Rajshahi.
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Overview

Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi Division in Bangladesh. The city is near many ancient capitals of Bengal, notably Lakhnoiti (or Lokhnaboti), and Pundra. Rajshahi is famous for trade in many exotic items, including pure silk, mangoes and lychees. Attractive silk products are cheaper in Rajshahi than anywhere else in the country, with the city often referred to as the 'silk city'. There are also a number ancient mosques, shrines and temples in and around Rajshahi.

Understand

Rajshahi is the capital of Rajshahi District and Division in northwestern Bangladesh. The Rajshahi municipality was established in 1876, one of the first in Bangladesh. It has a population of 1.6 million people (2022). One of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Padma, runs along the southern end of the city.

The city is home to many educational institutions, leading to a large student population and the nickname of "education city". The city of Rajshahi was declared as the happiest city in the world by the World Happiness Survey in 2006.

Climate Rajshahi has a humid subtropical and tropical climate, with its coldest month being below 18°C (64°F). The climate of Rajshahi is generally marked with monsoons, high temperatures, considerable humidity, and moderate rainfall. During summer (April to July), daytime temperatures frequently exceed 36°C to 40°C (97°F to 104°F). The minimum temperature recorded in January is about 7 to 16 °C (45 to 61 °F). The highest rainfall is observed during the months of monsoon. The annual rainfall in the district is about 1,448 millimeters (57.0 in).

Get in

By bus It takes approximately 5 hours by road to reach Rajshahi from the capital, Dhaka. A number of bus services are available from Dhaka via Natore, some with air-conditioning. Bus services to other major districts are also available from the bus terminal.

Bus services include National Travels, Desh Travels, Grameen Travels.

By train There are a number of luxurious intercity services between Dhaka and Rajshahi each day. The main ones are the Padma Express, the Silk City Express and the Dhumketue Express.

Silk City Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 2:40PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 7:35AM. Padma Express - Dhaka to Rajshahi at 10:45PM and from Rajshahi to Dhaka at 4PM. Dhumketue Express - departs Dhaka at 6AM, reaching Rajshahi at noon, and departs Rajshahi at 11:20PM, reaching Dhaka at 4:50AM. Banalata Express - The fasted and only break-free train of this route. Departs Dhaka at 01:30 PM reaching Rajshahi around 06:30 PM, and departs Rajshahi at 07:00 AM, reaching Dhaka around 01:30 AM.

The Silk City Express does not operate Sundays, the Padma Express has no service on Tuesdays, Banalata Express on Friday, and the Dhumketue Express does not run Mondays.

The major station for long-distance trains is , located north of the city centre.

By car The journey from Dhaka is 261 km, taking approximately 5 hours, depending on traffic. You must cross the famous Jamuna Bridge to reach the city.

Get around

Local transport in Rajshahi city primarily relies on auto-rickshaws, which are affordable and readily available throughout the city. Additionally, tempos, small buses operating on fixed routes, offer another option for getting around the city. Buses are less common and often overcrowded but can be useful for longer journeys. Private car services are available but tend to be more expensive.

Rajshahi boasts relatively well-maintained and extensive sidewalks compared to many other cities in Bangladesh. Most of its roads feature adequate footpaths, though they may be narrower in comparison.

See

T Bandh. A lovely sight of one of the largest rivers in South Asia. During the Monsoon season, the water level rises, along with its beauty.

Varendra Research Museum. Established in 1910, the museum is dedicated to ancient history and culture. It is recognised as the oldest museum in the country. It has a rich collection of artefacts, relating to Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim heritage. Some of these date back to the 16th century. It is maintained by the University, located in the heart of town.

Shrine of Hazrat Shah Makhdum (Rh.). A Majar (shrine) was established to mark the resting place of Hazrat Shah Makhdum in 1635 CE. He was the first preacher of Islam in the region. Legend has it that he arrived by riding down the Padma on 2 crocodiles. To preserve this myth, some crocodiles are kept in the pond next to the shrine.

Shaheed A.H.M Qamaruzzaman Central Park and Zoo. The park is a wide area with lush green trees and grass. The zoo houses a variety of different animal species. It is by the bank of river Padma.

Shahid Zia Park. An amusement park that has monorail, bumping cars and many other exciting things. It is under the Rajshahi City Corporation.

Boro Kuthi. Historic preserved Dutch building on the Padma River waterfront.

Rajshahi University. See this well-planned beautiful green campus before leaving Rajshahi. It is within a few kilometres from the city centre and easily accessible.

Ghoramara. The oldest part of Rajshahi City, with 70- to 100-year-old buildings.

Kashia-Danga. From this area, a massive mango tree garden area of Rajshahi starts. Anyone can have a glimpse of famous mango tree of Rajshahi from this area. The area is in the western part of the city, near the Rajshahi Court Railway Station.

Santal Para. Some Santal tribespeople live here. Anyone can have a look at how they live.

Rajshahi Silk Fabrication. Rajshahi silk is famous because it is a high quality fabric used for clothing, especially for saris. Along with factories, merchandise outlets are also available there.

Lalon Shah Mukto Moncho. Park and amphitheater on the banks of Padma River.

Padma Garden. Garden on the banks of Padma River.

Novotheatre. Country's second-largest planetarium and a modern centre for science education and entertainment.

Bagha Mosque. A historical mosque situated in Bagha, Rajshahi. There is a picture of this mosque in one side of the Tk 50 note.

Kismat Maria Mosque. An old mosque in Durgapur Upazila, a short distance from Rajshahi city. It was built around 1500 and is a protected archaeological site listed by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh.

Puthia Temple Complex The Puthia Temple Complex is a group of notable old Hindu temples in Puthia Upazila, 32 km east of Rajshahi city, which has the largest number of historic temples in Bangladesh. The temples were built by the Hindu zamindar (landlord) rajas of the Puthia Raj family, well-known philanthropists of Rajshahi. Several of the temples are decorated with terracotta, and their architecture resembles the Jor Bangla style. Puthia Temple Complex is within a small area, so you can easily see the whole area on foot. You can also get around by rickshaw, and drivers can be hired for a few hours or even a full day.

Puthia Rajbari. The present two-storey rectangular palace was built in 1895 by Maharani Hemanta Kumari Devi in an attractive Indo-European style. The front pillars, ornamentation, woodwork, and floral and vine paintings on the room walls and above the doors show fine craftsmanship. The roof is flat and made of iron beams, wooden rafters, and tiles. A moat was dug around the palace for security. There are six royal ponds (dighi) around the palace, each covering about six acres, as well as six temples.

Bara Ahnik Mandir. One of the temples next to Puthia Rajbari.

Krishnapur Gobinda Mandir. A square temple, 4.25 m on each side, with doorways in the east and south walls. The arched east doorway is the main entrance, and it is decorated on both sides and above with terracotta plaques. The south doorway has little decoration. The temple has a tall shikhara (spire) roof topped with a finial, and its cornices and corners are finely decorated with terracotta plaques. The outer west wall is plain. Inside, the west and north walls each have a niche, which was usually used to hold a lamp.

Pancha Ratna Govinda Temple. Built in the 19th century. It has the architectural feature of five ratnas or spires.

Do

The Padma River is a major river in Bangladesh and a popular spot for boating. You can take a boat ride on the river and enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding countryside. The best time to go boating is during the dry season, from November to April. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting wet. Safety standards on local wooden boats (nauka) vary. Ensure the boat is not overloaded and check if life jackets are available before setting off.

Buy

Look for both traditional and western style clothes at Rajshahi stores.

Shaheb Bazaar. A raucous street scene of commerce.

RDA Market. On the south side of Shaheb Bazaar, this is the largest market in Rajshahi, full of vendors selling clothes, food, cosmetics, etc.

New Market. A bit more shopping mall-like, but another large market with both hawkers and higher-end vendors.

Kumarpara Mor. At this point you will find some renowned brand shops like Arong, Le reve, Richman etc.

Naga Bazar, Katila, Bagmara Upazila, Rajshahi District — A local market offering fresh local fish, vegetables and everyday goods. Naga Bazar. Local market offering fresh local fish, vegetables and everyday goods. The market serves nearby villages and is busiest in the morning.

Eat

Rajshahi’s culinary scene revolves around rich North Bengal specialties. During summer (May–July), the city transforms into the mango capital of Bangladesh, with local varieties like Khirsapat, Langra, gopalvog, and Amrapali dominating street markets and dessert menus.

Local specialties Kalai Ruti A signature Rajshahi flatbread made from black gram (mashkalai) flour and rice flour. Cooked on a clay stove, it is hot, dense, and traditionally served with mashed green chilies (morich bhorta), eggplant relish (begun bhorta), or slow-cooked spicy duck meat (hash-er mangsho). Kalai roti is sold at many places around the city. The kalai roti shops in Upashahar are popular with visitors: they are well furnished and more comfortable than most, and stay open late into the night, though prices are a little higher. For good-quality kalai roti at lower prices, try the roadside stalls at Dingadoba. A few shops in front of PN School in Shaheb Bazar also sell it.

Beef kala bhuna The beef kala bhuna here is another local favorite, typically served with steamed rice. The most popular spot for it is at the eateries near the Nawhata Bridge in Paba Upazila, around 10 KM from Rajshai Railgate. While they used to prepare it only on market days, the huge demand means they serve it daily now. You can also get it every day at two hotels in Katakhali. Over at the City Haat, rice hotels serve kala bhuna on the regular market days, Sundays and Wednesdays. Besides these specific spots, several restaurants around the city offer it on their menus as well.

Sweets and desserts Signature local sweets Roshkodombom is Rajshahi's iconic signature sweet. It features a soft rasgulla center wrapped in a layer of sweetened khir (reduced milk solids) and coated with tiny, crunchy sugar beads, mimicking the round Kadam flower. Another signature sweet is Komlavog. Made from fresh chana and it is notably larger than a standard rasgulla. It is actually orange-flavored evolution of the classical rasgulla or rajbhog.

Some renowned sweet shops are listed below.

Nabarup Mistanno Bhandar. Famous for producing varieties of sweetmeats.

Rajshahi Mishtanno Bhandar. Rajshahi's one of the oldest sweetmeat shops, has several outlets all over the city.

Ranar Sweet. Famous for serving hot, fresh sweets straight out of the cooking vessel every evening.

Shamim Sweets. Famous for serving crisp, piping-hot jilapi.

Multi-cuisine restaurants Some nice restaurants and fast food places are available in the city. Most of them are located in Ranibajar and Mohila College Road.

Nanking Chinese Restaurant. Oldest Chinese restaurant in the city.

Helium. Offers a diverse menu featuring fast food, continental, and Asian fusion cuisine

Nongor Restaurant. Offers indoor, outdoor, and rooftop seating with views of the Padma River. The venue serves a variety of local, continental, and fast food items, making it a favorite spot for evening hangouts and family dining.

Drink

Rajshahi Parjatan Bar. Offers a variety of drinks, including local and branded liquors.

Sleep

Grand River View Hotel. Pool, gym, laundry service, beauty services, restaurant, etc. City's only cineplex is located here.

Chez Razzak Suites. Two-star business class guest house suites in beautiful residential area at Rajshahi hub.

Hotel Century. This is one of the nice hotels in Rajshahi.

Jatra Flagship Rajshahi City Center.