Dhaka has been the subject of fascination with both travellers and historians in South Asia. The city has suffered a long, fractured and brutal history, witnessing the turmoil of Partition in 1947 and the creation of the state of Bangladesh in 1972, as well as the heartache of wartime devastation and a flurry of natural calamities throughout its past. However, Bangladesh’s capital still retains a distinct sense of heritage and cultural identity, referencing its eclectic historical background in every architectural corner of the city.

Dhaka formerly known as Dacca is  city of the people’s republic of Bangladesh. The history of Dhaka goes back to the 7th century AD to Buddhist times, when it belonged to the ancient kingdom of Kamarupa; after this, it passed into the hands of the Hindu Sena rulers (9th century AD), Turkish, Afghan and Mughal governors, until the British East India Company took control in 1765. The British built latest educational institutions and public works, a modern system for supply of water in the year 1874 and introduced electricity in 1878. After Bengal’s partition in the year 1905 and the second partition again in the year 1946, Dhaka was made the capital city of East Bengal. On 15th of August, in the year 1947, the state merged into the newly fomed Pakistan.

However, the ethnic Bengali populace felt discriminated against by the central government, leading to public anger, and they declared Bangladesh as an independent state in March, 1971. In their turn, the Pakistan Army launched a counter operation, arresting and killing thousands of Bengali students, intellectuals and ordinary people. Finally the Indian Army marched into Bangladesh in December, 1971 and captured Dhaka, leading to the creation of a new, independent state of Bangladesh. The name of the city is believed to be derived from the temple dedicated to the Goddess Dhakeshwari, built by Raja Ballal Sena in the 12th century.

Dhaka, a city replete with history, lies on the banks of the Buriganga River. The old parts of the city lie to the south of the city centre, and this is where most of the tourist attractions are found. The old European area lies to the north of Dhaka’s old town; the Presidential mansion, the National Museum and Dhaka’s business district and diplomatic regions are located to the north-east of this part of the city. If you take a taxi ride into the suburbs you can visit the Dhaka Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.

Dhaka was famous from time immemorial for its fine muslin. Now, pink pearls and its rich variety of traditional handicrafts take pride of place. Shoppers will also find gold and silver products at amazingly low prices. New Market, Elephant Road and Dhanmondi are the best areas for shopping. Dhaka is not lacking in famous monuments from the Mughal era and these are a must visit. Lalbagh Fort was built in 1678 by the Mughal governor Nawab Shaista Khan. It contains a mosque, tomb, the Hall for Audience and the hammam. Ahsan Manzil Palace Museum is the former home of the Nawab of Dhaka; it has 23 galleries displaying paintings, furniture and articles of household use. Star Mosque is a beautiful, 200 year old mosque, famous for the thousands of stars which twinkle on its surface. You can see a large collection of antiques and sculptors from the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim periods in the National Museum.