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Voykit pocket guide · Bangladesh
Chandpur
Do a half‑day visit from Dhaka by boat or bus; see the Hilsa market and river sights, then return the same day.
Chandpur is a riverside town on the Meghna, reachable by ferry (3–4 h) or bus from Dhaka. Its main draw is the seasonal Hilsa fish market and river‑side scenery, which can be explored in a few hours. One day is enough unless you plan a longer river cruise.
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Best months
- Feb–Mar (Hilsa season, dry weather)
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (heavy monsoon, river travel disrupted)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BDT
- Money
- BDT in small notes (50s and 100s) for rickshaws, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ৳500–৳800 excl. bed · Mid ৳800–৳1,200 excl. bed · High ৳1,200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink sell SIMs at Dhaka airport with passport and biometric fingerprint registration.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types C, D, G · 220 V · 50 Hz · Mixed sockets; universal adapter recommended.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge.; Guide / driver: ৳500–1,000 a day.; Rickshaw: Round up.; Hotel porter: ৳50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; buy sealed bottles or use hotel filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and malls; squat toilets with a hose or jug elsewhere. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hilsa fish (seasonal market) | ৳200–৳500 per kilo |
| Meal at a local restaurant | ৳150–৳300 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | ৳20–৳30 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DAC · Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka
- Main gateway for Chandpur: bus from Saydabad stand (10 km (6.2 mi) south of the airport) to Chandpur bus terminal, about 6 h; or taxi to Sadarghat launch terminal for the 3–4 h ferry. No airport at Chandpur.Main gateway for Chandpur: bus from Saydabad stand (6.2 mi (10 km) south of the airport) to Chandpur bus terminal, about 6 h; or taxi to Sadarghat launch terminal for the 3–4 h ferry. No airport at Chandpur.
- CGP · Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram
- Meghna Express train runs Chandpur–Chattogram, about 5 h 20 min; Sagorika Express also serves the route. Check times before booking.
Typical fares
- Dhaka Sadarghat → Chandpur ferry
- about ৳300 per person, 3–4 h (check schedule)
- Local rickshaw (5 km)
- ≈ ৳100
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Boat from Dhaka Sadarghat (3–4 h) is the quickest; buses leave Dhaka daily (≈6 h); local rickshaws and auto‑rickshaws for short trips.
See and do
Known for
- Hilsa fish season (Feb)
- Meghna River transport
- River‑side markets
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chattogram | Meghna Express train from Chandpur, about 5 h 20 min; Sagorika Express also runs the route | About 5.5 h |
| Cumilla | Bus from Chandpur bus terminal to Jangalia Bus Stand in southern Cumilla | Check locally |
| Dhaka | Launch (ferry) from Chandpur to Dhaka Sadarghat, 3–4 h; or bus from the Chandpur bus terminal to Saydabad, about 6 h | 3–4 h by boat, about 6 h by bus |
| Barisal | Launch (ferry) from Chandpur | 5–6 h |
| Nijhum Dwip | Bus or launch toward the Meghna estuary, then local transport | Check |
Sleep
- Grand Hilsha Hotel
- Near Chandpur Sadar Hospital, basic rooms, suitable for a night if you stay longer
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | আসসালামু আলাইকুম / দুঃখিতassalamu alaikum / dukkhito |
| How much is this? | এটা কত দাম?eta koto dam? |
| I would like a seat, please | একটি সিট দিন, দয়া করেekti seat din, doya kore |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Assalamu alaikum' with a nod; handshake between men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first
- Invitations: Accept tea; bring sweets when visiting a home; avoid: Refusing all food
- Hands: Right hand for eating and giving; avoid: Left hand for food
- Curiosity: Expect crowds and questions; smile and answer briefly; avoid: Taking offence at stares
- Mosques: Shoes off, head covered, visit outside prayer times; avoid: Walking in front of people praying
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat schedules can change; confirm departure times at Sadarghat.
- Road travel may be slower in monsoon; allow extra time.
- Hilsa market peaks in February; outside this period fish may be scarce.
Generally safe for day visitors; keep an eye on river currents during boat trips and watch belongings in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chandpur yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hilsa fish season (Feb)
- Meghna River transport
- River‑side markets
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chandpur, revision 5097163 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5097163
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Chandpur
এই ঠিকানায় যান, দয়া করে
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance999
US embassy is in Dhaka; contact for consular assistance.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/chandpur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.