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Photography Trip Around Dhaka
$55 tour starting at
A photography trip around Dhaka is way more interesting than anyone can imagine. Bangladesh is a land of stories, and chaotic Dhaka would be a compact of all genres for a photographer.
Venturing into the heart of Old Dhaka, the historical district of Bangladesh’s vibrant capital city is like stepping back in time. Its narrow streets, bustling markets, and ancient architecture exude a unique charm that beckons photographers seeking to capture the essence of this captivating place.
Embarking on a photography trip around Old Dhaka is an immersive experience that unveils a tapestry of cultural heritage and living history. The district is dotted with architectural marvels like the Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, and the Armenian Church, each holding stories of a bygone era waiting to be documented.
Wandering through the labyrinthine alleyways, photographers encounter an endless array of captivating scenes. The bustling Sadarghat River Port provides a glimpse into the city’s vibrant riverine life, where wooden boats navigate the Buriganga River against the backdrop of majestic sunsets. The bustling Buriganga River is a rich source of evocative street photography, capturing the daily lives of the hardworking boatmen and merchants who depend on its waters.
The narrow streets of Old Dhaka are a treasure trove of candid moments and unique characters. The fragrant spice markets, vibrant fabric shops, and sizzling street food stalls create a feast for the senses, offering ample opportunities for street and documentary photography. Each corner reveals a new story, as people from diverse backgrounds and professions converge, creating a kaleidoscope of cultures and traditions.
The rich cultural heritage of Old Dhaka is best experienced during festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Durga Puja, and Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year). These celebrations infuse the district with an electrifying energy, as the streets come alive with vibrant processions, traditional music, and colorful rituals. Photographers have the chance to capture moments of joy, devotion, and communal harmony during these festivities.
While exploring Old Dhaka, photographers should also make time to engage with the locals. Interacting with the residents and hearing their stories adds depth and authenticity to the visual narrative. The people of Old Dhaka, with their warm hospitality and strong community spirit, can provide invaluable insights into the district’s rich cultural tapestry.
A photography trip around Old Dhaka is a rewarding endeavor that promises a treasure trove of captivating images. It offers an opportunity to explore the intersection of history, culture, and everyday life while honing one’s photographic skills. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an enthusiast, Old Dhaka invites you to discover its hidden gems through the lens, capturing moments that will evoke a sense of wonder for years to come.
Your guide and driver will come to pick you up from your hotel or residence and drive you to Karwan Bazar, a centrally located wholesale market in Dhaka. This is a very colorful, vibrant, and happening place. The morning is the perfect time to roam around to catch the rhythmic chaos. This is a good place to see the colors of the typical market of Dhaka as well as business activities and life around it.
A wonderful walk along the railway track township is recommended by Kawran Bazar, also interesting to see how the people ride on the roof of the train at Tejgaon Train Station. If you want, we can also visit a daycare center for the babies of the workers.
Continue driving towards Gabtali Bus Terminal to visit a brick factory on the other side of the river. Manual efforts are the main engine to run such factories, and the workers are mostly seasonal migrant laborers from the coastal and other rural areas of Bangladesh. Most of the workers come with their families and children to work and stay on the factory premises. Man and woman work side by side; the older child looks after the younger brother and sister of the family or picks some entry-level jobs at the same factory, which means no education. Thus, innocent people don’t get any chance to change their lives.
There are many ships always in the queue to be unloaded of various goods they have carried from far-away parts of Bangladesh. The goods are stone, coal, sand, or cement materials. Again, it’s the human effort to unload them from the boat and load them into the trucks or pile them at a certain place.
Drive through the Gabtali embankment towards Sadarghat, and we will spend the rest of the day in these areas. A Photowalk of this area will be through Kamrangir Char, recycling industries, Sadarghat river port, shipbuilding yards, local garment factories, Dholaikhal old motor parts markets, spice markets, a typical old Dhaka residential area, and the most famous food streets. Kamrangir Char is one of the most established slums in Dhaka. After the walk around the Kamrangir Char and recycling areas, embark on a country boat for about an hour-long cruise on the Burigonga River and disembark by the shipbuilding yard. Incredibly skilled workers are at shipbuilding by hand; farming and primary structures are made with bamboo, and the metal takes place one after another. After visiting a local garment factory, take a boat again to cross the river and walk along the spice market and one of the oldest quarters of Dhaka. It will be mostly a lot of street walks during the trip today. Your guide will lead you through Dholaikhal Automobile Recycling, the old parts market area, Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar Hindu Street, and Bongshal if time permits.
A light lunch will be served at a local restaurant in a convenient location in Old Dhaka. Or maybe, depending on the time and your photographic enthusiasm, we may offer you a fruit lunch to cover more places. We are always flexible, even willing to reschedule the program according to your wishes, so the trip is even more interesting. You are welcome to share your ideas, genres, or any specific interests. You will be arriving home in the early evening.
We also offer golden-light photography tours on request. In that case, pick-up time would be between 4:30 AM and 5:00 AM, depending on the location of your hotel and the first place we will go for sunrise shoots. A solo photographer can also do this trip by motorcycle.
- Trip Price
- $ 55
price starts from
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Group Size Per-person price in USD Or in BDT 1 PAX $145.00 16500.00 2 PAX $85.00 10000.00 4 PAX $65.00 7800.00 6+ PAX $55.00 6600.00 +15% VAT and 2% charges will be applicable while paying by credit card.
- Reserved vehicle and driver
- A knowledgeable English-speaking guide with photographic knowledge
- A light lunch at a local restaurant
- All entrance fees and necessary permits
- Bottled water, soft drinks, tea seasonal fruits and old Dhaka special snacks
- All rickshaw and boat rides
Personal expenses, gratuities any activity not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
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Destination
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Departure
Your hotel/ residence (anywhere in Dhaka city) -
Departure Time
Usually at 7:00 AM (5 AM, for sun rising shots, we are flexible adjust timing according to your convenience and interests) -
Return Time
7:00 PM or later, depending on your energy and interests. -
Dress Code
Casual, comfortable athletic clothing, closed shoes, hat. Warm jacket during the winter (November to February). Raincoat/ umbrella during the rainy season (May to August). Full sleeves are always necessary while visiting any religious place, mosque, temple, church or a trip during Ramadan.
From Our Gallery
Stories are in every step in Dhaka
A photographer will be easily overwhelmed by endless stories in Dhaka
1
Tour Itinerary:
Your guide and driver will come to pick you up from your hotel or residence and drive you to Karwan Bazar, a centrally located wholesale market in Dhaka. This is a very colourful, vibrant, and happening place. The morning is the perfect time to roam around to catch the rhythmic chaos. This is a good place to see the colours of the typical market of Dhaka as well as businesses activities and life around. A wonderful walk along the railway track township is recommended by Kawran Bazar, also interesting to see how the people ride on the roof of the train at Tejgaon Train Station. If you want, we can also visit a daycare centre for the babies of the workers. Continue driving towards Gabtali Bus Terminal to visit a brick factory on the other side of the river. Manual efforts are the main engine to run such factories, and the workers are mostly seasonal migrant laborers from the coastal and other rural areas of Bangladesh. Most of the workers come with their families and children to work and stay on the factory premises. Man and woman work side by side; the older child looks after the younger brother and sister of the family or picks some entry-level jobs at the same factory, which means no education. Thus, innocent people don’t get any chance to change their lives. There are many ships always in the queue to be unloaded of various goods they have carried from far-away parts of Bangladesh. The goods are stone, coal, sand, or cement materials. Again, it’s the human effort to unload them from the boat and load them into the trucks or pile them at a certain place. Drive through the Gabtali embankment towards Sadarghat, and we will spend the rest of the day in these areas. A photowalk of this area will be through Kamrangir Char, recycling industries, Sadarghat river port, shipbuilding yards, local garment factories, Dholaikhal old motor parts markets, spice markets, a typical old Dhaka residential area, and the most famous food streets. Kamrangir Char is one of the most established slums in Dhaka. After the walk around the Kamrangir Char and recycling areas, embark on a country boat for about an hour-long cruise on the Burigonga River and disembark by the shipbuilding yard. Incredibly skilled workers are at shipbuilding by hand; farming and primary structures are made with bamboo, and the metal takes place one after another. After visiting a local garment factory, take a boat again to cross the river and walk along the spice market and one of the oldest quarters of Dhaka. It will be mostly a lot of street walks during the trip today. If you are allowed by the time, your guide will lead you through Dholaikhal Automobile Recycling and the old parts market area, Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar Hindu Street, and Bongshal. A light lunch will be served at a local restaurant in a convenient location in Old Dhaka. Or maybe, depending on the time and your photographic enthusiasm, we may offer you a fruit lunch to cover more places. We are always flexible, even willing to reschedule the program according to your wishes, so the trip is even more interesting. You are welcome to share your ideas, genres, or any specific interests. You will be arriving home in the early evening. We also offer golden-light photography tours on request. In that case,, pick-up time would be between 4:30 AM and 5:00 AM, depending on the location of your hotel and the first place we will go for sunrise shoots. A solo photographer can also do this trip by motorcycle.
Tour Location
Location of this tour will be on the spot decided according to your interested genre of photography.
Natasa G
a rare find!
Jun 2015 • Couples
Royal Bengal Tours is a rare find in the area as it is not so easy to get professinal tour operator in the area. Wheter a lone traveler or on a professional trip in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka, you will find your service there.
Verberckt D
Multi-Day reporting and leisure visiting
Jun 2015 • Solo
Extremely professional services in terms of efficiency and achieved results. Excellent field knowledge, fully used to work with journalists and having a great flexibility while getting things done in a tight timeframe.
Also very knowledgeable of the city and country for offering relaxing recreational pauses.
Very competitive prices for tourist, traveller or professional alike.
Beside being fabulous persons to discover the chosen tours, they are a valuable source of information about the country and its people. Any part of the country can be explored due to an excellent network throughout the country.
Thank you for the great work and time.
NS NG
Photography tour of Dhaka
Dec 2016 • Friends
Two of us who are keen photographers decided to travel to Dhaka for a 4-day photographic trip. We discussed the itinerary with Jewel and we left him to decide for us the places we should visit. The places we visited included Sadarghat, Old Dhaka, ship building yard, market places, brick factory, Bihari slum, Kanchpur area to photograph labourers unl;oading coal and sand, etc. The human interests in these places and many others represent a part of Dhaka where many tourists might not see. All in we were very happy for Jewel to guide us and show us the places with great human interests. We will definitely use him again should be go back to Bangladesh
Arild H | Trondheim, Norway
Great guide with photo skills
Jan 2017 • Business
I have had the pleasure to use Jewel from Royal Bengal Tours at two different occasions, both tailormade “photo safaris” into the daily life of Dhaka. Both times gave maximum value for money and time. Having very limited time available, Jewel managed to arrange the tours in a way that gave me great photo opportunities and experiences in general in a very efficient way. He is knowledgeable and pleasant to be with, and he understands the photographer angle. I will use him the next time as well!
Kristian B | Sofia, Bulgaria
Old Dhaka with an expert guide
Feb 2018 • Solo
I have contacted Royal Bengal Tours for an organized half day photography tour of old Dhaka. I had the chance to be the only candidate for this day a bit out of season, and I benefited from the whole availability of Jewel, whose name is not by chance. This guy loves his city, knows everything about it, speaks excellent English and has the rare talent to understand the type of person he has in front. He discussed in advance all his proposals for the itinerary and he shaped for me the perfect tour for stunning images of the colorful reality of this devastating city. Strongly recommended!
Vincent D
A great day in Dhaka
Jul 2018 • Solo
I recently had a great day exploring Dhaka with Jewel. He was an excellent, patient, well informed and very engaged guide. He took me to places I would never have found or ventured into on my own. He was very knowledgeable and very good company. His English is excellent and he has a good sense of humour.
I would most certainly arrange future trips with Jewel and would highly recommend him to any going to Bangladesh.
He made a great effort to ensure I got want I wanted – which he did very successfully.
Munchkinette | Oxford
Excellent!
Dec 2018 • Solo
Had a fantastic photography tour with Mithur as my guide. He was great – not only a photographer, so very understanding of what I’d like to see, but also extremely knowledgeable. We didn’t just photograph people, Mithur spoke to them about themselves which opened my eyes as to how hard people work for little money. The market, the brick factory, the coal boats and the shipyard were all fascinating. Who knew there were so many types of aubergine?! Thoroughly recommended! Wear closed shoes.
Lynda | santamonicaMom90402 Santa Monica, California
A+++++ UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE // BEST GUIDE EVER
Review of Royal Bengal Tours
Reviewed March 2, 2019
Royal Bengal Tours is my go to guide for Bangladesh. I visit every year. The staff communicates immediately when I submit my travel dates. The customer service, and meeting my expectations are outstanding.
I am a photographer and the guides accommodated my demanding schedule for sunrise and sunset times and places. I can’t say enough great things about this Bangladesh travel company.
bklyntraveler395 | Brooklyn, NY8
Amazing day in Dhaka
Mar 2019
Jewel of Royal Bengal Tours took three of us on a private walking tour of markets, railway tracks, ferries, and food treats in and around Old Dhaka. He is an experienced guide who knows and deeply loves the city, and it is a joy to get to see Dhaka like a local with him. He completely shaped the tour around our interests, made sure we got to take plenty of photos, helped us talk with people on the street, and in general made it a wonderful day. I can’t recommend him more highly.