Bangladesh
Asia · Dhaka · BD
Bangladesh is the delta nation of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, a green, crowded, river-cut land where the rickshaws, the rice fields and the world's largest mangrove forest set the rhythm of a whole country. Dhaka, one of the densest capitals on earth, heaves with rickshaws, street food and the Mughal and colonial landmarks of its old quarters, while the countryside beyond spreads rivers, ferries and houseboats in every shade of green. The Sundarbans along the southern coast guard the tigers of the mangrove and the crocodiles of the creeks, and the tea gardens of Sylhet climb the northeastern hills. The Chittagong Hill Tracts, the long beach of Cox's Bazar and the riverine life of the great delta give the country its varied, startling face. Loud, vibrant, warm and astonishingly hospitable, Bangladesh rewards the traveller who comes with patience and an open mind.
Overview
Bangladesh is a country in Asia. Its capital is Dhaka and the international dialling code is +880. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Bengali. Local currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. We also list 1 city in Bangladesh: Dhaka.
The Rickshaws of Dhaka and the Streets of the Old City
Dhaka moves on the rickshaw, hundreds of thousands of painted three-wheelers that fill the streets in a slow, colourful tide, each one decorated by hand with river scenes, film stars and the geometric patterns of the country. The centre around the old town packs the historic highlights into a small, chaotic walk: the pink palace of Ahsan Manzil beside the river, the Dhakeshwari temple, the Armenian quarter and the sixteenth-century fortress of Lalbagh, with its three domes and its garden. The water of the Buriganga, the crowded boat landings and the smell of the cooking oil give the old city a raw, alive feel. Riding a rickshaw through the maze, holding on as the traffic parts, is the essential Dhaka experience, equal parts terrifying, thrilling and unforgettable.
The Sundarbans and the Tigers of the Great Mangrove
The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, spreads across the great delta where the Ganges meets the bay, a low, watery world of mud, creeks and the salt-tolerant trees that crowd the silty banks. The reserve is the last stronghold of the Bengal tiger, and the patrol boats of the forest service move through the channels with an eye on the shore, where the cats and the crocodiles each keep their territory. The boat journeys are slow and silent, with the kingfishers, the wild boar and the deer appearing at the edges of the water, and the famous spot-watching of the tiger a matter of patient luck. The forest is a serious, atmospheric wilderness, and the experience of drifting through it is unlike anything else in Asia.
The Tea Gardens of Sylhet and the Living Bridges of the Hills
The northeastern district of Sylhet lies rolling in tea, the low green hills of the estates running down to the rivers of the region. The gardens are open to the walkers and the photographers, with the pluckers working in the morning light and the great lakes of the tea district, like the lake of Sreemangal, reflecting the sky. Beyond the tea, the rainforest of the Lawachara national park holds the gibbons and the dozens of birds, and the tribes of the eastern hills keep the old ways of life, with the living bridges of the region, grown from the roots of the great trees across the streams of the forest. The local markets carry the honey of the region, the jackfruit and the pineapples, baskets and the handwoven cloth. Sylhet is green, gentle and entirely charming.
The Long Beach of Cox's Bazar and the Fishing Boats of the Coast
The town of Cox's Bazar sits on one of the longest stretches of beach in the world, a wide, grey-gold curve of sand that runs for more than a hundred kilometres along the Bay of Bengal. In the morning the beach is the sea's: the fishing fleet rows out, the nets dry on the poles and the surf of the bay rolls in flat and constant. By the afternoon the town takes over, with the pony rides, the beach shops and the crowds of the weekend families. The coast road north to the fishing port adds the big hauls and the boatyards, and the islands of the bay, reached by the local ferries, hold the quieter sands. It is an unpolished, lively, genuinely local beach resort, and its scale alone makes it a sight in itself.
The Houseboat Life of the Delta and the Rivers Beyond
The delta of the great rivers is a world of water, and the traditional way to see it is from the deck of the wooden houseboats that cruise the channels of the south. The boats move with the current, shading into the narrow creeks where the rice paddies begin and the villages sit tight against the water. The cooking is done on board and the nights are spent on the roof under the stars, with the fires of the fishermen on the banks and the sound of the river all around. The floating markets of the delta trade the vegetables and the fish between the boats, and the launch journeys of the interior carry the passengers through a landscape that is more water than land. Travelling the delta by boat is to understand Bangladesh from the inside.
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- Capital
- Dhaka
- Currency
- Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)
- Languages
- Bengali
- Calling code
- +880
- Internet TLD
- bd
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Bangladesh.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Bangladesh?
You pay with Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) in Bangladesh. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Bangladesh?
The languages we list for Bangladesh are Bengali. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Bangladesh?
The dialling code for Bangladesh is +880 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Bangladesh?
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka is the airport we cover for Bangladesh.
Which cities in Bangladesh do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Bangladesh: Dhaka (capital).