Rajshahi
About Rajshahi
Rajshahi Division covers the northwest of Bangladesh, the old Varendra and Pundra lands where Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim kingdoms each left their monuments. No other part of the country has so many ancient sites so close together.
Rajshahi city is calm and green, with a riverside promenade along the Padma and markets known for silk and mangoes. Its Varendra Research Museum, founded in 1910, is the oldest museum in Bangladesh. Half an hour east, Puthia has the largest group of historic Hindu temples in the country around the Puthia Rajbari, including the Shiva Temple, the four-storey Dol Mandir and the terracotta Govinda Temple. North of the city stands the Bagha Mosque from the 1520s.
In Naogaon, Paharpur, the ruins of the Sompur Mahavihara, is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries south of the Himalayas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby are the black stone Kusumba Mosque and the Balihar Rajbari. In Bogura, Mahasthangarh is the oldest known city site in Bangladesh, with Vasu Bihar and the brick mound of Gokul Medh close by.
To the west, Chapai Nawabganj borders the old capital of Gaur, with the Choto Sona Mosque and the ruins of Darasbari. On the way from Dhaka, Sirajganj has the Hatikumrul Noborotno Temple.
Things to do
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Explore the temples of Puthia
Walk between the palace, ponds and temples of Puthia, and look closely at the terracotta panels showing scenes from Hindu epics.
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Visit the Varendra Research Museum
The country’s oldest museum holds sculpture, inscriptions and coins from more than two thousand years of Bengal’s history.
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Watch sunset on the Padma
Join local families on the riverside promenade, or take a small boat out on the Padma as the sun goes down.
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Shop for Rajshahi silk
Visit a silk workshop and the shops where saris and scarves are sold, and see how the cloth is woven.
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Taste mangoes in season
From about late May to July, the orchards around Rajshahi produce famous varieties such as Himsagar and Langra. Your guide takes you to the markets.
Getting there
By air: flights from Dhaka to Rajshahi take about 45 minutes.
By train: intercity trains from Dhaka take around five to six hours.
By road: about five to six hours from Dhaka via the Jamuna Bridge. Puthia is half an hour from the city and Paharpur about two and a half hours.
On the way: Bogura, the base for Mahasthangarh, is about four to five hours from Dhaka via the Jamuna Bridge, and the Hatikumrul temple in Sirajganj lies just off the same highway, three to four hours from Dhaka. The mosques of Gaur in Chapai Nawabganj are about two hours west of Rajshahi.
Where to stay
Rajshahi has comfortable mid-range hotels in the city centre, which make a good base for several days of day trips across North Bengal.
Bogura has several good mid-range hotels and is the most practical base for Mahasthangarh and Paharpur. Hotels in Naogaon and Chapai Nawabganj are simpler, so we usually visit those areas on day trips.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
Places to see in Rajshahi
Tours that visit Rajshahi
Holiday Tours
Bangladesh Cultural and Heritage Discovery Tour
from $800 per person
Short Tours
Heritage Treasures of North Bengal
from $550 per person
Holiday Tours
Ten Days Across Bangladesh
from $800 per person
Questions
How many days do I need in Rajshahi?
Two days covers the city, the museum and Puthia. Add more days if you want to use Rajshahi as a base for Paharpur and Gaur.
When is mango season in Rajshahi?
Roughly from late May to July. Winter, from November to February, is the most comfortable time for sightseeing.
How far is Puthia from Rajshahi?
About 25 kilometres east of the city, around 40 minutes by car, so it fits easily into a half-day trip.
Is Rajshahi a good base for North Bengal?
Yes. Paharpur, Mahasthangarh and the ruins of Gaur in Chapai Nawabganj are all day trips from Rajshahi.
How far is Bogura from Dhaka?
About four to five hours by road, depending on traffic at the Jamuna Bridge. Mahasthangarh is about 13 kilometres north of Bogura town, so most travellers spend a night there.
Where should I stay to visit Paharpur in Naogaon?
In Bogura or Rajshahi, which have better hotels than the area around Paharpur. Bogura is about one and a half hours away and Rajshahi about two and a half.
What is Gaur in Chapai Nawabganj?
Gaur was a capital of Bengal for centuries, at its height under the Bengal Sultanate. Its monuments are divided between Bangladesh and India; the Bangladeshi part, with the Choto Sona Mosque, is in Chapai Nawabganj, about two hours from Rajshahi.