Best of Rajshahi: Top archaeological sites of Bangladesh

Despite being a very small country compared to it’s neighbors, Bangladesh has many impressive archaeological sites to offer. Most of them are located in Rajshahi division, the north-western part of the country. In this tour we will take you to visit the best archaeological sites of the Rajshahi division on the shortest possible time.

We’ll start by visiting the temple village Puthia where the highest number of historical temples are located. After that you’ll visit Kusumba Mosque, a beautiful stone-built mosque from medieval period, Somapura Mahavihara – the second largest monastery south of Himalayas from 8th century and a UNESCO world heritage site, and Mahasthangarh – the remaining of the oldest known city of Bangladesh from 3rd century BC.

Also we will take you to experience the life on the chars (river islands) of mighty river Jamuna at Sariakandi. Here you can see how people live struggling against the nature because of continuous landslides by the river. This is the tour you need to do to experience the best of what the Rajshahi division has to offer.

Spires of Shiva Temple in Puthia

Gobinda and Shiva Temple of Puthia

Pancha-Ratna Gobinda Temple of Puthia

Kusumba Mosque

Somapuri Mahabhihara – Front View

Somapuri Mahabhihara – Kitchen and dinning

Somapuri Mahabhihara – Terracotta Plaques

Courtyard in Vasu Bhihar

People going to mainland from a char at Sariakandi on boat

A lady with her cow on a char at Sariakandi

A family at their house at a char in Sariakandi

Day-01: Dhaka – Rajshahi by Train, and Puthia

• Pick up from hotel at 05.30 H, transfer to Airport Railway Station, and take 769 Dhumketue Express at 06.15 H to Rajshahi. Arrive Rajshahi around 11.50 H, transfer to hotel.
• After check-in, freshen up, and lunch, drive to Puthia (22 km, 30 mins) and visit its beautiful temples and palaces. Largest number of historical temples of Bangladesh are located in Puthia. Back to Rajshahi in the evening.
• Overnight at Rajshahi (Parjatan Hotel / Hotel Nice).

Day-02: Kusumba Mosque, Somapura Mahavihara, and Mahasthangarh

• After breakfast, drive to Kusumba (50 km, 1.5 hrs). Visit Kusumba Mosque, a beautiful stone-built mosque from medieval period. This is one of sixth remaining stone-built mosque from the Sultanate period in Bengal, which is very well preserved.
• Drive to Paharpur (60 km, 1.5 hrs) and visit Somapura Mahavihara, a Buddhist monastery from 8th century and a UNESCO world heritage site. This is the most impressive archaeological site in Bangladesh.
• Drive to Mahasthangarh (60 km, 1.5 hrs), and visit the remaining of the oldest known city in Bangladesh from 3rd century BC. We will take you to visit most of the well known sites at Mahasthangarh including the Citadel, Vasu Bihar, Mahasthangarh Museum, and Gokul Medh. Drive to Bogra (22 km, 30 mins).
• Overnight at Bogra (Hotel Naz Garden).

Day-03: Chars of Jamuna, drive to Dhaka

• After breakfast, drive to Sariakandi (50 km, 45 mins). Visit some chars (river islands) of river Jamuna and see how people live on those small islands struggling with the natural disasters.
• Drive to Dhaka (250 km, 6.5 hrs). Lunch on a highway restaurant on the way. Drop at hotel upon arrival at Dhaka in the late evening, say good bye.
• End of the tour.

• Tour includes:
  • 02 Nights accommodation at Rajshahi and Bogra described in the itinerary on twin sharing basis, with complementary breakfast.
  • Dhaka – Rajshahi 1st class train ticket.
  • Air-conditioned car, driver, English speaking guide.
  • All site entrance tickets.
  • Transfer to train station at Dhaka (Dhaka North only – Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Uttara area).
• Does not includes:
  • Any food, drinks, beverage, or any personal item.
  • Pick-up and drop at Dhaka from the area other than mentioned above (Hotel 71, FARS Hotel, Hotel Pacicific, Hotel Ramna, Hotel Farmview, and the whole south Dhaka area).

• Minimum 02 person is required to book this tour. Single travelers can join any scheduled tour announced in the website.
• Tour is not available to start on Saturday, as Saturday is the off day for 769 Dhumketue Express.
• 1st class train tickets depend on availability. We’ll try our best to get first class tickets for you. But if that is not possible, you’ll have a reserved seat on 2nd class.
• It is common for the train to arrive Rajshahi on 01-02 hrs late.
• Tuk-Tuk will be used as local transport inside Rajshahi city.
• Wearing shorts will not be allowed to enter Kusumba Mosque. Women need to wear long sleeves while visiting the mosques. In other places, wearing shorts will not be any problem.
• Best time to travel:
  • October – March: Weather will be cool and comfortable, and less humid.
• In summer, it is hot and humid in Bangladesh. Also there is occasional rain which just comes and goes and very rarely continues for a long time. It also cools down the temperature. Be prepared with raincoat, umbrella, and zip-lock bags for your gadgets, and any other protection necessary from the rain.
• We’ll require the full payment in advance to book this tour. Details of our online payment system could be found here: Online payment FAQs.