Archive for the ‘Dhaka’ Category

Dhaka

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Dhaka (ঢাকা), formerly spelled as Dacca and formerly named as Jahangir Nagar, is the capital city of Bangladesh. The City of Mosques, as Dhaka is known as, is Bangladesh’s largest and also known as the top producer of quality muslin. Despite all of this, Dhaka continues to be considered as one of the most difficult places to live in. It must be because of the continuous chaos that pervades the city. If the movement only involved only pretty things, it might have been a power house. However, Dhaka is all about a mix-clash of everything. Its 60 square miles is filled with 6.7 million people according to the latest measurement.

Chaos should have been Dhaka’s name. Though considered practically unlivable, the city is definitely unforgettable. Set your foot in it and you probably will experience something different from a previous visitor: there is just too much activity going on. You see both the ugly face of poverty and the charming accents of passion and intelligence in just one vibrating city. It can be overwhelming, maybe even completely appalling, but definitely interesting. As with any other place, make sure you keep your belongings close to yourself. Bag snatchers do exist and can run away with your things via taxis.

You can reach Dhaka via the Dhaka International Airport. When you are in the city itself, you can get around by bus or tram. You can also go by rented car or motorcycle. It is not that easy to drive yourself around Dhaka, however. Some locals can drive around dangerously. You can go around by taxi; note though that taxi drivers do not really want to put their meters to use. Add to the chaos is Dhaka’s hot and humid weather having a monsoon climate. Expect the temperature to vary from 58 degrees Fahrenheit to 89 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are from the United States, you need not just a passport which is valid for three months but also a return ticket and a visa. You can obtain a 30-day or even a 90-day visa upon your arrival at the airport.