Dhaka
The national temple of Bangladesh, said to have given the city its name.
Dhakeshwari is the centre of Hindu religious life in the capital. During Durga Puja the temple is decorated, an image of the goddess is installed in a pandal, and visitors of every faith come to see it. The city’s Janmashtami procession, marking the birth of Krishna, traditionally sets out from here. On ordinary evenings, the arati with bells, conch shells and lamps is a quieter way to see the temple in use.
Dhakeshwari Temple is the National Temple of Bangladesh and the most important Hindu temple in Dhaka. Its name means “goddess of Dhaka”, and many believe the city took its name from it.
Tradition holds that the temple was founded by Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty, in the 12th century, though the buildings seen today are much later and have been repaired and rebuilt many times. The temple was badly damaged during the Liberation War of 1971 and was restored afterwards. In 1996 it was given the status of National Temple.
The complex has a main temple to the goddess, a group of small shrines to Shiva, a pond and a large courtyard. The original idol of the goddess is said to have been taken to Kolkata at Partition in 1947; a replica is worshipped here.
See the main temple, the Shiva shrines and the pond while it is quiet.
A short rickshaw ride to the unfinished Mughal fort and the tomb of Pari Bibi.
Ride north to the university for the red-brick hall and the Shaheed Minar nearby.
End with tea and fuchka among the students at TSC.
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October to March; in the morning or at the evening prayers. Durga Puja, usually in October, is the most festive time.
Near Palashi and Bakshibazar, just south of the university: a rickshaw from Nilkhet or Azimpur.
