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Dhaka

Hatirjheel

A lake with walkways, bridges and water taxis in the middle of the city.

Local food to try

  • Fuchka and chotpoti

    Hatirjheel

    Dhaka’s favourite evening snacks, sold by vendors around the lake.

  • Jhalmuri

    Hatirjheel

    Spicy puffed rice with mustard oil, onion and chilli — the snack for a lakeside walk.

  • Milk tea

    Hatirjheel

    Strong, sweet tea from the stalls near the lake.

Where to eat

  • Gulshan

    North Dhaka

    Restaurants and cafés of every kind, a short ride from the northern end of the lake.

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  • Lakeside food stalls

    Hatirjheel

    Small eateries and snack stalls along the lake for fuchka, tea and light meals.

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Where to stay

  • Gulshan and Banani

    North Dhaka

    International and upscale hotels close to the lake’s northern end.

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  • Dhanmondi and Panthapath

    Central Dhaka

    Mid-range hotels a short ride from the Karwan Bazar end of the lake.

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History

Hatirjheel is a long, winding lake in the middle of Dhaka, between Tejgaon, Gulshan, Badda and Rampura. The name means “elephants’ lake”, and is often linked to the elephants that were once brought to bathe in the water here.

For years the area was a neglected wetland and drainage channel lined with encroachments. A large redevelopment project turned it into a public lake with roads, bridges and walkways, which opened in 2013. Today it also helps to hold and drain stormwater in the monsoon.

The lake is now one of the city’s favourite places to walk and relax, especially in the evening, when its curved bridges are lit up and families, friends and joggers fill the paths. Small water buses carry passengers across and along the lake, and there is an open-air amphitheatre on its bank.

Tour plans

An evening at Hatirjheel

2–3 hours

  1. Step 1: Late-afternoon walk

    Start an hour before sunset and walk a stretch of the lakeside path.

  2. Step 2: Water bus ride

    Take a water bus across or along the lake to see the bridges from the water.

  3. Step 3: Lights on the bridges

    Stay after dark, when the curved bridges are lit up.

  4. Step 4: Snacks or dinner

    Fuchka and tea by the lake, or dinner in Gulshan.

Map

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Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to March, in the early morning for a quiet walk or after sunset, when the bridges are lit.

How to get there

Between Gulshan, Banani and Tejgaon. Walk or cycle the lakeside paths; small water buses cross the lake.

Getting around

  • Walk the lakeside paths and bridges — the best way to see the lake.
  • Water buses run across and along the lake, linking points such as Gulshan, Rampura and the Karwan Bazar end; a ride is a pleasant way to see it from the water.
  • Cycling is popular on the paths early in the morning.
  • The lakeside roads have heavy traffic; use a rickshaw or CNG only to reach the lake, then go on foot.

Travel tips

  • Evenings and Fridays are the busiest times; come early in the morning for a quiet walk.
  • Use the footbridges and crossings — traffic on the lakeside roads moves fast.
  • Do not swim in the lake, and keep children away from the water’s edge.
  • Keep your phone and bag close in the evening crowds.
  • Bring water in the hot months; there is little shade on some stretches.

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