Moinot Ghat: The Mini Cox’s Bazar

Everyone aspires to visit popular tourist destinations in pursuit of mental peace, but busy schedules and heavy workloads often occupy them. Many people are worried about various aspects of traveling, such as time constraints, budget, and finding a good travel companion. You may have already explored all the tourist attractions in Dhaka. You might lack enough time and funds to travel far, but you still need a beautiful and relaxing environment to recharge yourself. 

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To experience the waves of the Padma River and enjoy a boat trip, you can take a short trip to Moinot Ghat, located in Dohar Upazila of c. Visitors will be captivated by the stunning, towering waves. Strolling along the shore of the beautiful river and watching the boats sway with the waves will make you feel like you are at Cox’s Bazar beach rather than in Dohar, Dhaka. This is why many people refer to it as ‘Mini Cox's Bazar.’

Moinot Ghat, being relatively unknown, is often unnoticed by many nature enthusiasts who miss out on the beauty of this location. If you visit early in the morning, you will witness a bustling market filled with various species of fish, including Hilsa. You can even purchase fish at bargain prices here.

The rainy season is the ideal time to experience the beauty of Moinot Ghat. Watching the sunset while sitting on the bank of the Padma River is truly breathtaking. Visitors can see numerous sailboats of different colors floating on the water. On holidays, local people from neighboring districts often take to the river in speedboats or trawlers. Tourists travel from far and wide to enjoy the scenery. However, apart from visiting the beach, you can also explore attractions like Judge Bari, Ukil Bari, Khelaram Kotha, and many other tourist spots in Nawabganj.

What is the rent of speed boat, trawler or small boat?

Anyone wishing to take a speedboat from Moinot Ghat to Charbhadrasan Upazila in Faridpur will need to pay BDT 160. Each speedboat can accommodate a maximum of 10–12 adult passengers. The journey takes about 16 to 17 minutes, but if the Padma River has strong waves, it may take more than 20 minutes. According to boatmen, if you wish to reserve a boat for a 20-minute ride on the river, the fare is BDT 2,000, while a 10-minute reservation costs BDT 1,000. Splitting the rental cost among passengers is often more cost-effective. For those interested in renting a trawler to explore the Padma River, the cost ranges from BDT 500 to 1,000. Do not forget to negotiate the boat rental prices. Additionally, if you prefer a small-engine boat for an hour, the charge will be between BDT 300 and 600. The fare may vary depending on the time and situation, so it is advisable to consult with local people and bargain to fix the fare.

How to go there?

The distance from Dhaka to Moinot Ghat is approximately 61 kilometers. The most convenient way to reach Moinot Ghat in Dohar from Dhaka is by taking a direct bus from Jamuna Paribahan, which departs from Golap Shah Mazar in Gulistan. The ticket price is BDT 90, and the journey takes about two to two and a half hours. For the return trip, you can take the same bus back to Dhaka. If you prefer to travel by private car or motorbike, you can follow the bus route, which makes the journey easier. Using your own vehicle is advisable, or you can consider renting a car with friends to explore Moinot Ghat and the surrounding areas of Nawabganj. The last bus from Moinot Ghat to Dhaka departs at 6:30 PM.

Where to stay?

For visitors, there are hardly any accommodation facilities near Moinot Ghat. Neither the government nor individuals have taken any initiative to provide shelters for tourists for overnight stays. Therefore, unless you can persuade a local resident to let you stay, you will need to head back before sunset.

Where to eat?

A visit to Moinot Ghat is incomplete without trying Hilsa fish. Sitting by the banks of the Padma River, most people taste Hilsa fish freshly caught from the river. Moinot Ghat has several restaurants, with notable ones owned by Atahar Chowdhury and Julhash Bhuiyan. There are also some fast-food shops, the oldest being Shikdar Fast Food located in Kartikpur. Besides the Dhaka Hotel, a few other places serve rice dishes. Do not miss the opportunity to taste the traditional sweets available in Kartikpur. These sweets are so popular that many people even send them abroad. Notable sweet shops include Ranjit Mistanno Bhandar, Niranjan Mistanno Bhandar, and Muslim Sweets.

Additional caution:

This place is so beautiful, and the river is so vast that one might feel tempted to take a bath in it. However, if you do not know how to swim, it is best to avoid going deep into the river. Be aware of the environment by not polluting it with cigarette butts, food packets, water bottles, or any other trash. It is your responsibility to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, refrain yourself from hunting any species of birds. During the rainy season, the waves can become quite strong, so exercise caution. Avoid going deep into the river in a small boat, and if you do not know how to swim, never go on a boat trip without a life jacket. Always wear a life jacket when using a speedboat as well. When you embark on a boat trip, focus on enjoying the beauty of nature without causing any disturbances. 

Ambar Shah Mosque: A Mughal Era Mosque in Karwan Bazar

The Ambar Shah Mosque, nearly 350 years old, is located in the Karwan Bazar area of the capital city, Dhaka. This historical structure is gradually disappearing from the sight of city dwellers. However, the name of this historical establishment is intertwined with the history of Karwan Bazar. This mosque is considered the heritage of Karwan Bazar and has been identified by historians as the oldest structure in this area. During the Mughal era, travelers used to visit the local caravanserai for rest, and many of them would offer prayers at this mosque. The mosque is also known as Khwaja Ambar’s Mosque and Amber Shah (RA) Shahi Jame Masjid. 

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The architectural design of this mosque is quite attractive. Its main feature is the mihrab, which is made of black stone. Though the original mosque is small in size, its beauty draws the attention of worshippers. The main building of the Ambar Shah Mosque is adorned with three domes, which add to the beauty of the structure’s exterior. These have enhanced the exterior beauty of the establishment. Due to various renovations over time, many aspects of the mosque have changed. Along with expanding its range, the original structure of the mosque is now not directly visible due to the surrounding buildings. It ranks 22^nd on the list of the oldest mosques in Dhaka. Analysts say that this establishment is of great importance in exploring the roots of Bengali’s thousand-year history and heritage.

This single-story mosque building with three domes is very beautiful to look at. The old mosque building is located on approximately five kathas of land. Due to the increase in the number of worshippers, a new mosque building has been constructed beside the old one. Prayers are offered in both places.

This mosque is a Mughal architectural structure. According to historical records, the year of construction of this mosque is 1680 AD. The builder was Khwaja Ambar, who was the chief Khwaja of Subahdar Shaista Khan, the governor of the Bengal province. The mosque has two stone inscriptions. Quranic verses are written on the first stone inscription, which is placed above the central mihrab. The year of construction is written on the second inscription, which is placed on the exterior above the central entrance. Black stones brought from Rajmahal in India were used in this mosque.

The architectural style of the mosque is very attractive and artistic. This three-domed mosque is situated across the western half of a raised platform about 12 feet above the ground. At the top of this base platform is a row of closed lotus-petal designs. There are four huge side towers at the four corners of the mosque.

The octagonal-shaped towers are slightly higher than the base platform, and at the top of each tower, there are small domes. At the eastern end, by crossing a staircase, you can reach a portico with a stone-framed arched gateway. There was a well dug by Khwaja Ambar on the right side of the staircase path, but it has now been filled with soil. To the east of the base platform is Khwaja Ambar’s graveyard. Initially, only a stone-made tombstone was visible here, but now a structure has been built on top of it using bricks.