World largest mangrove | World longest natural beach
What to see -
1. Sundarban - a visit to Sundarban, a large mangrove forest in Southern Bangladesh, would be #1 on my list. This is a multi-day guided tour, since you need a boat to get there and explore.
7. Coxs Bazar and Kuakata - beaches. (see my section on Cox Bazar for more information)
3. Srimongol - about 3.5 hours by car from Dhaka, this area contains several tea gardens and Lawachhera national forest. It is easy to explore both Lawachhera and the tea gardens. If you need to stay overnight, the Tea Resort is a good place. Or you can make it a (long) day-trip from Dhaka.
4. Old Dhaka - those interested in architecture as well as exploring narrow alleys and disorientingly crazy crowds can spend days walking through and exploring old Dhaka. Don't miss Bara Katara, Lalbagh Fort, Star Mosque, Armenian Church and Dhakeshwari Temple.
5. Sonargaon - this was the first capital of Bengal, and it still retains historical buildings. Panam Nagar, dating back about 100 years, is an interesting ghost town. A few km away is a replica of Taj Mahal. About an hour from Dhaka.
6. New Dhaka - Curzon Hall, Shaheed Minar, Parliament Building (designed by Louis Kahn) etc.
7. Chittagong Hill Tracts - The Hill Tracts are supposed to be very pretty, but I have not been there for many many years. Guide Tours has a hotel in Bandorbon; there is also Peda Ting Ting, an eco-resort on an island near Kaptai.
8. Buddhist ruins - There are several ancient (1000+ years) Buddhist ruins spread around the country, including Moinamoti, Paharpur and some near Rajshahi.
8. Buddhist ruins - There are several ancient (1000+ years) Buddhist ruins spread around the country, including Moinamoti, Paharpur and some near Rajshahi.
9. Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet - The first two are pretty cities to explore. The outskirts of Sylhet (towards Tamabil, and the airport road) are very beautiful.
Also on my list of places to visit are Birisiri, Madhupur and St Martin's Island, but since I have not been there, I cannot tell you too much about them.
Activities
1. Bird-watching - Bangladesh has a huge number of birds, specially in winter. Catch a sight of the Masked Finfoot in Sundarban. Kingfishers, kites, hoopoes and orioles are also common.
2. Mountain Biking - Bangladesh is a great country for mountain biking because there are no mountains. Country roads that connect the villages together provide a splendid network for exploring, and if you come to a river, most likely you will find a boatman who will take you across. Bicycling through the meandering tea-garden paths is also fantastic.
3. Riverboating - a number of companies, including Contiki tours, take tourists on rides on the rivers. Try to get to the Dhaleswari, Meghna or Padma river, and give Buri Ganga and Turag a miss. Balu is ok, too.
4. Learning to Recycle - in Kamrangir Char near old Dhaka, there are some amazing recycling facilities.
5. Hiking - virtually any place outside Dhaka is good for walking. The more remote the place is, the more privacy you will have.
6. Metal Crafts - about 1 hour from Dhaka is Dhamrai, famous for its art and craft. At Dhamrai Metal Craft you can learn how those amazing metal sculptures are made.
7. Photography - if you are into photography, you will find the people of Bangladesh friendly and willing to pose. Or, if you take a trip on the Rocket launch, you will have plenty of opportunities to take pictures of birds and river dolphins. Tea gardens of Srimongol are great for nature photography, and old Dhaka provides opportunities for architectural photography.
8. Gastronomy in old Dhaka - start with some Bakarkhani crackers (available all over old Dhaka) and rich milk-tea, or eat breakfast at Haji's Biriyani in Bangshal (they slaughter 40-50 goats evey night for next morning's biriyani), lunch on a giant Rui-fish steak at Al Razzaque restaurant and in the evening head for mouth-watering kababs at Star Kabab.
9. Buddhist ruins - There are several ancient (1000+ years) Buddhist ruins spread around the country, including Moinamoti, Paharpur and some near Rajshahi.
10. Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet - The first two are pretty cities to explore. The outskirts of Sylhet (towards Tamabil, and the airport road) are very beautiful.
Also on my list of places to visit are Birisiri, Madhupur and St Martin's Island, but since I have not been there, I cannot tell you too much about them.
Shopping
Dhaka, Chittagong are not Dubai or New York, but then you don't need a thick wad of cash either. There are lots of shopping malls in around Dhaka and Chittagong, where you can buy export-quality clothes for a pittance. Aarong, Jatra and several other stores sell high-quality handcrafted goods. Both Dhaka and Chittagong has dedicated electronic shopping malls, where can buy cell phones, computers and other hope electronics at fairly decent price.... and don't forget the DVDs.
DHAKA : List of Malls and Shopping Centers
Bashundhara City, Dhaka
Riffles Square, Jigatala, Dhaka
Karnafuly City Garden, Shantinagar, Dhaka
Mouchak Market, Dhaka
New Market, Dhaka
Eastern Plaza, Hatirpool, Dhaka
Nahar Plaza, Hatirpool, Dhaka
Mutalib Plaza, Hatirpool, Dhaka
Eastern Plus, Shantinagar, Dhaka
Eastern Mallika, Old Elephant Road, Dhaka
Twin City Corcord Shopping Complex, Chamelibag, Dhaka
Metro Shopping Mall, Mirpur Road, Dhaka
Rapa Plaza, Mirpur Road, Dhaka
Orchid Point, Mirpur Road, Dhaka
Alpona Plaza, New Elephant Road, Dhaka
Multiplan Center, New Elephant Road, Dhaka
Bishal Centre, Moghbazar, Dhaka
Baitul Mukarram Market, Gulistan, Dhaka
Stadium Market, Gulistan, Dhaka
Navana Shopping Center, Gulshan-1, Dhaka
Rajluxmi Complex, Uttara, Dhaka
Royal Plaza, Uttara, Dhaka
Rajmoni Ishakha Shopping Complex, Kakrail, Dhaka
Capital Market, Mirpur Road, Dhaka
BCS Computer City, Aagargaon, Dhaka
Palwel Super Market, Noya Paltan, Dhaka
Farmview Super Market, Farmget, Dhaka
Mascot Plaza, Uttara, Dhaka
Home Delivery Online, Uttara, Dhaka
Polwel Carnation, Uttara, Dhaka
Pink City, Gulshan-2, Dhaka
Dhaka City Corporation Market, Gulshan-1, Dhaka
DCC Market, Gulshan-2, Dhaka
Police Plaza Concord, Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka
North Tower, Uttara, Dhaka
RAK Tower, Uttara, Dhaka
Grand Plaza, Mogbazar, Dhaka
CHITTAGONG : list of shopping malls and shopping centers :
CHITTAGONG : list of shopping malls and shopping centers :
BNSS Shopping Center, Halishor, Chittagong
Amin Center, Lalkhan Bazaar,Chittagong
Sanmar Ocean City, Nasirabad,Chittagong
Afmi Plaza Chittagong
Chittagong Computer City,Zohura Tower, Chowmuhony,Agrabad,Chittagong
Yousco City Center, GEC,Chittagong
Basuda Plaza, Chittagong
New Market, Chittagong
Mimi Suaper Market, Chittagong
Chittagong Trade Centre, Chittagong
Central Plaza, Chittagong
Moti Plaza, Chouck Bazaar,Chittagong
Keyari Plaza, Chouck Bazaar,Chittagong
Lucky Plaza, Agrabad,Chittagong
Mirza Ahmed Super Market, Chowmuhony,Agrabad,Chittagong
Bangkok Singapore Market, Agrabad,Chittagong
Singapore Market, Hazeepara,Agrabad,Chittagong
Bay Shopping Center, EPZ,Chittagong
Shah Amanat Shopping Center, Chittagong
Chittagong Shopping Complex, 2No Gate,Chittagong
South Land Center, Agrabad,Chittagong
Monni Plaza, Chittagong
Aktaruzzaman Center, Chittagong
VIP Tower, Chittagong
Apollo Shopping Center, Chittagong
Stadium Market, Chittagong
IFCO Center, Chittagong
Bangladesh Food Western food is available in all major hotels and most of the big restaurants in import cities. But local dishes are normally far better and more exotic. Curries of many kinds around, cooked with proper spices and hot curry powders, including Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, Chicken, mutton, beef, fish and prawns, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, boti kabab, shutli kabab and a variety of fish curries should be tried. Rice in the form of pulao, biriani-with rice and mutton or chicken and khichuri are available in any reasonable restaurant. Those who do not care for rice dishes can try mughlai parata, plain parata or naan, which go very well with curries. Seafood and sweet-water fish are available in most of the towns. Fish-lovers should not miss smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki and chingri (lobster/king prawns) malaikari, Prawn dopyaza.
DRINKS
Chai - the milky sweet tea available almost everywhere.
Lassi - the refreshing yogurt drink. Green coconut water is a fine, safe and refreshing drink. International soft drinks, such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, 7-up, Mirinda, Sun Crest and Sprite are readily available. Hard drinks are available in big hotels and selected restaurants. On Fridays drinking in public areas is not recommended for foreigners.
DESSERTS
Misti Dhohi, sweetened yogurt, Halua: a common dessert ranging from egg halua to carrot, sooji or wheat cream, almond, pistachio, nuts and so on, Sandesh: milk based dessert, one of the best available, Zorda: sweetened rice with nuts, Firni: rice flour cooked in milk, sugar and flavoring, Rasgolla & Kalojam: Two popular milk based desserts and made with sugar, flour and ghee, Ros Malai: round sweets floating in thick milk, Pitha: a blanket term for cakes or pastries including specific varieties such as chitoi, dhupi, takti, andosha, pufi, bhafa and pua.
FRUITS
Mangoes, Lichees, Bananas, Papayas, Jackfruit, Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut and Oranges.
Recommended Fast Food Restaurants:
Waterfront Restaurant, Zia International Airport, Ph: (880-2) 8915407
Coopers, Airport Road. Ph: (880-2) 8119993
Yummy Yummy etc.
The White Castle Ltd. 20, Kemal Ataturk Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 606268,605914
Seven Eleven, Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 8117263
Big Bite, 22/B Sonargaon Road,Hatirpul. Ph: (880-2) 9664140
Sajna, 10 South Avenue, Gulshan-1,Dhaka-1212.Ph: (880-2) 603507,603243
China Town, 53 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 8111329,8118425
Recommended Restaurants in Dhaka:
A number of good restaurants provide local and western food. These include:-
Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109
Santoor, House-2, Road-11(New), Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 9128737, 8213336
Goffers' Inn, Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592
Sakura Restaurant, near Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 509296
Ruchita Restaurant, Bangabandhu Avenue, Ph: 9555693
Mary Anderson, Floating Restaurant, Paglaghat, Ph: 067171288
La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282
Red Button, Farm Gate, Ph: 9117717
Balaka, Zia International Airport, Ph: 8914008
Kawran Saraj, Sonargaon Hotel, Ph: 8111005
Bithika, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 8611191, 8613391, 8614065
Recommended Chinese Restaurants
include:
Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109
Royal Orchid, Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 603573
Panda Garden, near Mohakhali Rail Gate, Ph: 608469
La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282
Hwwang Ho, Banani, Ph: 602932
Chung Wah, North-South Road, Ph: 9553263
Kawloon, Ph: 9111353; Goffers' Inn,
Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592;
Shangri-La, Ph: 8824015 at Banani Bazar and the Cathey Dhaka, Road 133
Gulshan, Ph: 608476
Besides there are some specialized restaurants which included,
Doice vita (Mexican & Italian), 54 Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 500589, 607980;
Sea Food Centre, 78/A Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 606175
Sawasdee (Thai), 65 Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 60607571, 8824476
Lemon Grass (Thai & Vietnarness),
Road 131, Gulshan-2, Ph: 8822376;
The White Castle, 20, Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 605914, 606268, 8812658
Angan Restaurant, SWC(3), Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka-1212 Ph: 8810448.