Sonargaon & Panam City tour: Ruins and village crafts

Two centuries of Bengali architecture and village life in a single day from Dhaka

A private full-day tour from Dhaka to Sonargaon and Panam City with a live English-speaking guide, covering the abandoned merchant city, the Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum, the 16th-century Goaldi Mosque, the 19th-century Boro Sardar Bari mansion, and an island village. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and includes air-conditioned transport, lunch, bottled water and all entrance fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sonargaon and Panam Nagar

• Visit Panam City (Panam Nagar)
• Explore Boro Sardar Bari mansion
• Tour Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum
• See Historic Goaldi Mosque

The experience

How do you see centuries of Bengali history without spending days in different towns? This tour strings four major sites across Sonargaon and Panam City into one route, starting with Panam Nagar: the merchant quarter built by wealthy Hindu traders in the 1800s. The streets are lined with ornate colonial-era buildings, many now empty, their carved wooden facades and shuttered storefronts still standing. From there you move to the Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum, which holds pottery, textiles, masks and musical instruments collected from across the country, then to the Goaldi Mosque, built in 1519 under Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah, and the Boro Sardar Bari, a 19th-century mansion with intricate Bengali woodwork and architectural detail. The sequence lets you move through layers of the region's past without backtracking.

An English-speaking guide travels with you in an air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch is included partway through the day. The route also takes in an island village, so you see not just monuments but how people live along the rivers now. Note that the folk museum closes on Thursdays and Panam Nagar closes on Sundays, so plan your day accordingly.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your Dhaka hotel.
• English-speaking local guide.
• lunch.
• bottled water.
• all entrance fees to Panam City, the Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum, the Goaldi Mosque and Boro Sardar Bari.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be booked

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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cholo Bangladesh Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace across four sites in 7 to 8 hours, with walking through the merchant quarter and village areas, so it suits travelers comfortable with a full day of stops and moderate activity rather than a slow-paced or heavily walking-focused itinerary.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

15 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Bangla.

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 Panam City and why is it worth visiting?

Panam City (Panam Nagar) is an abandoned merchant quarter built by wealthy Hindu traders in the 1800s, located in Sonargaon. The streets are lined with ornate colonial-era buildings with carved wooden facades and architectural detail, many now empty, and it is the main attraction of this tour.

Does the tour include entry to all the museums and historic sites?

Yes, all entrance fees are included: entry to the Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum, the Goaldi Mosque, and access to Boro Sardar Bari are all covered in the tour price.

What should I know about the museum and Panam City opening days?

The Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Museum is closed on Thursdays, and Panam City (Panam Nagar) is closed on Sundays, so check your preferred travel date before booking.

Is lunch provided, and what else is included in the tour?

Lunch is included in the tour, along with bottled water, all entrance fees, an air-conditioned vehicle and a live English-speaking guide who travels with you throughout the day.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from Dhaka, covering Panam City, the folk museum, the Goaldi Mosque, Boro Sardar Bari and an island village.