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The City of Mosques

Dhaka architecture

Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth, home to over 22 million people in its metropolitan area. Founded as a Mughal provincial capital in 1608, the city became world-famous for its muslin cloth so impossibly fine that Mughal emperors called it 'woven air.' The city's skyline is punctuated by thousands of mosques — Dhaka has an estimated 700+ mosques, earning its nickname 'The City of Mosques.' The National Parliament House, designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn and completed in 1982, is considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 20th century.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1678Oldest · Lalbagh Fort
  • 42 mTallest · Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
  • 5Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoHazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC)

    Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) is Bangladesh's largest and busiest airport, named after the 14th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal who brought Islam to the Bengal region. Located in Kurmitola, north of central Dhaka, it serves as the main gateway to Bangladesh for international travel. A new third terminal is under construction to dramatically expand capacity and modernize operations for one of South Asia's fastest-growing aviation markets.

  • CurrencyBangladeshi Taka (৳)
  • LanguageBengali (Bangla)

    Bengali (Bangla) is the national language of Bangladesh and is spoken by virtually the entire population. It is the seventh most spoken language in the world by number of native speakers, with around 230 million speakers globally. The Bengali Language Movement of 1952 — when students and activists were killed defending the right to use Bengali as the official language against Pakistani authorities — is commemorated internationally as International Mother Language Day on February 21.

  • Getting aroundRickshaws & CNG Auto-rickshaws

    Dhaka is the rickshaw capital of the world, with an estimated 400,000 to 1 million cycle rickshaws — more than any other city on Earth. The human-powered rickshaw is a primary mode of transport for short distances, especially in the narrow lanes of Old Dhaka, and the ornately painted rickshaw has become an iconic symbol of Bangladeshi folk art. CNG-powered auto-rickshaws (three-wheelers running on compressed natural gas) serve as the main metered taxi alternative. The Dhaka Metro Rail, which opened its first line in 2022, is rapidly expanding to ease the city's legendary traffic congestion.

5 landmarks in Dhaka

  1. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
    Photo: Saiful Aopu & Nahid Sultan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban

    Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

    The Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament House) is widely considered one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the 20th century. Designed by American architect Louis I. Kahn and completed in 1982, the massive geometric complex uses raw concrete with marble insets and combines triangular, circular, and rectangular openings to create a monument that merges modernism with Mughal and local vernacular motifs. It sits at the heart of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka's planned civic quarter, surrounded by a reflecting lake.

    Built
    1982
    Architect
    Louis I. Kahn
    Style
    Late Modernist / Brutalist
    Height
    42 m (138 ft)
    Stories
    9
    Today
    Bangladesh National Parliament

  2. Lalbagh Fort

    Lalbagh, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Lalbagh Fort (Fort Aurangabad) is a 17th-century Mughal fort complex on the bank of the Buriganga River in Old Dhaka. Construction began in 1678 under Prince Azam Shah, son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, but was never fully completed after the death of the prince's daughter Bibi Pari inside the fort, which was considered a bad omen. The complex includes Bibi Pari's Mausoleum, the Mosque of Qasim Khan, and a museum housing Mughal artifacts.

    Built
    1678
    Architect
    Prince Azam Shah / Mughal architects
    Style
    Mughal
    Height
    15 m (49 ft)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Archaeological museum & public park
  3. Ahsan Manzil
    Photo: Mahbub Hossain Shaheed (mahosha), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ahsan Manzil

    Kumartuli, Islampur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Ahsan Manzil, known as the Pink Palace, is a 19th-century Mughal-Renaissance palace that served as the official seat of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Built in 1872 by Nawab Abdul Ghani on the north bank of the Buriganga River, its distinctive coral-pink dome and French Second Empire cupola make it the most recognizable building in Old Dhaka. It now serves as the National Museum of the Nawabs, displaying the opulent furnishings and artifacts of the Dhaka Nawab family.

    Built
    1872
    Architect
    Unknown (commissioned by Nawab Abdul Ghani)
    Style
    Mughal-Renaissance / Indo-Saracenic
    Height
    27 m (89 ft)
    Stories
    2
    Today
    National Museum
  4. Star Mosque
    Photo: Dead.rabbit, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Star Mosque

    Armanitola, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Tara Masjid (Star Mosque) in Armanitola, Old Dhaka, is one of the most visually dazzling mosques in Bangladesh. Originally built in the early 18th century, it was extensively renovated in 1926 with a spectacular exterior mosaic of thousands of blue and white Chinese porcelain shards arranged in star patterns — the tiles were sourced from broken Chinese porcelain dishes, creating a unique folk-revival aesthetic unlike any mosque in the subcontinent.

    Built
    1726
    Architect
    Unknown / folk craftsmen (renovation 1926)
    Style
    Mughal / Folk-revival ceramic mosaic
    Height
    12 m (39 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Active mosque
  5. Shaheed Minar
    Photo: Subarashitours, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Shaheed Minar

    University of Dhaka campus, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    The Shaheed Minar (Martyr's Monument) is Bangladesh's most important national monument, built to honor the language activists killed by Pakistani police on February 21, 1952, during the Bengali Language Movement. The original monument was demolished by Pakistani forces during the 1971 Liberation War; the current structure, designed by Hamidur Rahman, was rebuilt after independence. The movement it commemorates inspired UNESCO to designate February 21 as International Mother Language Day, observed worldwide.

    Built
    1963
    Architect
    Hamidur Rahman
    Style
    Modernist memorial
    Height
    14 m (46 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    National monument & pilgrimage site

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