Old Dhaka History Tour: Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil & Star Mosque

Five stops across Old Dhaka trace the city from its Mughal past through the independence movement that shaped modern Bangladesh.

A five-hour private tour of Old Dhaka with a live guide in English or Bengali, visiting Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil palace, Dhakeshwari Temple, Star Mosque, Armenian Church and the Shaheed Minar monument. The tour includes air-conditioned transport and bottled water. Entry fees to Lalbagh Fort and Ahsan Manzil are optional at checkout. Pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lalbagh Fort1h
2. Dhakeshwari Temple30m
3. Star Mosque30m
4. Armenian Church30m
5. Ahsan Manzil1h
6. Sadarghat Port30m

Explore Old Dhaka's historic sites

• Visit Curzon Hall at University of Dhaka
• See Shaheed Minar Martyrs’ Monument
• Tour Lalbagh Fort complex
• Visit Dhakeshwari National Temple
• Explore Star Mosque in Armanitola
• Visit Armenian Church in Armanitola
• Tour Ahsan Manzil palace
• Walk through Sadarghat Port area

The experience

The tour moves through six landmarks that hold the layers of Dhaka's history. Lalbagh Fort, started in 1678 by a Mughal prince, stands incomplete on the Buriganga River's bank: a 17th-century structure that never finished but still anchors the old city's skyline. Ahsan Manzil, the palace of the Nawab of Dhaka, was built between 1859 and 1872 in Indo-Saracenic style and sits directly on the river at Kumartoli. Both are closed on specific days (Fort on Sunday, Manzil on Thursday), so the guide will work around your travel dates.

The spiritual side of Old Dhaka emerges at Dhakeshwari Temple, the state-owned national temple whose name means "Goddess of Dhaka," and at the Star Mosque in Armanitola, decorated with blue star motifs and built in the early 19th century. The Armenian Church, also in Armanitola, marks the city's historical religious diversity. Between these sites, you'll pass through Sadarghat, the narrow-street river port packed with cycle rickshaws, book stalls and traditional eateries: the living heart of the old city.

Shaheed Minar, the Martyrs' Monument, closes the loop with modern history. Its 14-meter marble columns arranged in a semicircle honor those killed during the 1952 Bengali Language Movement, when students and activists from Dhaka University and Medical College were shot protesting the imposition of Urdu. The monument's basement holds a mural panel telling that story. A private guide means you move at your own pace and can linger where the history resonates most.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• bottled water.
• live guide in English or Bengali.
• pickup included.
• entry fees to Lalbagh Fort and Ahsan Manzil available as an optional add-on at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Excluding entry tickets and feesGuide in English or Bangla · 10:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 14:30Entry tickets and fees are not covered; you pay for them in cash on site. Pickup is included.

Including entry tickets and feesGuide in English or Bangla · 10:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 14:30All entry tickets and fees are covered, so you don't need to carry local currency. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 14:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Bangla

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 29

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Travel Mate

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to move through Old Dhaka's history on your own schedule with a private guide, rather than in a group. The five-hour window fits the major sites without rushing, and you can decide at checkout whether to add entry fees or simply walk the exteriors and courtyards.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Bangla.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lalbagh Fort and why is it incomplete?

Lalbagh Fort is a 17th-century Mughal fort complex begun in 1678 by Muhammad Azam Shah, a son of Emperor Aurangzeb. Construction was never finished, but the structure still stands on the Buriganga River in southwestern Dhaka as a major historical landmark. Note that it closes on Sundays.

Can I visit both Ahsan Manzil and Lalbagh Fort on the same tour?

Yes, both palaces are stops on the tour, though entry fees are optional at checkout. Ahsan Manzil closes on Thursdays, so your guide will confirm the day works before the tour begins.

What does Shaheed Minar commemorate?

Shaheed Minar honors those killed in February 1952 during the Bengali Language Movement, when students and activists from Dhaka University and Medical College were shot as they protested attempts to make Urdu the sole state language. The monument's semicircle of marble columns symbolizes a grieving mother with her fallen children.

How does the tour handle the narrow streets of Old Dhaka?

You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle between the main sites. Sadarghat, the river port district, is walkable on foot through its narrow streets lined with cycle rickshaws, book markets and traditional shops. The guide will lead you through the area at a comfortable pace.