market in Rajshahi, full of vendors selling clothes, food, cosmetics, etc. 2022-05-01
• New Market, 24.3724°, 88.60237°. a bit more shopping mall-like, but another large market with both hawkers and higher-end vendors. 2022-05-01

Eat

Some nice restaurants and fast food places are available in the city.

• Nanking Chinese Restaurant, Monibazar.
• Party Point, Shalbagan, +880 1711346484.
• Warisan Chinese Restaurant and Catering, Shaheb Bazar.
• Chili's Chinese Restaurant, Shaheb Bazar.

Sleep

• Grand River View Hotel (গ্র্যান্ড রিভার ভিউ হোটেল), Kajihata, 24.368724441428938°, 88.57920642892063°, +8801877 766966, reservation@grandriverviewbd.com. Pool, Gym, Loundry Service, Beauty Cares, Restaurant, Cineplex 2022-10-01
• Chez Razzak Suites (চেজ রাজ্জাক সার্ভিস), Road#02, Padma Housing Estate, 24.377719478453656°, 88.6245897999993°, +880 721-761729, info@chezrazzakservice.com. Two-star business class Guest House Suites structured & the newly opening soon in beautiful residential area at Rajshahi hub.
• Rajshahi Parjatan Motel (পর্যটন মোটেল, বাংলাদেশ পর্যটন কর্পোরেশন), Abdul Majid Road, Rajpara, Rajshahi, 24.368032168728213°, 88.57291067091583°, +880 721775237, +880 1558143636, +880 1991139394, motelrajshahi@gmail.com. Check-in: Noon, check-out: Noon. Facilities include a complementary breakfast, Wifi zone, restaurant, laundry service, room service, ISD/NWD telephone, hot and cold water supply, all rooms with color TV with satellite/telephone private balcony, outside catering service, free car parking, first aid, and safe deposit box in reception.
• Hotel Nice International (হোটেল নাইস ইন্টারন্যাশনাল), Shaheb Bazar, 24.365513°, 88.601249°, +880 1740 133933, hotel.nice@yahoo.com.
• Hotel Mukta International, Batar Mor, Ganakpara, Shaheb Bazar, 24.367022°, 88.600432°, +8801711-302322, contact@hotelmukta.com.bd. Tk 1200
• Hotel Century, Luxmipur, 24.371503°, 88.581957°, +880 721-775063. This is one of the nice hotels in Rajshahi. Price is cheap here with air-conditioned rooms and parking.
• Jatra Flagship Rajshahi City Center (যাত্রা ফ্লাগশিপ রাজশাহী সিটি সেন্টার), Padma Residential Area, 24.378521°, 88.622150°, +880130 9552872, reservation@jatra.com. 2022-10-01

Connect

Go next

• Natore District - Borders the district in the east, just beside Rajshahi City.
• Chapai Nawabganj District - Borders the district to the North-west.
• India: You can move towards Chapai Nawabganj and then towards India. Permission must be obtained for legal Border crossing.