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• In Dhaka, the historic city and capital of Bangladesh (north central), visit the old part of the city. Buildings of interest include the uncompleted 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, the stately Ahsan Manzil Palace and Museum (sometimes referred to as the Pink Palace), 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 and the Dhakeswari Temple. It is worth noting the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery near Central Railway Station at Kamalapur, which enshrines the 1,000-year-old black stone Buddha. 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.
• Immerse yourself in history in Sonargaon, about 30km (20 miles) east of Dhaka, the capital of the region between the 13th and early 17th centuries. The city retains a number of historical relics of interest, although many of these are now in ruins.
• More Hindu temples can be found in Dhamrai, northwest of Dhaka.
• Around 43km (27 miles) from Sylhet are the ruins of Jaintiapur, once the capital of an ancient kingdom.
• Although often ignored by tourists, the Rajshahi Division, in the northwest of the country, 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.
• In the southwest, places of interest include the mosque of Sat Gumbad, and the town of Bagerhat (home of Khan Jahan Ali, a well-known Sufi mystic).
• In Kuakata (southwest), see a 21m (70ft) Buddhist statue.
• In the south, discover 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.
• In Chittagong (southeast), the second-largest city in the country, 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 Dargah of Sah Amanat is a holy shrine located in the heart of the town.
• Approximately 8km (5 miles) from Chittagong is the picturesque Foy’s Lake in the railway township of Pahartali. The Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami, a holy shrine situated on a hillock in Nasirabad, is situated 6km (4 miles) to the northwest of the town. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises, supposedly the descendants of evil spirits.
• Be enchanted by beautiful panoramic scenery and waterfalls in Madhabkunda, north of Dhaka.
• Perched on the bank of the manmade Kaptai Lake, northeast of Chittagong, Rangamati is also a place of scenic beauty and unspoiled tribal life.
• Tamabil, a border outpost on Sylhet–Shilong Road, also offers excellent views of the surrounding area, including some spectacular waterfalls across the Indian border. Zaflong is a scenic spot nearby, set amidst tea gardens and beautiful hills.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Immerse yourself in history in Sonargaon, about 30km (20 miles) east of Dhaka, the capital of the region between the 13th and early 17th centuries. The city retains a number of historical relics of interest, although many of these are now in ruins.
• More Hindu temples can be found in Dhamrai, northwest of Dhaka.
• Around 43km (27 miles) from Sylhet are the ruins of Jaintiapur, once the capital of an ancient kingdom.
• Although often ignored by tourists, the Rajshahi Division, in the northwest of the country, 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.
• In the southwest, places of interest include the mosque of Sat Gumbad, and the town of Bagerhat (home of Khan Jahan Ali, a well-known Sufi mystic).
• In Kuakata (southwest), see a 21m (70ft) Buddhist statue.
• In the south, discover 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.
• In Chittagong (southeast), the second-largest city in the country, 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 Dargah of Sah Amanat is a holy shrine located in the heart of the town.
• Approximately 8km (5 miles) from Chittagong is the picturesque Foy’s Lake in the railway township of Pahartali. The Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami, a holy shrine situated on a hillock in Nasirabad, is situated 6km (4 miles) to the northwest of the town. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises, supposedly the descendants of evil spirits.
• Be enchanted by beautiful panoramic scenery and waterfalls in Madhabkunda, north of Dhaka.
• Perched on the bank of the manmade Kaptai Lake, northeast of Chittagong, Rangamati is also a place of scenic beauty and unspoiled tribal life.
• Tamabil, a border outpost on Sylhet–Shilong Road, also offers excellent views of the surrounding area, including some spectacular waterfalls across the Indian border. Zaflong is a scenic spot nearby, set amidst tea gardens and beautiful hills.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.