National Museum travel guide

History and background

It began as the Dhaka Museum in 1913 and was established as the National Museum in its present Shahbagh building in 1983. It holds about 100,000 objects — ancient sculptures, coins, weapons, nakshi kantha, natural history and a Liberation War gallery.

How to get to National Museum

At Shahbagh crossing; by bus or Metro Rail to Shahbagh station. Closed on Thursdays.

Where to stay

• Pan Pacific Sonargaon and InterContinental Dhaka (luxury)
• Plenty of mid-range hotels in Gulshan-Banani, Paltan and Farmgate (৳2,000–6,000)

What to eat

Old Dhaka kacchi biryani, Haji's biryani, bakarkhani, borhani, Nanna Mia's morog polao

Good to know

• Closed Thursday; opens Friday afternoon
• Children usually love the natural history gallery

More places to visit in Dhaka district

• Lalbagh Fort — An unfinished fort begun in 1678 under the Mughal subahdar Prince Azam Shah. Inside are Pari Bibi's tomb, an audience hall and a mosque.
• Ahsan Manzil — The pink palace of the Nawabs of Dhaka on the Buriganga, now a museum. You can see furniture and pictures from the Nawabs' time.
• National Parliament House — World-famous modern architecture designed by Louis Kahn. The lake around it and Chandrima Udyan are lovely for an afternoon stroll.
• Hatirjheel — A lake, bridges and walkways in the middle of the city. Evening lights and water taxis are popular.
• Star Mosque — A beautiful 18th-century mosque decorated with star patterns in broken china.
• Dhakeshwari Temple — Dhaka's oldest temple and the national temple, thought to be linked to the city's name.
• Armenian Church — The Armenians' church, built in 1781, witness to Old Dhaka's multi-ethnic history.
• Liberation War Museum — A modern museum of documents, photos and relics of the 1971 Liberation War.

Location on the map