Khulna
Khulna’s working river: ferry boats, cargo vessels and the long span of the Rupsha Bridge, best at sunset.
The Rupsha is the river Khulna was built on. Where the Bhairab joins it, the city’s ghats grew into a busy port for country boats carrying rice, timber, golpata and fish, and the river still links the city with Mongla and the edge of the Sundarbans.
For generations the only way across was by boat, and the wooden ferry boats of Rupsha Ghat remain a part of daily life. In 2005 the Rupsha Bridge, officially the Khan Jahan Ali Bridge, opened downstream, giving the city a direct road to Bagerhat and Mongla and a new place for an evening outing.
An hour by the water shows Khulna at work: cargo vessels heading for the port, fishing boats, people crossing to the far bank, and the light fading over the wide brown river.
Arrive in the late afternoon and watch the ferry boats and cargo vessels.
Take a ferry boat to the far bank and back for a view of the city from the water.
Ride down to the bridge approach and watch the sun set over the river.
Head back to the centre for prawns, fish or chui jhal.
Late afternoon to sunset, October to March
The ghats are on the eastern edge of the city centre, a short rickshaw or easy-bike ride away. The Rupsha Bridge is a few kilometres downstream, about 20–30 minutes by CNG or easy-bike.
