Brief information
Most foreigners are sure that Bangladesh is a poor country with frequent cyclones and floods. However, in fact, you can relax in Bangladesh all year round, but the best time to visit is winter, when there is no rain and the ocean is still very warm. In this country, tourists will see unique wildlife with beautiful waterfalls, nature reserves, botanical gardens, exotic animals and birds, Buddhist temples and monasteries, mosques, ancient palaces, and will also be able to relax on the beautiful white beaches of the Bay of Bengal.
Geography of Bangladesh
Bangladesh is located in South Asia. Bangladesh borders India to the north, west and east and Myanmar to the southeast. The total area of this country is 144,000 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 4,246 km. In the south, the shores of Bangladesh are washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean.
The whole of Bangladesh occupies the lowland of the Ganges Delta, at its confluence with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. In the south-east of the country is the highest peak – Mount Movdok, whose height reaches 1,052 m.
Capital
According to itypemba.com, the capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka, which is now home to more than 10 million people. Historians claim that the settlement of people on the territory of modern Dhaka existed already in the 7th century AD.
Official language
The official language of the population of Bangladesh is Bengali, belonging to the Indo-European language family.
Religion
More than 90% of the people of Bangladesh practice Islam (its Sunni branch), and about 8.7% – Buddhism.
State structure of Bangladesh
According to equzhou.net, Bangladesh is a parliamentary republic, headed by the President. The unicameral parliament in Bangladesh is called Jatiya Sangsad and consists of 350 deputies.
Climate and weather
The climate in Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical monsoonal with hot and rainy summers and dry winters. The coldest month is January (average annual air temperature is +26C), and the hottest is April (+33-36C). The average annual rainfall is 1,525 mm (in the foothills and mountains – 5,080 mm).
It rains during the monsoon period (June-September) and a little during the winter period (November-February).
From April to May and from September to November, Bangladesh is hit by devastating cyclones.
The best time to visit Bangladesh is in winter when it is dry and the sea is still very warm.
Sea in Bangladesh
In the south, the shores of Bangladesh are washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. The length of the coastline is 580 km.
Rivers and lakes
The river system in Bangladesh is considered one of the largest in the world. During the rainy season, rivers overflow their banks, which often leads to floods. Therefore, houses in Bangladesh are built in such a way as to avoid flooding. About 45 km northeast of Dhaka is the Madhabkunda river system, where tourists can see more than 30 beautiful waterfalls.
Culture
Bangladeshi culture was formed under the influence of Islam and Buddhism. Of course, Islam is decisive.
Residents of Bangladesh celebrate a huge number of Islamic and Buddhist holidays. Of these, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Pôhela Boishakh (New Year), “Buddha Day”, “Durga Puja” should be named first of all.
During these and other holidays, tourists can see folk processions, religious processions, theatrical and religious performances, dance competitions, and musical performances.
Kitchen
Cuisine in Bangladesh ranges from very sweet and mild to very spicy. Even tourists from Southeast Asia and India, where spices are highly sympathetic, Bangladeshi cuisine seems very spicy.
In general, Bangladeshi dishes are reminiscent of the culinary traditions of northeast India. Residents of Bangladesh use garlic, ginger, coriander, cumin, turmeric (curry), chili peppers in cooking. Cardamom and cinnamon are usually added to sweet dishes.
Fish dishes are very popular in Bangladesh – this country not only has access to the sea, but there are also a large number of rivers and lakes. Bangladeshis eat fish at least once a day.
From meat, the people of Bangladesh prefer poultry and lamb. In recent years, beef dishes have become more common. But the main product in Bangladesh is, of course, rice, which is steamed, fried and boiled.
Tourists in Bangladesh are recommended to try local kebabs and chicken dishes – boti kabab, shutli kabab, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka.
Traditional soft drinks in Bangladesh are sweet milk tea, lassi (yogurt), Misti Dhohi (sweetened yogurt) and coconut water.
Landmarks of Bangladesh
In ancient Bangladesh, a large number of monuments of religion, architecture and history have survived to this day. The top 10 best attractions in Bangladesh, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Holy House Mosque in Dhaka
- Lalbach Fort in Dhaka
- Ahsan Manzil Palace in Dhaka
- Ruins of Mainimati
- Shahi Masjid in Chittagong
- Ruins of the city of Gouda
- Mosque of the Stars in Dhaka
- Ruins of the Buddhist monastery of Vasu Bihara
- Chawk Mosque in Dhaka
- Paharpur monastery near Jaipur
Cities and resorts
The largest Bangladeshi cities are Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna, Rangpur, and the capital is Dhaka.
In the south-east of the country is the beach resort of Cox’s Bazar, the total length of the beaches of which is 220 kilometers. The most popular beaches in Cox’s Bazar are Inani Beach and Pateng. The snow-white beach of Inani Beach with small boulders is considered one of the longest and widest in the world.
In the south of Bangladesh, tourists are waiting for “Coconut Island” (St. Martin’s Island), whose beaches are also considered one of the best in this country. The infrastructure is not developed here, and tourists are waiting for untouched nature and white sand.
Kuakata resort area is located 320 km south of Dhaka. The length of the beach in this area reaches 30 kilometers. The infrastructure is well developed here – with shops, restaurants and bars.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists from Bangladesh usually bring handicrafts, wooden and leather products, silver and gold jewelry, pink pearls (best bought in Dhaka), vases, silk fabrics, saris, coconut masks, shells, folk dolls.
Office Hours
Banks:
Sun-Thu: 10:00-16:00 Some banks are open until lunch on Saturdays.
Shops:
Sat-Fri: 09:00-20:00
Most shops in tourist areas are usually open later.
Visa
Visa for 90 days is issued upon arrival at the airport.
Currency
Taka is the official currency in Bangladesh (its international designation is BTD). One taka = 100 paise. Credit cards are common in big cities.
Customs restrictions
You can bring foreign currency into Bangladesh without restrictions, but it must be declared. You can take foreign currency out of Bangladesh only within the amount that was declared upon entry into the country.
We recommend that you keep receipts for all items and things that you purchase in this country – they will be useful to you at customs when you leave. Antiquities cannot be exported from Bangladesh.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
The interests of Bangladesh in Ukraine are represented by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Russia:
Postcode: 119121, Moscow, Zemledelchesky lane, 6 T:
(499) 246-78-04
email: [email protected]
The interests of Ukraine in Bangladesh are represented by the Embassy of Ukraine in India:
110 057, New Delhi, Vasant Vihar, E-1/8 T
: (8 10 9111) 2614 60 41
mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
100 – call the Police
101 – call the Fire Brigade
102 – call the Ambulance
Time in Bangladesh
The difference with time in Kyiv is +4 hours. those. if in Kyiv 10:00, then in Dhaka – 14:00.
Tips
Tipping in Bangladesh is not mandatory. Some prestigious hotels in the capital include a service fee in the bill (7-10%).
The medicine
Doctors recommend that tourists before traveling to Bangladesh be vaccinated against typhoid, rabies, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and malaria for prevention.
Security
Violent crimes against foreigners in Bangladesh are rare. It is safe for foreigners to travel in this country. The locals are very friendly. But still, you should not forget about the standard security measures.
