Dhaka

The fort and its beautiful gardens are a great place to escape the bustle of the city streets for a while. Dating back to 1684, the complex includes three monuments: the Quilla Mosque, the Tomb of Pari Bibi and the Hall of Audience. This last one, the only one visitors can enter, houses a small museum containing coins, carpets, paintings and more.

The Buriganga River, which runs peacefully through Dhaka, showcases a microcosm of the whole country on its banks. You can see people fishing by the shore as your vessel navigates through the maze of boats making their way down the river. Taking a ride here is one of the best ways to get a true view of Bangladesh and its way of life.

Although this temple may seem modern, it stands on a most sacred spot, where temples have stood for centuries. It is the centre of the Hindu religion in Bangladesh, dedicated to Dhakeshwari, the protector deity of the city, and gathers thousands of followers every year during the Durga Puja festival in September.

Another iconic monument of Dhaka, the Tara Mosque, or Star Mosque, has fascinated visitors and locals alike for years with its beautifully detailed mosaics. Interestingly, some tiles feature illustrations of Mt Fuji, since a renovation was done some 50 years ago using Japanese and English porcelain tiles.

There was a significant Armenian community in Bangladesh for centuries, even if today their presence is minimal. Founded in 1781, the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection in Dhaka, in the neighbourhood of Armanitola, named for the Armenian community that settled there, is a remnant of that time. The beautiful church is worth a visit as a marker of the diversity that exists and has existed in the city.

Once a racetrack, and the place where the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence took place, this vast park holds historical importance. A fine place to relax by day, it converts into an open-air market at night, so there is never a bad time to visit.