Destination Info

Area Information
The historic city of Dhaka, the capital, lies on the banks of the river Buriganga in the centre of Bangladesh. The old town of Dhaka, south of the city centre, is the site of most of the tourist attractions, including the Lalbagh Fort, the Star Mosque, and the Ahsan Manzil Palace Museum.

The city of Dhaka was predominantly a city of the Mughals, whose governors and viceroys built several palaces, mosques and katras. Dhaka's finest specimen of this time is the Aurangabad Fort, commonly known as Lalbagh Fort, uncompleted but worth a visit. Also in this area of Dhaka is the spectacular Ahsan Manzil Palace Museum, the Bara Katra, the Chota Katra and several mosques of note.

The old European quarter lies just north of Dhaka's old town, which houses the Presidential Palace and the National Museum. Dhaka's commercial and diplomatic regions are north-east of this zone. Dhaka Zoo and the Botanical Gardens are a short taxi ride into the suburbs.

Once famed for its muslin, Dhaka is now renowned for pink pearls and a rich tradition of handicrafts. Shoppers can find terrific prices for gold and silver products, and the Dhaka shopping areas of New Market and Elephant Road are often busy but worth the trip.

Currency
Bangladeshi Taka

Electricity
220 volt

Shopping & Business Hours
10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Taxes
15% Value Added Tax on all Goods and Services

Time Zone
+6 hours GMT

Tipping
Not mandatory, however 10% on top of the bill for exceptional service

Visa Requirements
Visa required prior to departure for most nationalities.