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Voykit pocket guide · Bangladesh
Rajshahi
রাজশাহী
Spend 1–2 days: river walk, Varendra Museum, silk market, then head back – no need for overnight stay unless you want extra market time.
Rajshahi, the ‘silk city’ of northwestern Bangladesh, sits on the Padma River and offers historic mosques, a university campus, and a lively market scene. A short visit covers the main sights; longer stays let you explore nearby temples and mango orchards.
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Local name
- রাজশাহী
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Apr–Jul (hot, monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BDT
- Money
- BDT in small notes (50s and 100s) for rickshaws, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ৳1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ৳2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ৳3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink sell SIMs at Dhaka airport with passport and biometric fingerprint registration.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types C, D, G · 220 V · 50 Hz · Mixed sockets; universal adapter recommended.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Guide / driver: ৳500–1,000 a day.; Rickshaw: Round up.; Hotel porter: ৳50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; buy sealed bottles or use hotel filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and malls; squat toilets with a hose or jug elsewhere. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Auto‑rickshaw (2 seater, 5 km (3.1 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (2 seater, 3.1 mi (5 km)) | ৳30–80 |
| Tea or soft drink | ৳20–40 |
| Street mango (season) | ৳15–30 each |
| Museum entry (Varendra) | ৳30 |
| Boat ride on Padma (short trip) | ৳200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RJH · Shah Makhdum Airport
- Flights from Dhaka; about 30 min by taxi to city centre
Typical fares
- Shah Makhdum ↔ Rajshahi city centre (taxi)
- ≈ ৳250–350, 20 min (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈ ৳50–80
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto‑rickshaws are the main city transport; fares 20–80 BDT. Tempos and city buses run fixed routes; taxis are pricier. Walkable sidewalks in the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Silk and textile trade
- Mangoes and lychees
- Varendra Research Museum
- Padma River waterfront
- Historic mosques and shrines
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Puthia Palace | Bus or shared tempo from Rajshahi bus terminal, about 30 min; walk 5 min to site | ≈1 h total |
| Bagha Mosque | Bus from Rajshahi to Bagha, ~1 h; short walk to mosque | ≈1.5 h total |
Sleep
- Royal Raj Hotel & Condominium
- Central location, basic amenities
- Grand River View Hotel
- Pool, gym, near Padma River
- Chez Razzak Suites
- Two‑star guest‑house, residential area
- Rajshahi Parjatan Motel
- Budget rooms, includes breakfast
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | দুঃখিতdukhito |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is this? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the bathroom? | বাথরুম কোথায়?bathroom kothay? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalamu alaikum' with a nod; handshake between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Invitations: Accept tea; bring sweets when visiting a home; avoid: Refusing all food
- Hands: Right hand for eating and giving; avoid: Left hand for food
- Curiosity: Expect crowds and questions; smile and answer briefly; avoid: Taking offence at stares
- Mosques: Shoes off, head covered, visit outside prayer times; avoid: Walking in front of people praying
Scams and watch-outs
- Traffic can be chaotic; rickshaw drivers may overcharge – ask for fare first.
- Petty theft in crowded markets and near the railway station – keep bags close.
- Boat rides on the Padma vary in safety; confirm life‑jackets before boarding.
Generally safe; avoid isolated riverbank alleys after dark and keep valuables hidden in markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rajshahi yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Silk and textile trade
- Mangoes and lychees
- Varendra Research Museum
- Padma River waterfront
- Historic mosques and shrines
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Rajshahi, revision 5337644 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5337644
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Rajshahiরাজশাহী
দিক দেখাবেন?
Can you show me the way?
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance999
US consulate in Dhaka; nearest Bangladeshi embassy in Washington, D.C.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/rajshahi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.