Place · Old Dhaka
Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)তারা মসজিদ
Go in the morning on the way through Old Dhaka; 30 minutes outside prayer times to see the star-pattern tile mosaic; go by ride-hail and rickshaw, never on foot from the hotel.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 30–40 min
- p95 60 min
- Price
- free; a small donation is customary
- bring cash
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- morning, outside prayer times
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- No
- Old Dhaka: forbidden
- Getting there
- Rickshaw or ride-hail to Armanitola; the last 200 m are a narrow lane
- Skip Friday midday
- Cover up, shoes off
- Short stop
- Go morning, outside prayer times
- Bring cash
- Shoes off inside
- Queue: switch at 15 min
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Old Dhaka's lanes are blocked by rickshaws, stalls and op…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Bangladesh ↗Apply for a visa only on the official government e-visa portal or at an embassy; lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Bangladesh ↗Dress modestly in cities and near mosques: cover shoulders and knees, and women carry a scarf for mosques and shrines.
- Bangladesh ↗Carry Bangladeshi taka in small notes; rickshaws, markets and small shops are cash-only, and foreign cards are not accepted everywhere.
- Bangladesh ↗Political rallies, strikes (hartal) and blockades can close roads and cut mobile internet with little notice: check the news and your hotel before any transfer day and stay away from demonstrations.
- Dhaka Division ↗Fridays are the weekend and the quietest day for traffic: Old Dhaka's monuments are calmer, though many shops and museums shorten their hours.
- Dhaka ↗Old Dhaka's lanes are blocked by rickshaws, stalls and open drains, and many streets have no pavement: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Dhaka ↗A 10 km ride in Dhaka can take an hour or more at almost any time: plan one cluster per outing, and never book a tight connection on the same day.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 07:00 or 15:00 · go morning, outside prayer times
- Tickets
- Adult: free; a small donation is customary (check)
- Time to spend
- 30–40 min · up to 60 min if you linger
Know before you go
- This is a small working mosque in Armanitola, Old Dhaka. It is best as a 20-30 minute stop, not a half-day.
- The star pattern is made of pieces of china tile set into the walls and domes; the mosque itself is 18th century and the mosaic work was added in the early 20th century (check the exact date locally).
- Women are usually allowed in the courtyard or a marked area only: ask the caretaker at the gate rather than walking in.
- The lanes around it are narrow, with rickshaws, motorbikes and open drains: wear closed shoes you can take off easily.
- A small donation to the caretaker is normal if he opens doors or shows you around; agree nothing before you have seen what he offers.
Best time of day
Go morning, outside prayer times. Plan 30–40 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on Fridays and Saturdays
Weather here, next 7 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
30min
Typical
40min
p95
60min
A working mosque: visiting hours follow prayer times and are not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; women cover their hair.
- Bags & lockers
- No formal check.
- Informal.
- Photos
- Ask first; no photos of worshippers.
- What's closed
- Prayer timescheckFive times a day; Friday midday is the main congregation.
- Ramadan and EidcheckHours change; go with a local guide if you visit.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | free; a small donation is customary (check) | — | — |
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | free; donation optional (check) | — |
Inside, in order
Courtyard and outside walls
10 min10 minutes
Interior if the caretaker allows it
10 min10 minutes
A short walk to the Armenian Church
10 min10 minutes each way by rickshaw or on foot with a local
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- light
- Worst while inside
- light
- Leave by
- 08:408:40 AM
- Closing buffer
- unknown
Good window: go.
- No closing time is published here; confirm it on the official site for your date.
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Rickshaw or ride-hail to Armanitola; the last 200 m are a narrow lane
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes off; leave them at the entrance.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Quiet mid-morning; busy at the five prayer times, and Friday midday is a full congregation: do not visit then.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- medium
- Queue rule
- Switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.
Bailouts
heat
Café or sweets shop with seating nearby (field-verify)
crowd
Armenian Church, quieter
rain
Lane is flooded easily: skip and go to Ahsan Manzil
Nearest rescue anchor: A — north-west of the cluster: café or sweets shop with seating (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partly
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: no · noNot recommended: narrow lane, steps and shoes-off floors.
- Stroller: no · noUse a carrier; the lane is too tight and broken for a stroller.
Steps at the entrance and uneven ground in the lane; a wheelchair needs help.
Step-free route
- 1No step-free route; the entrance has steps and the lane is uneven.
Combine with
- 0 minArmanitola lanes and old shophouses
- 15 minArmenian Church — Lanes, so allow extra time.
- —Haji Biryani for lunch (rickshaw) · eat
- —Ahsan Manzil (15 minutes by rickshaw)
Walk the Old Dhaka area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
- The front wall and domes in soft morning light: Ask before photographing people at prayer.
Red lines
- Cover shoulders and knees; women also cover their hair.
- Do not enter during prayer or on Friday midday unless invited.
- Ask before photographing worshippers.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site
Rules on site
- silence
- Speak quietly.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| ablution area | ||
| no visitor toilets (check) |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot and humid from April to October; go early. The lane floods in heavy monsoon rain. |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Islamic decoration and tile work | good | — |
| A short stop inside a working Old Dhaka lane | good | — |
| Photographers who ask permission first | good | — |
Skip it if
- Friday midday or any prayer time
- You cannot cover shoulders and knees
- Heavy rain: the lane floods
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Can non-Muslims go in?
Usually yes outside prayer times, if dressed modestly and welcomed by the caretaker; the rule is local, so ask at the door.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Why is it called the Star Mosque?
The domes and walls are covered with star and floral patterns made from small pieces of china tile.
Is it worth it if I only have one morning in Old Dhaka?
It is a good short stop next to Ahsan Manzil and the Armenian Church, but Ahsan Manzil and the river come first if time is short.
Can I walk there from Ahsan Manzil?
It is about 1.5 km through lanes with rickshaws and traffic; take a rickshaw or a car.It is about 0.9 mi through lanes with rickshaws and traffic; take a rickshaw or a car.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- officialBangladesh National Portal
- secondaryWikipedia — Star Mosque
- secondaryWikivoyage — Dhaka