Dhaka (Bengali: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), formerly Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is the largest city by population in the historical region of Bengal and a major city in South Asia. It is a hub for trade and culture, with a long history as a Bengali capital. It has been called the City of Mosques and the Venice of the East, due to its Islamic architecture and a riverfront facing the Buriganga (Old Ganges). It is also known as the Rickshaw Capital of the World, as there are over 500,000 cycle rickshaws running on its roads.
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Dhaka (DHAH-kah) emerged as a cosmopolitan city during the Mughal Empire. Today, Dhaka is South Asia's second most populous capital after Delhi and an important financial center alongside Mumbai and Karachi. Modern Dhaka is a thriving, colourful and congested metropolis. Being one of the most densely populated places on the planet, Dhaka can be one of the most frenetic cities in the world. Its streets and rivers are filled with colourful chaos. The city plays host to the highest number of rickshaws in the world. Dhaka is also the center of Bangladesh's textile industry, the country's principal foreign exchange earner.
It's not a lie; Dhaka is one of the most congested cities in the world due in large part to being one of the most populous cities in the world. Dhaka has often been referred to as the "Traffic Capital of the World", and you can literally spend hours in traffic. A poorly developed road network, an inefficient traffic system, an unskilled traffic police force, poor efficacy of traffic laws, constant construction, lack of adequate parking spaces, and bad driving habits are some of the many reasons why Dhaka has immense congestion problems. If you're struggling to find a fair fare with a driver among the multitude of transportation options, try walking a short distance to the next one.
Individual listings can be found in Dhaka's district articles The University of Dhaka in Dhaka/Central was an epicenter of Bangladesh's struggle for self-determination. It has several notable colonial buildings, including the Curzon Hall, a masterpiece of European-Mughal architecture. The Burdwan House is home to the Bangla Academy. The campus also hosts the Central Shaheed Minar, the national monument dedicated to the Bengali Language Movement; as well as the tomb of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Gurdwara Nanak Shahi in Dhaka was built in 1830.
Individual listings can be found in Dhaka's district articles
Individual listings can be found in Dhaka's district articles Dhaka has an enormous variety of food catering to all budgets. Old Dhaka is overflowing with cheap Bangladeshi food where a meal can cost from Tk 50. In the upscale areas such as Gulshan and Banani there are Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek and Mexican restaurants, and franchises such as Pizza Hut and KFC - all at prices that the majority can't afford. Reservations are usually not required in most restaurants.
Individual listings can be found in Dhaka's district articles There is a party network between the different expat clubs (Dutch Club, Canadian Club, Nordic Club, International Club, American Club, etc.) and some Bangladeshi clubs (Heritage, Privilege, etc.) These clubs usually require membership to enter, or befriend a member and have them sign you in. From there, you can purchase a book of tickets or a cash card and then use it to order your drinks. Although alcohol is most easily available at the international clubs and top hotels, there are quite a few local places to find a drink for the enterprising traveller.
If you happen to arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at night, it is best to remain there until morning. While the chances of anything bad happening upon exit are somewhat low, incidents such as kidnappings by taxi drivers are known to have happened to tourists who have tried to leave the airport in the small hours of the morning. Otherwise Dhaka isn't terribly unsafe, but as in any huge city you should keep aware of your surroundings and try not to walk around at night. People are generally friendly and ready to help. The chance of problems is low.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Dhaka typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 30 rainy days.
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