Showing posts with label dhaka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dhaka. Show all posts

Attractions of Dhaka

Dhaka city is a busy city with many attractions. People from all over the country visits the capital for vacation and entertainment. Dhaka is well known for some if its landmarks. This city is known as the city of mosques, it has over 500 mosques in Dhaka.

The main Attractions:

Mosques : Dhaka has several hundred mosques. Prominent are Baitull Mukarram-National Mosque, the seven Domed Mosque (17th century), Star Mosque (18th century) , Chawkbazar Mosque and Huseni Dalan Mosque.

Lalbagh Fort : It was built in 1678 A.D. by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The fort was the scene of bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) when 260 sepoys stationed here backed by the people revolted against British forces. Outstanding among the monuments of the Lalbagh are the tomb of Pari Bibi , Lalbagh Mosque, Audience Hall and Hammam of Nawab Shaista Khan now housing a museum.

Bahadur Shah Park: It was built to commemorate the martyrs of the first liberation war (1857-59) against British rule. It is said that the revolting sepoys and their civil compatriots were publicly hanged here.

Bangabandhu Memorial Museum : The residence of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi has been turned into a musuam. It contains rare collection of personal effects and photographs of his lifetime.

Mukti Juddha Museum : Situated at Segun Bagicha area of the city the museum contains rare photographs of Liberation war and items used by the freedom fighters during the period.

Ahsan Manzil Museum : On the bank of the river Buriganga in Dhaka the pink majestic Ahsan Manzil has been renovated and turned into a museum recently. It is an example of the nations rich cultural heritage. It was the home of the Nawab of Dhaka and a silent spectator to many events. The renovated Ahsan Manzil is a monument of immense historical beauty. It has 31 rooms with a huge dome atop which can be seen from miles around. It now has 23 galleries displaying portraits, furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawab.

Curzon Hall : Beautiful architectural building named after Lord Curzon. It now houses the Science Faculty of Dhaka University.

Old High Court Building : Originally built as the residence of the British Governor, it illustrates a happy blend of European and Mughal architecture.

Dhaka Zoo : Popularly known as Mirpur Zoo. Colorful and attractive collections of different local and foreign species of animals and birds including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger are available here.

National Museum : Located at the central point of the city, the museum contains a large number of interesting collections including sculptures and paintings of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods.

Botanical Garden : Built on an area of 205 acres of land at Mirpur and adjacent to Dhaka Zoo. One can have a look at the zoo and the botanical garden in one trip.

National Park : Situated at Rejendrapur, 40 km. north of Dhaka city , this is a vast (1,600 acres) national recreational forest with facilities for picnic and rowing etc.

Shahid Minar : Symbol of Bengali nationalism. This monument was built to commemorate the martyrs of the historic Language movement of 1952. Hundreds and thousands of people with floral wreaths and bouquet gather on 21 February every year to pay respect in a solemn atmosphere. Celebrations begin at zero hour of midnight.

National Poet’s Graveyard : Revolutionary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam died on the 29 August 1976 and was buried here. The graveyard is adjacent to the Dhaka University Mosque.

Suhrawardy Uddyan (Garden) : A Popular Park. The oath of independence of Bangladesh was taken here and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman gave clarion call for independence on this occasion on the 7th March 1971. The place is famous for its lush verdure and gentle breezes. Eternal Flame to enliven the memory of the martyrs of our Liberation war has been blown here recently.

Mausoleum of National Leaders : Located at the southwestern corner of Suhrawardy Uddyan, it is the eternal resting place of great national leaders, Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque, Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy and Khaja Nazimuddin.

Banga Bhaban : The official residence of the President, located in the city . One can have an outside view of this grand palace.

Baldha Garden : Unique creation of the late Narendra Narayan Roy, the landlord of Baldha. Year of establishment was 1904. Located in Wari area of Dhaka city, the garden with its rich collection of indigenous and exotic plants is one of the most exciting attraction for naturalists and tourists.

Ramna Green: A vast stretch of green garden surrounded by a serpentine lake near the Sheraton Hotel.

Parliament House : Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament House) located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar has distinctive architectural features. Designed by the famous architect Louis I. Kahn, it may be called an architectural wonder of this region.

Science Museum : The museum is a modern learning center related to the latest scientific discoveries. It is situated at Agargaon.

National Memorial : It locates at Savar, 35, km. from Dhaka city. The memorial designed by architect Moinul Hossain is dedicated to the sacred memory of the millions of unknown martyrs of the war of liberation.

Lalbagh Fort














Lalbagh Fort or Fort Aurangabad is a incomplete palace of the Mughals at the Buriganga river. Construction was commenced in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam during his 15-month long vice-royalty of Bengal, but before the work could complete, he was recalled by Aurangzeb. His successor, Shaista Khan, did not complete the work, though he stayed in Dhaka up to 1688. His daughter Bibi Pari died here in 1684 and this led him to consider the fort to be ominous.

For long the fort was considered to be a combination of three buildings (the mosque, the tomb of Bibi Pari and the Diwan-i-Aam), two gateways and a portion of the partly damaged fortification wall. But recent excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh have revealed the existence of other structures and it is now possible to guess a more or less complete picture of the fort. In the present fort area of 18 acres, excavations have revealed remains of 26/27 structures with elaborate arrangements for water supply, sewerage, roof gardens, and fountains. Renovation work by the Archaeology Department has now put Lalbagh Fort in a much-improved shape and has now become an interesting spot for tourists and visitors.

Of the three surviving gateways, the southern one is the most imposing. Seen from the front it is a three storeyed structure with a fronton, bordered with slender minarets. From inside it gives the impression of a two storeyed structure. The gateway on the northeast is a much smaller and simpler structure. It is gathered from structural evidence that the fort extended to the eastern side beyond the present Shaista Khan Road. The third gate, now in the centre of the northern boundary wall, was left incomplete. The present one is a recent construction.

On the northern side of the southern fortification were placed utility buildings, such as the stable, the administrative block, and its western part accommodated a beautiful roof-garden with arrangements for fountains and a water reservoir. The residential part was located on the eastern side of the western fortification, mainly to the south-west of the mosque, where the remains of a sewerage line have been found. The southern fortification is a twin wall, the outer one is about 6.10m high and 1.37m thick, while the inner one is 13.72m high with same thickness. The two are solid up to the height of 6.10m and there are regular openings in the upper part of the inner wall.

The double-storeyed bastion at the southwestern corner of the fort was possibly a Hawakhana, with a water reservoir on its roof. Two lines of terracotta pipes have been found, which connected all establishments of the fort with this reservoir. An extra-strong terracotta pipe line made with double pipes, one inside the other, have been uncovered in the area between the Hammam and the tomb of Bibi Pari. The area westwards from the stable parallel to the southern fortification once had a beautiful roof garden with fountain, rose and star designs marking the flowerbeds, and a water reservoir. The buildings underneath contained the administrative blocks and the residential part on the western side. The central area of the fort is occupied by three buildings – the Diwan-i-Aam and the Hammam on its east, the mosque on the west and the tomb of Bibi Pari in between the two – in one line, but not at equal distance. A water channel with fountains at regular interval connect the three buildings from east to west and two similar channels run from south to north, one through the middle of the ground in between the Diwan-i-Aam and the tomb forming a square tank with fountains at the intersection with the east-west channel, and the other from the water reservoir passing through the bottom of the tomb. The water channels and the fountains, a very common feature of Mughal architecture, set an atmosphere not very unlike north Indian Mughal forts. A big square water tank (71.63m each side), placed in front (to the east) of the Diwan-i-Aam and in between the southern and northern gateways, adds to the beauty of the building. There are four corner stairs to descent into the tank.

The double storeyed Diwan-i-Aam attached with a single storeyed Hammam on its west is an imposing building. The Hmmam complex includes an open platform, a small kitchen, an oven, water storage area, a masonry brick bath-tub, a toilet, a dressing room and an extra room. The Hammam portion has an underground room for boiling water and a passage for sweepers. A long partition wall runs north-south along the western facade of the Hammam dividing the whole fort area into two divisions. The building in the middle, the tomb of Bibi Pari, is the most impressive of the surviving buildings of the fort. Eight rooms surround a central square room, containing the mortal remains of Bibi Pari, which is covered by a false dome, octagonal in shape, and wrapped by brass plate. The entire inner wall of the central room was covered with white marble, while the four side central rooms had stone skirting up to a height of one metre. The wall in the four corner rooms was skirted with beautiful glazed floral tiles. The tiles have recently been restored; two of the original tiles have been retained. The southeastern corner room contains a small grave, popularly known to be of Shamsad Begum, possibly a relative of Bibi Pari. The Lalbagh Fort Mosque is a three-domed mosque with a water tank in front (on the eastern side) for ablution.

The archaeological excavations have revealed strata of the Sultanate as well as of the pre-Muslim periods, from where terracotta heads and plaques have been found. Thus it is now justified to say that though the Mughals founded Dhaka, it was definitely inhabited long before the Muslims came to Bengal.

Tradition of old Dhaka TomTom


As we know that Old dhaka is very traditional place. Thats why i like that place very much. Though the place was very crowded, i like it. Because of their culture as well as transportation. We can see TomTom gari on the streets of old dhaka. Its a tradition of old dhaka. Actually this TomTom gari is run by the help of two horses. This why TomTom gari is very speccial for any places.In old dhaka this TomTom gari is run as a transportation. I never ride on this. But I hope i will ride on it.people of different places can ride on it by pay.I often see Tomtom gari when i go to old dhaka. I also see it on the streets of dhaka university.

We have been found many people who are the customer of street barber. Basically street barber is very cheap. Mostly the poor people are the customer of street barber. They don’t earn so much money thats why they go for street barber. In this business there are many people involved who are lived in old dhaka.

This is a shot of Hindu Street in Old Dhaka. This is very busy place. whenever i go to old dhaka i had to cross this road. Every time I saw many rickshaw on this road. actually this is very narrow road. So if many rickshaw entered on this road the jam occured.

I like the sweets of old dhaka. Sweets is very famous in old dhaka. Thats why i sometime bought sweets from old dhaka even if i lived in new dhaka. lal jam,kalo jam, sondesh, rosogolla, balushai i like the most. These sweets also can found in new dhaka shop but the sweets of old dhaka is special for me because of taste.

I saw some statuettes sellers in old dhaka. They sell statuettes in the street. We can see many statuettes on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Maha shivaratri. Hinduism is the second largest religious affiliation in Bangladesh after Islam with an estimated 10.5% of the population as practising Hindus.

Broken Building

Old dhaka is very crowded places and their house structure also not well organized. Most of he houses of the old dhaka is not well planned so there is a bit risk that accident can be occured.

Durga puja is the major festival of Hindu. In Durga puja, there are many people gathered in shakhari bazar. Because worship is going on in that place by making a small Mondir.Besides hindu, muslims are used to come here to see the puja of Hindu.In Durga puja, shakhari bazar looks quite nice because of colourful feston, banner etc. Small food shops is being built during Durga puja in Shakhari bazar. People from diffrent places came shakhari bazar to see the Puja.

Buriganga River

7315739-md

Some of my friends live in old dhaka. Thats why i went old dhaka many a times. I went to the buringanga river with my friends while i was in old Dhaka. In Buringanga river there is a shadarghat terminal. We went there and get up on the boats and roaming the buringanga river. I enjoyed that moment very much.

ls021

In Ramadan time I like the place Old dhaka very much. Because in that time we can find variety of iftar in old dhaka.For example shuti kabab, boro baper pola khai, gorur chap, special chop etc. last Ramadan me and my friends went to chakbazar for taking iftar. we enjoyed that moment very much when we bought iftar from there. We buy couple of sweets box to take iftar on it.Then we walk and whetver we liked we bought and took it on that box. Then we sat on the small restaurant and ate our iftar.

As we know that Old dhaka is so famous for delicious foods. So i have gone there many a times to eat mouthwatering foods of old dhaka. Like bakarkhanis that melts in the mouth, soft shirmal and naan roti, the spicy fragrant biriyani, pilau, the legendary shutli or persande kebab, handi kebab, boti kebab, taash kebab, shami kebab, nargisi kebab, kofta and korma, spicy yoghurt drink burhani, the sheer-e-faluda, firni jarda. Actually whenever i gone there i ate some kinds of food

As i said earleir that i have many friends in old dhaka so i had to go old dhaka many a times. I like the Jagannath University which is situated in the southern part of the city of Dhaka near the Buriganga. Actualy this is very prestigious educational institution. Some times i went there to gossip with my friends. And i also played cricket in the field of jagannath university.

2804531-ramkrishna_math-dhaka2

I went the Ramakrishna Mission one time with my friends which was set up in 1899. My friends said that it is devoted to the twin ideals of contemplative life and social service. He knows very much about it because he was belong from old dhaka.The Ramakrishna Mission is open to people of all faiths. It observes Hindu religious festivals such as DURGA Puja, KALI Puja as well as important Muslim, Buddhist and Christian festivals.

Anglican Church

anglican_church-dhaka5

I went to the Anglican Church few a times. It is better known as the St. Thomas Church is the Church of Bangladesh. It is Built in 1819, which is one of the older churches in the region. I have heared that convicts from Dhaka Jail gave their labour to build this church as well. The attraction of this building, built after the style of the prevalent contemporary Indian Churches, is a clock tower.

Baldah Garden

I went baldah garden long time ago with my friends which is located at Wari, in the old part of Dhaka. Its a very nice park for roaming. I have heared that the total area of the Baldah Garden covers 3.38 acres. Many celebrities have visited here including Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. His poem Camelia was actually written while he was staying in this Joy House.

2795383-dhakeshwari_temple_corner_view-dhaka

I went to Dhakeshwari Temple one time with my friends which is the oldest Hindu temple in Dhaka City. Its a very beautiful temple. The meaning of the name is “Temple of the Goddess of Dhaka”. I saw that this temple complex has undergone repairs, renovation and rebuilding in its long years of existence and its present condition does not clearly show any of its original architectural characteristics. I think that it is certainly an essential part of the cultural heritage of Dhaka city.

Hindu festival

People of the old dhaka enjoyed very much when any occation come. specially when the hindu festival come. “HOLI” is basically a hindu festival.The people of old dhaka celebrates holi very crazyly. Like that time they celebrate it by using the diffrent colours. Basically they play with the colours.At that time they also drinks, doing lots of fun.They give colours to the others face, hands. I went to the old dhaka long time ago while the holy celebrated. One of my friend is hindu and that time he made my face full of clours.

Its a very nice place. I went there long time ago. I have heared from my friends that Bara Katra was designed and built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s son Shah Shuja. Emperor Shah Shuja had initially wished to use this place as his Shahi Mahal but for unknown reasons changed his plan. Choto Katra was built in 1663 by Shayesta Kha, Subedar of Gujrat and later Bengal, chief commander of the army in the Golkunda battle after he arrived here.

Chawk Bazar

I went chawk-bazar many a times. Specially In Ramadan timer i went there a lot. Last Ramadam i went there with my friends and take iftar. I enjoyed very much taking iftar in chawk-bazar. I also did pray in shahi Mosqure which is situated in Chawk-bazar.