General Info

Bengal had always attracted tourists. Travelers from different parts of the world had interest in this part of the world since very ancient times. They visited Bengal with varied purposes. Some came with missionary objectives, some with motives of exploring business opportunities, some came to attend seats of learning and some for meeting curiosity. Notable them were Pliny, the Elder of Greece (visited TAMRALIPTI in the first century), Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus) of Egypt (GANGARIDAI or GAUDA, second century), FA-HIEN of China (Tamralipti, 5th century), HIUEN-TSANG of China (MAHASTHAN, SAMATATA, KARNASUVARNA and Tamralipti, 7th century), IBN BATUTA of Morocco (CHITTAGONG and SONARGAON, 14th century), MA HUAN of China (Gauda, 15th century), FEI HSIN of China (Chittagong and Sonargaon, 15th century), DUARTE BARBOSA of Portugal (areas alongside the GANGES, early 16th century), CAESER FREDERICK of Italy (Chittagong, late 17th century), RALPH FITCH of England (Chittagong, late 16th century), SEBASTIEN MANRIQUE of Portugal (Chittagong, early 16th century) NICCOLAO MANUCCI of Italy (DHAKA, mid-17th century) and Jean Tavernier of France (Dhaka, mid 17th century).

As tourism in its modern sense is a relatively recent phenomenon, it took its start in the present Bangladesh area only during the 1960s. Tourists from abroad came to see and enjoy the sea beach, scenic beauty of the landscape covered with lavish greens and the web of rivers, tribal culture, religious rituals, historical places, forests, wild life and hill resorts. The SUNDARBANS of Bangladesh is the largest mangrove forest in the world and a natural habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Bangladesh is located in an advantageous position from tourism point of view.

A good number of accommodation facilities are available in Dhaka, Chittagong, COX’SBAZAR, KAPTAI, SYLHET, RANGAMATI AND elsewhere have had a considerable effect on local and foreign tourists. The number of foreigners who visited Bangladesh was 29,345 in 1979 and about 200,000 in 2000. The National Tourism Policy of 1992 considered tourism 'as an industry of due priority' and underlined a tourism development and marketing strategy. The Industrial Policy of 1999 identified tourism as a 'thrust sector'. The government encourages foreign investors in this sector both in the form of joint venture and as 100% foreign investment.

Bangladesh offers tourists a variety of attractions in almost every part of the country. In RAJSHAHI, the Bara Kuthi on the bank of the PADMA and the VARENDRA MESEUM are among the main attractions for the lovers of antiquity. The SILK factory of the BANGLADESH SERICULTURE BOARD is another place of interest for the tourists. The important group of Islamic monuments of medieval Bengal at GAUR is situated on the border of Rajshahi. Gaur is 88 km from Rajshahi town and takes about 3 hours' drive by road. The Department of Archaeology of the government took over the Gaur monuments scattered over an area of more than 6 sq km. The Sultanate monuments of Gaur include mainly the DARASBARI MOSQUE (built in 1470), the DARSSBARI MADRASA, DHUNICHAWK MOSQUE, CHHOTA SONA MOSQUE (1493-1538), KHANIA DIGHI or Rajbibi Mosque. PUTHIA is situated about 29 km off Rajshahi town on the way to NATORE. A fine group of late medieval Hindu temples is located at Puthia. Among these, the Gobinda Temple (built in 1825-95) and the Shiva Temple (1823) are important. Puthia Palace, built by HEMANTAKUMARI DEVI in 1895, is also an elegant building worth visiting.

The famous DIGHAPATIA RAJBARI, about two kilometres north of Natore, has been restored and is now designated as Uttara Gana Bhaban (People's House for the northern region) used by the head of state or government when occasion arises. This vast palace occupying an area of 43 acres of land was originally the palace of the Maharaja of Dighapatia. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation's package tour to the northwestern region includes it for overnight stay. The NATORE RAJBARI (Boro Taraf and Chhoto Taraf Palaces) is also worth visiting.
PAHARPUR is a small village 5 km west of JAMALGANG railway station. Here the remains of the largest known monastery south of the HIMALAYAS have been excavated.