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Trip to Sonargaon, the First Capital of Bengal
$50 per person
Trip to Sonargaon – the first capital of Bengal, is a great treat. Sonargaon was the country’s first capital from the 13th to 17th century, located about 30km southeast by the Dhaka Chittagong highway. In its prime time, the ‘Golden City’ was also an important river port and the trading center for the world-famous muslin cloth. The remains of several mosques, tombs, stupas and a bridge in Panam Nagar, the Shiv Mandir (Hindu temple) and the well-maintained Folk-Art Museum are well worth visiting. A boat trip on the Meghna River for some hours and visiting a primitive char village are the activities of this trip.
Embarking on a day trip to Sonargaon is like stepping into a living museum. As you explore the remnants of its glorious past, you can’t help but feel the echoes of bygone eras reverberating through its weathered walls.
One of the highlights of Sonargaon is the magnificent Panam City, a once-thriving trading center during the Mughal era. Today, it stands as a ghost town, its dilapidated mansions and crumbling buildings serving as poignant reminders of its former grandeur. Strolling through its narrow lanes, you’ll encounter architectural marvels adorned with ornate carvings and intricate motifs, transporting you to a time of opulence and prosperity.
A visit to the Folk Art and Crafts Museum in Sonargaon offers a glimpse into the traditional arts and crafts of the region. The museum showcases a diverse collection of artifacts, including pottery, textiles, woodwork, and metalwork, providing a deeper understanding of the local craftsmanship and artistic traditions.
For a serene escape, visit the charming Goaldi Mosque, an architectural gem adorned with terracotta carvings and intricate details. Its peaceful surroundings and the harmonious blend of Islamic and Bengali architectural styles make it a tranquil spot for reflection and admiration.
At its origin, a visit to the Jamdani saree weaving factory is a must; here, the scholar artist has been weaving their dreams on sarees. With Muslin as its root, the Jamdani Saree is a very old tradition known as Dhakai Jamdani Saree. Jamdani started its journey during the Mughal era as Muslin. This saree represents one of the finest and most ancient forms of weaving that originated in Bengal. Recently this unique technique has got a UNESCO award for its ultra-fine fabric, transparency, and design. It is always a dream for Bengali women to have one pure cotton & silk hand-loomed Jamdani saree in their collection.
No visit to Sonargaon is complete without a boat ride on the mighty Meghna River. Drift along its gentle currents, witnessing the idyllic riverine landscapes and absorbing the tranquility that envelops the area.
Throughout your journey, engage with the locals, who are warm and hospitable, and take the opportunity to savor the flavors of the region’s traditional cuisine. From mouthwatering delicacies like hilsha fish curries to sweet treats like mishti doi (sweet yogurt), the culinary delights of Sonargaon add an extra layer of richness to your experience.
A day trip to Sonargaon offers an enchanting blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty. It allows you to step back in time, unraveling the layers of a once-thriving capital and connecting with the heritage of Bengal. As you leave Sonargaon, you’ll carry with you the memories of a journey through history, forever treasuring the cultural significance and timeless charm of this remarkable place.
Your guide will come to pick you up at 8:00 AM and leave Dhaka for Sonargaon. On the way, we shall take our first stop in Nawapara Jamdani village. This is where the magic fingers are at weaving traditional Jamdani sari, which is an incredible artwork with a narrow future due to the cheaper productions of modern technology. Continue drive to the old capital of Bengal – Sonargaon; Panam Nagar, beautiful Shardarbari, well-maintained Folk-Art Museum are well worth visiting. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Continue to Buiddyer Bazar for a refreshing country boat cruise on the Meghna (one of the major rivers in Bangladesh) River for a couple of hours. This river trip will include an interesting walk to explore the primitive Char village life. Char is a temporary sandy shifting island formed by river erosion and sedimentation. There are thousands of chars in Bangladesh up from the northern part to the south coast. This char can disappear by flooding, high tide, strong river currents or by any natural disaster or so. Life on the char is very limited; access to the medical care center and education is very tough, impossible in some areas. You will return to your hotel by late in the afternoon.
- Tour Price
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$
50
price starts from
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Group Size Per-person price in USD Or in BDT 1 PAX $135.00 15000.00 2 PAX $80.00 9500.00 4 PAX $65.00 7800.00 6+ PAX $50.00 6000.00
- Reserved vehicle and driver
- A knowledgeable English-speaking guide
- 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, and 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
8:00 AM -
Return Time
Approximately 6:00 PM or later; depending on your interests and the traffic situation -
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.
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Tour Location
Jamdani saree weaving village, Sonargaon folk art and craft museum, Panam nagar, boating on Meghna river and walk through a char village.
Vastey | Cambridge, UK
Friendly, professional & insightful guide service in Dhaka
I travelled to Bangladesh on business from the UK, and wanted a guide to give me a tour of Dhaka to get my bearings. I spent a great couple of days with Jewel of Royal Bengal Tours and had a tremendous time. Before arriving in Dhaka, he was always prompt and concise when answering email enquiries. In Dhaka, he gave a great tour of the city, as well as a second tour outside to Sonargaon. I used his services over a number of days and he was always friendly and professional, and had a deep knowledge of his city to pass on. He was also very helpful when I had further travel arrangements to make, such as hotel and train bookings. When the occasional minor problem arose, as happens in Dhaka, he he was excellent at handling changes to the itinerary. I have travelled widely in India and Pakistan, but this was my first trip to Bangladesh. Jewel gave me a great introduction, and if I was returning to Dhaka, Jewel would be my first choice of guides to use.
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mikelboe | minneapolis
2 days in Dhaka
Jewel was fantastic. He designed a perfect day trip for me and when my flight got cancelled, he was fortunately available and planned another fantastic day for me. He is knowledgeable, speaks perfect English, is hard working and knows how to create a good time. My day in Dhaka was kind of dipping my foot in the water to see what it was like. Thanks to Jewel, I will certainly be back. I highly recommend him to anyone travelling to Bangladesh.
SmokingGnu Singapore, Singapore
Wonderful Tour and Guide
We took a full day (8.30-7pm) tour with tour guide Jewel around old Dhaka in the morning and out to Sonargaon in the afternoon. Dhaka isn’t an easy place for tourists at all, but Jewel looked after us brilliantly. He was really knowledgeable and adapted the day to us and also to the weather conditions (we got hit hard by the monsoon on the morning walking tour, but it wasn’t a problem). Overall, an amazing experience and great value for money – we saw a huge amount in a single day – backstreets, museums, churches, palaces, countryside. Highly recommended. P.S Fans of the kitsch – don’t miss the “new Taj Mahal”. Mindboggling!
Nils Mue | Bern, Switzerland
Fantastic Dhaka City Tour
We booked a 1 day city tour with Jewel, the owner of Royal Bengal Tours. It was a fantastic day. He showed us around Old Dhaka and we realized right away, that this city is his home. He knows every street and almost everywhere he knows someone. He also took us to the Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum and Panam City, the old capital of Bangladesh. To top it off, he showed us a small Saree production site in the outskirts of Dhaka. It was a day full of surprises and we would book a tour with him again without hesitating.
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scottschenk | Shanghai, China
Day Tour of Sonargaon and Old Dhaka
I had a great experience one a one day tour of Sonargaon and Old Dhaka with Sayed. The company worked with me to organize exactly the tour I was looking for at a reasonable price. I stayed near the airport since I had an inconvenient flight time so the tour started earlier than most. Everything was very smooth including pick-up, the drive, and visiting attractions. Sayed was knowledgeable about the city and Bangladesh. He was sure to explain as much about the history as well. He catered the food selection to my tastes and what I was wanting to experience while in Dhaka. When I come back to Bangladesh, I will use this company again.
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Tracy G | Los Angeles
Fantastic tour of Dhaka and surrounding region.
My daughter and I were in Dhaka for eight days for a wedding. Jewel, and and his team helped expedite our entrance into the country and arranged a fully custom tour and private driver during our trip. We visited Old Dhaka, Sonargaon, and all of the historic sites of the city and beyond. I think the highlights were the visits to the saree factory , and the brass and pottery artisans, the surgical ward of the general hospital, and enjoying a meal together in the home of our driver. We have used other travel companies, however, Royal Bengal Tours is the ONLY TOUR COMPANY I would recommend without reservation in Bangladesh!
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Robert
Fantastic trip on the river and Dhaka surroundings!
I booked a trip with Jewel, the owner of Royal Bengal Tours. Easy communication, fast and correct, and the trip was well planned and full of different experiences throughout the day. Jewel is very knowledgeable and answers every question with both knowledge and happiness. Strongly recommend Jewel and would go for the same agency again. We took a trip to the old capital, sewing village, and a trip on the river to remote villages. Very nice trip!
Lukas W.
Tours to Old Dhaka and Sonargaon
When I was searching for a guide who could show me around Old Dhaka, a friend recommended me Jewel as a guide. Since our first tour I booked several tours with Jewel for showing around colleagues during a business trip or my family.
In December 2019 me and my family had two amazing tours with Afridi, a colleague of Jewel to Old Dhaka and Sonargaon.
When preparing the tours both Jewel and Afridi have been very flexible in the plans of what to visit. After my first visit, I had an overview of places I like to visit or to show others. It is easy to discuss these wishes with both of them and they provide also own ideas and estimations on starting and ending time, as well as the length of the tours. I always had my personal driver, so we agreed on a meeting point and picked the guide up. Most places are not in a walking distance, so a car is always needed.
During the tours, Jewel and Afridi always had an eye on us, the safety of the routes to go and possible discoveries along our routes. Jewel lived for some time in Old Dhaka and therefore knows the people, the authentic places to stop for tea or mishti (sweets) and the way through the tiny streets.
If it is a day drip, Jewel and Afridi know clean restaurants for lunch in all places I visited together with them.
All in all, the trips have been greatly organized and allow a lot of modifications during the tours and the beforehand planning. I would describe the trips as an introduction into the rich cultural everyday life of the general society in Dhaka. Sightseeing is also a part of the tours, but the focus – and where you can discover most things and get to know different daily routines – is the life of the people. Outside of Dhaka we visited a village on a river island and learned how life is organized there. Both Jewel and Afridi are awesome and knowledgeable guides and I hope to meet them both again when I am the next time at Dhaka.
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Sas | Bremen, Germany
Brilliant Day Trip – extremely happy with everything
I have done a first trip with them couple of months ago. Was extremely happy. So I did another trip to Sonargaon with them for a day. Was very well organized, super kind and relaxed guide. Would absolutely recommend Royal Bengal Tours to anyone. Will not be my last trip.
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ugo b
Going around outside Dhaka
A very nice trip with a very good guide.
We visit a text handcraft facility
Then we see one of the few historical building and museum of bangladesh in nice Sonargaon, and also the incredible houses of Panama street.
We visit also by boat a chor village (a village on a sand bank on the river)
Finally thanks to the expertise of our guide, we manage to skip the orrible trafic entering in Dhake, traveling in secondary road and we where back on time in the hotel.
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Ronald R
Amazing trip, there’s no better way to experience this fascinating country!
I had an amazing tailor-made 5-day trip around Dhaka, Rajshahi and Sonargaon with Abdul Azim as my guide!
It all started with Mr. Jewel being super responsive upon my initial request. He was very helpful with the planning of the tour (itinerary etc.) and provided me with all the important information regarding the trip and particularly my arrival at the airport (Visa on Arrival etc.).
The next 5 days I spent with Abdul Azim, who impressed me with his vast knowledge and his flexibility. A few times we spontaneously stopped on the roadside, because he or the driver spotted some interesting things. He always had a good taste for what I would like to see or do, which I found incredible!
I loved every bit of it and the biggest challenge for me was taking enough photos of all those numerous fascinating things I saw during our trip! I couldn’t imagine a better way to get to know this hidden gem Bangladesh!
Big thanks to Abdul Azim, the best possible guide you can imagine, as well as our 2 drivers in Rajshahi and Habib in Dhaka for this unforgettable tour!
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