Sadarghat Port
Dhaka, Dhaka Division
Sadarghat is Dhaka’s port on the River Buriganga and one of the busiest river ports in the world. Hundreds of small and large vessels use the port daily, and tens of thousands of people pass through. Here, travelers can experience local Bangladeshi life in all its glory. Sadarghat is busy, chaotic, noisy, and very colorful.
Sadarghat is a transportation hub, but most travelers to Bangladesh visit the port for the experience rather than to catch a long-distance boat anywhere—large vessels service mainly southern Bangladeshi destinations, transporting local people to and from Sadarghat. Markets, food vendors, and touts capitalize on the waves of people passing through.
As well as simply witnessing the action, tourists may like to hire a small wooden boat and rower to paddle them into the center of the Buriganga to enjoy the views from a more peaceful vantage point. They can be hired by the hour. Many guided tours of Dhaka include a stop at Sadarghat.
Sadarghat is a fascinating place for photographers to visit. Make sure that your batteries are charged.
There’s a small entry fee to Sadarghat—have some small change ready.
Take care of your belongings at Sadarghat, as pickpockets may be present.
Sadarghat is located on the edge of Old Dhaka and is easy to reach from other parts of the city by taxi, CNG (auto-rickshaw), or bus—if you’re intrepid. Few travelers take boats to or from Sadarghat, apart from small row boats, as they’re uncomfortable or unsafe. If you arrive at Sadarghat by boat, though, you’ll be experiencing Dhaka like a real local.
Sadarghat is open and operational seven days a week. It’s busiest early morning and evening when most boats arrive and depart. At other times of the day, it’s less crowded and may be more comfortable to visit. Bangladesh is generally most comfortable in the cooler winter, between December and February, and should be avoided in the destructive monsoon season (May–September).
Although they don’t generally depart from Sadarghat, touring the UNESCO-listed Sundarbans mangrove forests by boat is a popular tourist attraction in Bangladesh. It’s also safer to take to Bangladesh’s numerous snaking waterways than catching a ferry to or from Sadarghat. The largest mangrove forest in the world is home to a wide range of wildlife, including estuarine crocodiles, Indian pythons, 260 species of birds, and Bengal tigers.
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