DhakaCapital
Bangladesh · Country profile
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, the crowded, pulsing metropolis of the river delta that ranks among the most densely populated and the most astonishing cities on earth. The city spreads across the green plain of the Ganges delta at the junction of the rivers, an enormous, living organism of the rickshaws, the markets, the garment factories and the mosques, where the traffic, the noise and the human energy reach a level of intensity that few places can match. The old town holds the historic fort, the mosques and the riverfront neighborhoods of the Mughal era, while the modern centre spreads the towers, the malls and the monuments of the independent state, and the river communities with their hand-pulled and the ferry boats frame the waterways of the city. Overwhelming, unforgettable and deeply human, Dhaka is the essential extreme experience of the subcontinent.
About Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh. The city's documented population is around 10,300,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) and Bengali is spoken; the dialling code is +880. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The Rickshaw Capital on the Rivers of the Delta
Dhaka is one of the most intensely alive cities on the planet, a vast, crowded delta metropolis of rickshaws, riverboats and relentless human energy. The old town with its forts and its mosques and the modern centre with its monuments and its markets frame the circuit, while the river and the ferry traffic run the deep historical identity of the city. The scale and the intensity take adjusting to, and the rewards are genuine friendships, extraordinary food and a ground-level sense of life that few cities can offer. It is the gateway of the country and a place that leaves a permanent impression.
The Taka, the Monsoon and the Crowded Streets
The climate is tropical and monsoonal, with the hot, humid weather for much of the year, the heavy rains of the monsoon of the summer months and the milder, drier winter the best window. The old town, the fort and the monuments of the capital are the essential circuit, and the river and the nearby historic towns fill the days. The taka is the currency, the Bengali is the language with the English spoken in the businesses, and the cash is the practical way while the cards work in the malls and the hotels. The city is overwhelming, so plan the days, drink the bottled water and take the usual care of the crowded streets.
The Lalbagh, the Star Mosque and the Biryani of the Old Town
The rickshaws of the city, the hundreds of thousands of the hand-pulled and the cycle rickshaws that give Dhaka the name of the rickshaw capital of the world, are the essential, colourful sight and the most authentic way to cover the short distances of the old town. The fort of the Lalbagh, the half-finished Mughal fortress of the historic quarter, and the mosques of the old town, from the star mosque with its mosaic to the great bara and the chota of the riverfront, anchor the deep history. The river of the Buriganga with its ferries, its country boats and the communities of the boat people gives the water identity of the city, and the mouth-watering food of the capital, from the biryani and the kebabs to the sweets of the region, is the great culinary reward.
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- Country
- Bangladesh
- Population
- 10,300,000
- Coordinates
- 23.8433, 90.3978
- Capital
- Dhaka
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
- Languages
- Bengali
- Calling code
- +880
- Country code
- BD
Getting to Dhaka
Airports we list for Dhaka:
Frequently asked questions
Is Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh?
Yes — Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh.
What currency do I need in Dhaka?
The local currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Languages spoken in Bangladesh include Bengali.
What is the dialling code for Bangladesh?
The international dialling code for Bangladesh is +880.
Which airport should I fly into for Dhaka?
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) is the airport we list for Dhaka.
Flying out of Dhaka? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.