Madaripur sits on the banks of the Arial Khan and Kumar rivers in south-central Bangladesh, linked directly to Dhaka via the Padma Bridge. The district is celebrated for winter date palm patali gur, sweetmeats, and active river commerce centered around the old trading port of Charmuguria. Its flat riverine terrain preserves century-old brick mansions, pilgrimage grounds, and ornamental town lakes.
- From Dhaka
- About 80 km, 2 hours by road
- Best time
- May, October to March
- A day costs
- About ৳1,300 to ৳4,900 per person
What Madaripur is famous for
- Date palm patali gur খেজুরের পাটালি গুড়
- Madaripur Kheerpuri মাদারীপুরের ক্ষীরপুরি
- Terracotta temple heritage টেরাকোটা মন্দিরের ঐতিহ্য
- Arial Khan river trade আড়িয়াল খাঁ নদীর বাণিজ্য
How Madaripur got its name
The district is said to be named after the fifteenth-century Sufi saint Hazrat Badruddin Shah Madar, who halted along the Arial Khan riverbank during his travels across Bengal. Local tradition holds that his memorial shrine formed the core around which the river settlement grew.
Places to visit in Madaripur
Photo: ShazidSharif2001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Shakuni Lake শকুনী লেক
A historic twenty-acre public lake excavated in 1943 at the heart of Madaripur town with landscaped walkways and a watchtower.
- Best time
- October to March during cooler evenings
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Entry is free; boating or observation deck visits cost roughly ৳20 to ৳50 per person
Photo: Kazi Rashed Abdallah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Raja Ram Temple রাজারাম মন্দির
A 17th-century double-storied terracotta brick temple in Khalia village adorned with intricate epic relief panels.
- Best time
- November to February for pleasant daylight
- Give it
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free to view from the grounds; local transport from Tekerhat costs roughly ৳50 to ৳100
Unseen Madaripur: the lesser-known places
Quieter spots most visitors miss. Go with a local driver or ask us to arrange one.
Photo: Swarno rudra, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Ganesh Pagal Sevashram গণেশ পাগল সেবাশ্রম
A sprawling 365-bigha Hindu ashram complex in Kadambari founded in 1905, celebrated for its 108 temples and annual Kumbha Mela.
- Best time
- November to February or during May Jyeshtha mela
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry is free; return auto-rickshaw fare from Tekerhat runs roughly ৳150 to ৳250
Photo: ShazidSharif2001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Puran Bazar Jami Mosque পুরান বাজার জামে মসজিদ
A grand multi-domed congregational mosque situated on the bank of the Arial Khan River in Madaripur old town.
- Best time
- Year-round, especially during late afternoon
- Give it
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free entry for prayer and respectful visits; rickshaw fare within town is roughly ৳20 to ৳40
How to get to Madaripur
- AC and non-AC buses including Sonartori and Sarbik Paribahan depart regularly from Sayedabad and Jatrabari across the Padma Bridge via the N8 expressway to Madaripur town in about 2 hours (৳300–400).
- Intercity trains run from Dhaka Kamalapur across the Padma Bridge Rail Link to Bhanga junction, where connecting local shared autos reach Madaripur Sadar in roughly 30 minutes.
- Passenger launches and speedboats operate along the Arial Khan and Padma rivers connecting Madaripur's Charmuguria and Shibchar ghats with neighboring river ports.
Where to stay in Madaripur
Rooms run from about ৳700 a night for a simple hotel, around ৳1,800 mid-range and ৳3,800 or more for the most comfortable. Prices are approximate.
- Hotel Sarbik International, College Gate
- Hotel Sumon International, Main Road
- Government rest houses near Shakuni Lake
What to eat in Madaripur
Sample winter khejur patali gur (date palm jaggery), famous Kheerpuri sweets, and freshly prepared ilish and rui fish curries at eateries around Puran Bazar along the riverfront.