Unseen Bangladesh
Narayanganj District · Dhaka Division · লোক ও কারুশিল্প জাদুঘর, সোনারগাঁও
Folk Art and Crafts Museum, Sonargaon travel guide
A museum in the Boro Sardar Bari; folk art, nakshi kantha and gardens around a lake.
At a glance
- Founded
- 1975
- Founder
- Painter Zainul Abedin
- Buildings
- Sardar Bari (built in 1901)
- Area
- An area of about 150 acres
History and details
Fearing that Bengal's folk art and crafts would be lost, the painter Zainul Abedin set up the Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation in 1975. The ancient capital Sonargaon was chosen for its historic importance.
The museum is in the lovely 'Sardar Bari', a zamindar's house built in 1901, with statues of horsemen on both sides in front and a lake all round. Inside is a huge collection of rural Bengal's art in wood, bamboo, cane, clay, copper and bell metal, conch shell, nakshi kantha, jamdani and scroll paintings.
The museum grounds have a craft village, a folk restaurant and boat rides on the lake. A folk festival and fair is held every January–February.
Things to do
- See nakshi kantha and jamdani in the Sardar Bari museum
- Buy handicrafts at the craft village
- Take a boat on the lake
- If you go during the folk fair, enjoy rural games and songs
How to get to Folk Art and Crafts Museum, Sonargaon
Close to Panam Nagar; by rickshaw from Mograpara.
Narayanganj is about 20 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 1 hour.
- 🚌 By bus: Buses from Gulistan to Narayanganj or Mograpara (Sonargaon), fare ৳30–80.
- 🚆 By train: Narayanganj commuter train from Kamalapur, fare ৳20–30.
Where to stay
The district town has basic and mid-range hotels (roughly ৳800–2,500). Government circuit houses and dak bungalows can be used with permission.
What to eat
Sonargaon pitha (rice cakes), food stalls along the Shitalakshya
Good to know
- May be closed on Wednesday and Thursday — check the hours before going
- You can take a boat on the lake and buy handicrafts at the craft village
More to see nearby
- Panam Nagar (1 km)
- Goaldi Mosque (2 km)
- Meghna Ghat (10 km)
More places to visit in Narayanganj district
- Panam Nagar — An abandoned historic town lined with 19th-century merchants' two-storey houses; great for photography.
- Hajiganj Fort — A Mughal river fort on the Shitalakshya, built to stop Magh and Portuguese pirates.
- Sonakanda Fort — Another Mughal river fort on the east bank of the Shitalakshya, known for its high cannon platform.