Sonargaon & Panam City tour from Dhaka: Jamdani weaving

Panam City's 52 derelict mansions, a working handloom, and an hour on the Meghna River

A full-day guided tour from Dhaka explores Sonargaon's layered history: the abandoned merchant town of Panam City with its single street of 52 crumbling colonial-era buildings, the pre-Mughal Goaldi Mosque, the restored Boro Sardarbari mansion, and a working Jamdani saree workshop where artisans weave less than an inch of fabric per day. The day ends with a wooden boat ride on the Meghna River to Maya Island to see rural village life. Hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, entry to all sites, and bottled water are included. The tour runs eight hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cultural and heritage exploration

• Visit Jamdani weaving village
• Explore Goaldi Mosque
• Tour Panam City ruins
• Visit Boro Sardarbari mansion
• See Folk Art and Crafts Museum
• Boat ride on Meghna River to Maya Island

The experience

Panam City anchors the day. Once a thriving trading post on the ancient silk road, the town is now a single street lined with 52 derelict mansions in various states of decay: some still standing, others reduced to facades and rubble. Walking through them gives a tangible sense of what was lost. The architecture speaks to the wealth that passed through here. The Goaldi Mosque, built in 1519 and standing nearby, is a rare single-domed example of pre-Mughal Sultanate architecture, and the Folk Art and Crafts Museum within the Sonargaon complex holds traditional Bengali arts and artifacts that fill in the region's cultural history.

The Boro Sardarbari mansion represents a different chapter: a heritage restoration showing how wealthy landlords lived, with architecture that reflects their status. But the most immediate cultural encounter comes at the Jamdani saree workshop, where you watch skilled artisans work on handlooms producing the UNESCO-recognized Dhakai Jamdani Saree. The pace is deliberate: weavers complete less than an inch of fabric per day, and the intricacy of the pattern becomes clear only when you see the loom in motion and the finished cloth.

The tour closes with an hour on the Meghna River in a wooden boat, moving past the daily rhythms of the riverbank and stopping at Maya Island (a char, or sandbar settlement) to step into the quieter pace of rural Bangladesh. The boat ride is the day's only pause from walking and looking, and it shifts the focus from heritage sites to how people live alongside the river now.

What’s included

• Airconditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• entry to Goaldi Mosque, Panam City, Boro Sardarbari mansion, and the Folk Art and Crafts Museum.
• the Jamdani saree weaving workshop visit.
• the Meghna River boat ride to Maya Island.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Trip Tour Bangladesh

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Dhaka means you don't need a car or navigate to a meeting point outside the city. The guide handles the route and timing across all five sites, so a full day of cultural landmarks fits into one eight-hour outing without the logistics of arranging transport between them.

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Top questions

What is Panam City and why is it abandoned?

Panam City (Panam Nagar) was a prosperous Hindu merchant town and trading post on the ancient silk road. The single street still holds 52 historic mansions, many now in ruins, that reflect the wealth that once flowed through the settlement. The town was abandoned over time as trade routes shifted and the region's economic center moved elsewhere.

Can I see saree weaving happen, or is it just a display?

You watch artisans actively working on handlooms at the Jamdani workshop. The weavers are producing the UNESCO-recognized Dhakai Jamdani Saree, and you see them at the loom creating the intricate patterns. The process is slow (less than an inch of fabric per day), so the complexity of the work becomes visible.

How long is the Meghna River boat ride, and what happens on Maya Island?

The wooden boat ride lasts about an hour on the Meghna River. You visit Maya Island (a char settlement), where you step ashore to experience the daily life and culture of rural Bangladeshi villagers who live on the riverbank and islands.

What sites close on certain days, and does that affect the tour?

Panam City closes on Sundays, and both the Boro Sardarbari mansion and the Folk Art and Crafts Museum close on Thursdays. The tour operator will adjust the itinerary based on the day you book, so all major sites are included regardless of when you travel.

Is lunch provided during the eight-hour tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour. Bottled water is provided, and the guide can recommend local eating options, but you'll need to arrange a meal break during the day.