Dhaka Day Trips: Sonargaon, Mawa and Mainamati

Travel advisory, checked October 2026. UK FCDO advice is against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban), and the US warns against travel there; no route below goes anywhere near it. UK advice says terrorist attacks are very likely, and that hartals and demonstrations can turn violent without warning, so stay indoors on strike days. Street crime has risen since 2024. See the UK FCDO page and the US advisory before booking.

Making a day trip work

Leaving Dhaka takes time, and returning takes more. A trip that is 30 km on the map can mean three hours in the car. Fuel sales have also been restricted in 2026, so build in slack. Hire a car and driver by the day, leave before 07:00 and agree the return hour in advance.

Sonargaon and Panam Nagar, 30 km southeast

Sonargaon was once a capital of medieval Bengal. Expect a drive of one and a half to three hours each way.

  • Panam Nagar is a 600 metre street of ruined merchant mansions from the 19th century. It is closed on Sunday. The foreign ticket is a modest sum paid at the gate; sources differ between about 100 BDT and a higher figure, so carry extra cash.
  • Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum occupies the restored Boro Sardar Bari of 1901, with brass, carved wood and terracotta. It is closed on Thursday.
  • Goaldi Mosque is a small domed mosque dating to 1519, free to see.

Padma Bridge and Mawa, about 40 km south

The 6.15 km Padma Bridge opened on 25 June 2022. On the Jatrabari to Mawa expressway of about 35 km, the drive from Dhaka takes roughly an hour in light traffic, but city congestion adds to it. Riverside eateries at Mawa serve fried hilsa (ilish) with rice. A boat on the Padma is possible, but go only in daylight and wear a life jacket.

National Martyrs’ Memorial, Savar

Savar lies around 35 km northwest, and the drive can take about 1.5 hours. The memorial remembers those killed in the 1971 Liberation War: seven pairs of triangular concrete prisms, 45 metres high, stand in a large park with mass graves. Entry is free. Behave as at any memorial, with quiet voices and respectful dress. It is not a leisure picnic site.

Shalban Vihara and Mainamati, 100 km southeast

Reached by road or train near Cumilla, this was an 8th-century Buddhist monastery with a central shrine and 115 cells, and an on-site museum. The journey takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way, so many travellers sleep in Cumilla. Check opening days before leaving.

Trips that are not day trips

The Sundarbans need several days and a boat from Khulna or Mongla. Cox’s Bazar is about 8 hours away by train, so it is a separate trip. Keep the Chittagong Hill Tracts off any route, as the advisory above explains.

Finding a driver or guide

A guided day trip can handle tickets and traffic. Listings are at GetYourGuide . Ask for the total price including tickets, parking and the driver’s meals.

Read more: Dhaka multi-day trips and Dhaka sightseeing .