Dhaka: Architecture, Museums and Historic Sites

Explore Dhaka through its striking architecture, historic buildings and museums. Cultural events also offer a broader perspective beyond individual attractions. When planning your trip, it helps to decide which of these different themes to focus on: should architecture take centre stage, are you particularly interested in history, or would you also like to consider nature destinations within the wider destination of Dhaka?

Architecture and history in Dhaka

The Bangladesh National Parliament Building is a monumental architectural work by Louis I. Kahn. The complex covers around 215 acres. Architecture and scale are concrete themes here, making the site particularly interesting for travellers who want to explore architecture.

Lalbagh Fort, also called Fort Aurangabad, offers a glimpse into a different historical era: the unfinished Mughal fort complex dates from the 17th century and lies on the Buriganga River in southwest Dhaka. Its designation as “unfinished” is part of its history; the river and its location in the city also give the site a clear geographical context. The themes of the parliament building and the fort are therefore quite distinct: one is a monumental work by Kahn, the other a fortification from the Mughal era.

Ahsan Manzil offers another historical perspective. The building was the official residential palace and office of the Nawab of Dhaka. A new museum of the Bangladesh National Museum was also established there, where objects are collected and displayed in galleries. The institution is a branch of the National Museum and has its full administrative authority. Historical function and museum use come together here, but tell different stories: one concerns the palace’s former role, the other the display of collection objects.

Museums, university and cultural events

The Liberation War Museum in Agargaon houses a rare collection of objects, artefacts and documents from 1971. Its new premises opened on 16 April 2017 and provided 3,500 square metres of gallery space. The collection and the history of the museum’s premises offer two different points of interest for travellers who want to learn about the history of Bangladesh.

Curzon Hall also combines architectural history with a present-day institutional function: the building dates from the British Raj and houses the Faculty of Science at the University of Dhaka. This distinguishes it from the museum sites through its university use. Pahela Baishakh, meanwhile, is a festival celebrated every year throughout Bangladesh. In Dhaka, the celebration takes place in the area of the University of Dhaka at the TSC.

For Lalbagh Fort, tourist guidance lists cycle rickshaws, CNG vehicles or taxis as transport options from Gulistan, Shahbagh or Curzon Hall. As local transport conditions can change, check them before setting out. These starting points and transport options provide practical guidance without specifying a journey time.

The wider destination of Dhaka: nature and other themes

The wider destination of Dhaka also includes landscapes and nature beyond the buildings described here. The forest area of Sreepur in Gazipur is considered an important tourist attraction. It is home to various trees, shrubs, vines and other vegetation, as well as different animal and bird species. Arial Beel in Srinagar Upazila of Munshiganj District is described as Bangladesh’s third-largest wetland and covers 136 square kilometres. The wetland can be explored by boat. The forest and wetland landscapes offer a different focus from Dhaka’s architecture and museums.

When looking for a holiday rental, this distinction between themes can be a first step in planning: would you mainly like to include architectural history, museums and urban sites, or should nature in the wider destination of Dhaka also play a role?

Discover more destinations: Kotwali, Kishoreganj.

Go to the wider travel overview: Dhaka.