In the early fifteenth century, the warrior-saint Khan Jahan Ali cleared the mangrove wilderness to found Khalifatabad, leaving behind brick mosques that now form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. South of the monuments, the district reaches down into the Sundarbans through the river port of Mongla and the forest trails of Kotka. Most travellers come for the Sixty Dome Mosque, but spending a night in Mongla opens up boat journeys deep into the coastal mangrove forests.
- From Dhaka
- About 175 km, 4 hours by road
- Best time
- November to February
- A day costs
- About ৳1,300 to ৳5,300 per person
What Bagerhat is famous for
- Bagda shrimp বাগদা চিংড়ি
- Betel nut সুপারি
- Coconut নারকেল
- Rakhalgachi rosogolla রাখালগাছির রসগোল্লা
How Bagerhat got its name
The name is said to come from Bakerhat, a marketplace established along a sharp bend of the Bhairab River. Another tradition traces the name to the Persian word bagh, meaning garden, referring to the orchards Khan Jahan Ali planted around his settlement.
Places to visit in Bagerhat
Photo: মোয়ায মাহমুদ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Sixty Dome Mosque ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ
A 15th-century Sultanate brick mosque with 77 domes and four corner towers, the centrepiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳20–30 for Bangladeshis, more for foreign visitors; easy-bike from town about ৳30–50
Photo: Anup Sadi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Khan Jahan Ali Tomb খান জাহান আলীর মাজার
The single-domed 15th-century mausoleum of saint Khan Jahan Ali, overlooking a vast reservoir home to sacred marsh crocodiles.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry free; shoe storage donation roughly ৳10–20; easy-bike from town about ৳30
Photo: Zeesan R Chowdhury, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary কটকা অভয়ারণ্য
A coastal forest station in the eastern Sundarbans featuring watchtowers, spotted deer herds, muddy creeks, and a wild beach on the Bay of Bengal.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- A full day
- Cost
- Forest entry roughly ৳150–300 per day; overnight cruise packages from Mongla roughly ৳6,000–12,000 per person including boat, meals and permits
Unseen Bagerhat: the lesser-known places
Quieter spots most visitors miss. Go with a local driver or ask us to arrange one.
Photo: R4356th, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Nine Dome Mosque নয় গম্বুজ মসজিদ
A compact square Sultanate mosque from the 15th century with nine low domes, set quietly beside the western bank of Thakur Dighi.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- About an hour
- Cost
- Entry free; rickshaw or easy-bike from the shrine about ৳20
Photo: Monacosprodip, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Chunakhola Mosque চুনাখোলা মসজিদ
A solitary 15th-century single-domed brick mosque rising amid open paddy fields, built in Khan Jahan's characteristic architectural style.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- About an hour
- Cost
- Entry free; easy-bike from the Sixty Dome Mosque gate about ৳20–30
How to get to Bagerhat
- Coaches from Sayedabad and Gabtoli cross the Padma Bridge via Bhanga and Gopalganj to reach Bagerhat town in about 4 hours, with operators like Falguni and Dola running frequent services.
Where to stay in Bagerhat
Rooms run from about ৳700 a night for a simple hotel, around ৳2,000 mid-range and ৳4,500 or more for the most comfortable. Prices are approximate.
- Parjatan Motel Pasur, Mongla
- Hotel Al-Amin, near the Central Bus Terminal in Bagerhat
- Hotel Ovi Residential, near Khan Jahan Ali Mazar Road in Bagerhat
- Hotels around the Central Bus Stand in Bagerhat town
What to eat in Bagerhat
Fresh bagda and galda prawns from coastal enclosures, cooked in mustard paste or spiced coconut milk. Local diners pair duck curry with steamed semai pitha, followed by soft rosogollas from the sweet shops of Rakhalgachi.