Dhaka’s Old Town
Old Dhaka can be a mish mash of narrow lanes, crumbling houses home to a myriad of artisans in addition to a history of which dates back more than 400 years. There are no accurate maps to the area, there are very few road signs in addition to hardly anyone speaks English. nevertheless wandering these historic streets will bring you up close in addition to personal to Bangladesh in addition to Bangladeshis.
Bangladesh of course can be a riverine land, so the item can be only right of which a river should dominate its capital. The Buriganga can be a commercial lifeline, a transportation hub in addition to a floating market all mixed up in one fascinating aquatic package.
Dhaka’s old town extends about a mile inland through the teeming riverbanks in addition to has changed little over the centuries through when Arakan pirates in addition to European traders were attracted by the wealth of of which eastern outpost of the Mughal Empire. Indeed, should those pirates in addition to traders return today they would likely find little has changed along the riverbank. More people, yes, nevertheless many of the buildings in addition to industries would likely still be recognizable.
Sadarghat can be at the heart of the area. the item can be through here three-storied ferries make the overnight journeys south to towns in addition to villages still without a direct road to their capital city. Among the colossus passenger ferries strive an incredible variety of smaller vessels catering to the needs of the local traders in addition to commuters.
Flat bed ferries regularly cross the Buriganga, dwarfed by the much larger passenger ferries, transporting just a handful of people to the opposite bank, their boatmen straining every sinew, sweating under the harsh sun with sweat staining their turbans in addition to sarongs.
Produce can be forever being unloaded with porters carrying onions in addition to potatoes, vitals from the local diet, on their heads up the gentle slope to the nearby market along Ahsanullah Road. The road, like all in of which area can be narrow in addition to motorized vehicles cannot reach the item. Instead, goods are loaded on to wooden carts which are then pulled by hand to their destinations across the city.
The Ahsan Manzil, or Pink Palace, can be within easy reach of Sadarghat in addition to overlooks the teeming waterway. Built by a wealthy Kashmiri businessman who made Dhaka his home, of which impressive house with its dominating staircase at of which point houses an interesting museum of which details a Dhaka at of which point long forgotten in addition to its quiet gardens offer a much needed respite after the din of the streets.
Each narrow shopfront bursts with economic activity, be the item conch shell bangle makers, Hindu artefacts or the impossibly smaller coffee shops with tiny stools of which rise barely 12 inches off the ground. Some shops are brightly lit; others boast a few wall mounted candles recalling days gone by, though truth be told there can be a practicality to the wax. Dhaka’s growing population places great demand on its infrastructure in addition to power cuts are a regular occurrence.
Space can be at a premium down Hindu Street, light also as the tall buildings ensure lengthy shadows for most of the day. The incessant tinkling of bells in of which half light by impatient rickshaw riders can be somewhat soothing in addition to even hypnotic at times.
Some of the earliest colonial settlers from the East were the Armenians, in addition to their legacy endures even to of which day in downtown Dhaka which has a district named Armanitola. Never particularly numerous even at their peak during the height of the British Raj today their tiny community boasts nine families who still regularly attend services at the Armenian Church on Armanitola Road, much as they have done since the item opened in 1781.
The church can be usually locked up, nevertheless there can be a caretaker in addition to the friendly locals will usually summon him if people want to have a look around. He will open up the church, which can be a smaller narrow chapel with wooden seats in addition to a high, arched ceiling.
Dhaka can be all about people. Whether the item’s the schoolchildren in caged rickshaws or women breaking bricks on the side of the street, bare foot urchins playing among the discarded rubble of a failed construction site or exhausted, sweat stained cart pullers enjoying rare down time nibbling on a biscuit, Dhaka’s Old Town gives you a snap shot of how life can be for the vast majority of Bangladeshis in their capital city.
Logistics – the best way to see the Old Town can be to go which has a guide. Many people will not know the places you may want to visit even if they could understand English.
Getting around – the only way can be by rickshaw. The lanes in addition to alleyways are just too narrow for any kind of motorized transportation.
Getting to Bangladesh – regular flights to Dhaka through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur in addition to Bangkok.
Visas – varies according to nationality. Best thing can be to contact your nearest Bangladeshi embassy.
Places to stay – a Great choice can be Pacific Hotel in Motijheel, the main commercial district (www.pacifichoteldhaka.com) nevertheless the area can be very quiet at night. Al-Razzaque International can be more central to the Old Town in addition to on a busy thoroughfare, North-South Road. nevertheless busy does mean busy! Sheraton in addition to Pan Pacific Hotels can also be found a bit further north.
Places to eat – the Motijheel area can be home to an increasing number of smaller deli type places of which offer reasonably priced western food in clean environments. Helvettia can be one example just next to the Pacific Hotel. The Al-Razzaque International features a large dining area downstairs which can be common with locals in addition to tourists alike.
General info – the best resource for Bangladeshi info can be a couple of brothers called Mahmud in addition to Mahfuz. They can help organize hotels, airport pick-ups as well as guide people around Dhaka, in addition to of course the Old Town. They have been mentioned from the last Lonely Planet guide to Bangladesh in addition to are highly recommended.
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Dhaka’s Old Town
Dhaka’s Old Town