Panam City (Old Capital)
About Panam City (Old Capital)
Panam Nagar, often called Panam City, is a short street lined with around fifty two- and three-storey houses built mostly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by wealthy Hindu cloth merchants. Their facades mix European columns and arches with Mughal and local details, and cast-iron balconies and coloured glass still survive here and there.
Most of the families left in the decades after Partition, and the buildings slowly fell silent. Today the street is a protected heritage site under the Department of Archaeology. Many houses are fragile and roped off, but walking the length of the lane, with canals and ponds behind the houses, gives a vivid sense of a vanished merchant world.
Panam is part of the wider Sonargaon area, which was an important seat of power in medieval Bengal. It pairs naturally with Boro Sardar Bari and the Sonargaon Museum, the 1519 Goaldi Mosque and a boat ride on the Meghna River. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours runs private day trips from Dhaka that combine these sights with a local guide.
Things to do
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Walk the heritage street
Stroll the length of the lane and look up at the carved facades, balconies and arches of the merchant houses.
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Photograph the facades
Soft morning or late-afternoon light brings out the textures of the old brickwork and plaster.
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Learn the trading history
A guide can explain how muslin and cloth trade made this a wealthy town, and why it emptied.
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Combine with Sonargaon sights
The folk art museum, Boro Sardar Bari and Goaldi Mosque are all a few minutes away.
Getting there
From Dhaka: Sonargaon is roughly 25 to 30 km southeast along the Dhaka to Chittagong highway. By private car it usually takes one to two hours depending on traffic.
From the highway at Mograpara, a short local road leads to Panam and the museum area.
Where to stay
Most visitors come as a day trip from Dhaka. A few simple resorts and guesthouses exist around Sonargaon if you want a quieter overnight stay.
More to see in Narayanganj
Tours that visit Panam City (Old Capital)
Holiday Tours
Bangladesh Cultural and Heritage Discovery Tour
from $800 per person
Holiday Tours
Explore the Natural Beauty of Bangladesh
Price on request
Day Tours
Panam City and Old Capital Sonargaon Day Tour
from $70 per person
Holiday Tours
Ten Days Across Bangladesh
from $800 per person
Short Tours
The Best of Bangladesh: City, Tea & Heritage Tour
from $500 per person
Questions
How far is Panam City from Dhaka?
About 25 to 30 km southeast of central Dhaka. Allow one to two hours each way by car.
Is there an entry fee?
A small entry ticket is charged at the gate. Opening days can change, so check before you go or ask your guide.
How long should I spend there?
One to two hours is enough for Panam itself. Most people spend a full day exploring Sonargaon.
Can I go inside the houses?
Most buildings are closed for safety and conservation. You view them from the street.