North Bengal Highlights

Your Bangladesh tour first covers a Dhaka city tour. In the morning, the guide will take you to the Kawranbazar Vegetable Market to experience the eye-opening hustle and bustle of the local bazaar. Then get close to the Bangladesh’s supreme legislative body of the National Assembly. We will view this piece of avant-garde geometric art from afar and take pictures. Next, learn about the prelude to the country’s independence at the beautiful Curzon Hall of Dhaka University, and delve into a tragic slice of history describing a noble beauty’s death from the half-completed Lalbagh Fort.

Places on our itinerary after lunch include Dhakeswari Temple, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, and Ahsan Manzil. Ahsan Manzil is an overall pink palace, with décor and exhibits demonstrating nawabs’ aristocratic life in the 1850s. Intriguingly, you will also know from your guide that the palace was the first building to have electricity in Dhaka. Not far away is the ever-bustling Sadarghat River Port, which we will visit next. If you will, take a short boat ride on the Sadarghat River to observe the city’s vibrant riverine life from a panoramic perspective. Transfer back to the hotel in the end.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sky City Hotel Dhaka (4 stars) / Hotel Grand Palace (4 stars)

At about 7:00 am, we will leave for Natore by car. On the way, stop by Tangail and visit the beautiful limestone feudal palace of Mohera Zaminder House and Atia Mosque, built 130 years ago in honor of a Sufi saint. When we cross the Jamuna River Bridge, enjoy a scenic view of the Jamuna River. After arriving at Natore, the guide will take you to Natore Rajbari, a palace complex constructed in the early 1700s and the base of the Rajshahi Raj family, a powerful zamindar at that time. Then drive to Puthia, hailed as the "City of Temples" because it has the greatest number of Hindu temples in the country. Here, the balcony of the royal palace of Puthia Rajbari is facing the Dol Temple, behind which is Bangladesh’s largest Shiva Temple. Imagine the queen looked at the holy grounds from above! After the visit, drive to the hotel in Rajshahi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Raj (4 stars) / Hotel X (4 stars)

Today we will mainly visit old mosques in the Rajshahi Division. First, visit Choto Sona Mosque, Darasbari Mosque, and Khania Dighi Mosque in Chapai Nawabganj District, part of the ancient capital of Gaur. You’ll see what Sultanate-era (14th-16th centuries) architecture is like, which also demonstrates Bengalis’ one-of-a-kind craftsmanship of terracotta arts. Besides, the mosques of Choto Sona and Khania Dighi are still functioning.

You might be surprised to known that Rajshahi, capital of the division known as the "City of Silk", has been producing the finest silk since the 13th century. In the afternoon, let's stroll around the markets in the downtown and admire quality silk goods rarely found anywhere else. Overnight in Rajshahi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Raj (4 stars) / Hotel X (4 stars)

In the morning we will visit the famous attraction Sompura Mohavihara, also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara. You are going to view the UNESCO-honored largest Buddhist temple in the south of the Himalayas. Attesting to the spread of Maharaja Buddhism across the country starting from the 7th century, it was once a place of worship for Buddhists from as far as Indonesia!

After lunch, we will drive to Bogra and visit the oldest “city” in Bangladesh, Mahasthangarh. It was the capital of Pundra, an ancient Kingdom in Bengal region whose history can be dated back to the 3rd century BC. Although there are only some relics left, including ruins of a mausoleum, a well, a temple, and the residential area, you can still feel its glorious past. What makes this site more interesting is a local specialty called “Kotkoti”, a kind of fried dough, which this area is particularly famous for. A thing of note is that, you will need to think twice before having a taste of it, as vendors can’t wash their hands out on the streets and as Bangladeshis they are accustomed to use bare hands to make and eat food; you should also keep in mind the water pollution due to the local primitive sanitary infrastructure. That’s why we have included daily meals - whether it’s western or local traditional styles - into this package, which shows our special attention to food safety and your health. An amazing sunset awaits at Vasu Vihara. After today's trip, we will escort you to the best hotel in Bogra.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Momo Inn Park & Resort, Bogra (5 stars)

Today we are heading north by car to visit Dinajpur Rajbari in the city of Dinajpur. Built in the 18th century, this house owned by filthy rich zamindars will impress you with its flamboyant architecture in green, yellow, and red colors. A funny fact is that it’s also called “King’s house”, as the tax collectors were called “kings” for their wealth. It’s a site we cannot miss while in North Bengal.

After lunch, go on a visit to the famous Kantajew Temple, a magnificent Hindu temple of 300 years old. It’s a pity its nine spires were destroyed in an earthquake, but you can still examine its iconic jaw-dropping terracotta arts on lower stories! After the visit, we will drive to Rangpur and check into the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Palace Hotel (4 stars)

In the morning, we plan to visit the Sugar Mills, to gain insight into Bangladesh’s important “sweet” industry. Next, go to a local village for a walk. Take time to embrace nature and feel rural tranquility.

After lunch, we will visit Tajhat Palace, once housing a Hindu trader and now a museum exhibiting objects unearthed from Paharpur and Mahasthangarh, which you’ve visited. Here you will see some precious relics like the poetry manuscripts of a Mughal emperor and artifacts left by ethnic minorities. Finally, we will go to visit Kali Temple and nationally prestigious Carmichael College. Overnight in Rangpur.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Palace Hotel (4 stars)

Today we will drive back to Dhaka. On the way, visit Navaratna Temple, possibly a gift from King Prananath to a rich zamindar who lent money to help him build the Kantajew Temple you already visited. Then drive towards Jamuna River for a pleasant cruise tour for 30-40 minutes. After arriving in Dhaka, we will send you to a hotel near the airport.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Vistana Dhaka (4 stars) - Near Airport

Your Bangladesh holiday package will be over today. Our driver will send you to Dhaka International Airport on time. May you have a nice trip home!

► Recommended Activities for Your Free Time:
On the last day of your tour in Bangladesh, why not seize the chance to know more of Bangladesh? For history buffs, National Martyrs' Monument (23 km from airport) might interest you most. Just like the building of National Assembly, it has a unique artistic design, with seven pairs of walls representing seven chapters of Bangladesh’s history since the Bengali Language Movement. If you are more interested in learning the country in a comprehensive way, perhaps the National Museum (15 km from airport) is your choice.

Special Note: You must have acquainted yourself with Dhaka’s mind-blowing crowded traffic on the first day of your tour. How a city of about 360 square km can hold 24 million is kind of a mystery, for which the average traffic speed is 4.8 km/h (an adult can walk at 4 km/h), but that’s the reality for Dhaka. Therefore, even if your flight leaves very late today, if you want to explore landmarks too far away from the airport, you have to budget your time wisely. What’s more, the airport officially suggests that you arrive 4 hours prior to departure. It’s true that things here are somewhat disorganized so you have to make time to deal with it. Also, unlike most other international airports you’ve experienced, the security check here is the last thing to go through before boarding the plane.

Meals: Breakfast