Chandpur

Introduction

Chandpur is a city in Chattogram Division, Bangladesh, and serves as the headquarters of both Chandpur Sadar Upazila and Chandpur District. It stands near the confluence of the Padma River and the Meghna River, a setting that shapes the city's identity as a river town.

Chandpur has held municipal status since 1892, giving it a long history as an administrative centre. As you plan your visit, expect a working district city whose life revolves around its riverside location rather than a resort-style destination.

Getting there

Chandpur is linked to the rest of the country by car, train and boat. The launch (the local word for ferry) is the most rewarding way in: boats run from Dhaka's Sadarghat terminal through the day into the night, taking three to four hours to reach the city, and from Barisal the crossing takes five to six hours. Cabins come in single and double, and you can also book a Shoukhin or a first-class air-conditioned seat.

Buses connect Chandpur with Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Laksmipur and Comilla, pulling in for a half-hour stop before returning. From Dhaka they leave the Saydabad bus stand, south of the airport, for the Chandpur bus terminal; Padma Express is one of the services on the route. From Cumilla, buses depart from Jangalia Bus Stand in the southern part of the city. By rail you travel via Laksam junction, where you change trains; the Meghna Express and the Sagorika Express both run between Chittagong and Chandpur.

Getting around

Chandpur is a river port city where the water and the rail line shape how you move around. Arrive by bus, train, or boat, then explore on foot and by local transport, using the launch terminal and the rail line as your main landmarks. Buses from Dhaka leave from the Saydabad bus stand and arrive at the Chandpur bus terminal; Padma Express is one operator on this route, and services also run from Chittagong, Sylhet, Laksmipur, and Comilla, turning around after a brief halt. By train, reaching Chandpur from Dhaka and other districts means changing at Laksam junction, while direct services run to and from Chittagong: the Meghna Express departs Chittagong in the late afternoon and returns the next morning, and the Sagorika Express leaves Chittagong in the morning and heads back in the early afternoon. For many visitors the launch is the most enjoyable way in, with boats from the Dhaka Sadarghat terminal running from early morning until midnight and services also connecting Chandpur with Barisal; on board you can choose from single and double cabins, Shoukhin class, and first-class air-conditioned seats.

Once in town, the rail line is a useful orientation point: entering along it you pass a lake and the Angikar liberation monument, while arriving by road you will notice Sapla Chattar near Kali Bari Rail Station and Hilsa Chattar on stadium road. A highlight is the "thota", a strip of land that appears like an island when you approach by water from Dhaka or Barisal; you can visit it right after arriving, and the train also stops there. From the thota you can take in the Dakatia river, the fishermen and the hilsa trade, and country roads running off in different directions, and it is a popular picnic spot and a fine place to watch the sunset. Buses pause only briefly before returning, so have your onward plans ready when you reach the bus terminal.

Where to stay

Chandpur has limited accommodation, and the Grand Hilsha Hotel is the main option worth knowing about. It sits at Rotary Bhaban on Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarak, directly in front of Chandpur Sadar Hospital, which puts you within easy reach of the town centre.

• Grand Hilsha Hotel — Rotary Bhaban, Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarak, opposite Chandpur Sadar Hospital.

Food & drink

What to see and do

Chandpur is best known for the seasonal harvest of the Illisha (hilsa), a fine-boned fish related to the Western shad and the national fish of Bangladesh. It is a seasonal delicacy on Bengali tables, particularly on Bengali identity days such as February 21.

• Travel by water from Dhaka, where a range of water transport options with air conditioning, television and films is available.
• Watch for char land along the route, created land where cattle graze.
• Explore businesses tied to fishery, agriculture, livestock and trade, including the culture fishery work of the fishery department based in town.
• Look for potato and jute among the area's agricultural products.
• Take in the town's cultural background, a mix of Hindu and Muslim culture.
• Visit the old boro mosque in Hazigonj and other mosques.

Three days in Chandpur

Day one: Arrive in Chandpur, a river port town in Chattogram Division, Bangladesh, within Chandpur Sadar Upazila and Chandpur District. It sits where the Padma River meets the Meghna River, and the waterfront is the natural place to start. From Dhaka you can reach Dhaka Sadarghat and take a launch down the Padma River and Meghna River, with cabins available if you want to rest on the way; the Padma Express, Meghna Express and Sagorika Express are among the services on these routes. By road, buses run from Dhaka via Saydabad, and from Cumilla via Jangalia Bus Stand and Laksam, with connections from Chittagong, Sylhet, Laksmipur and Barisal.

Day two: Spend the day around the town's river-facing landmarks. Walk from Angikar to Sapla Chattar, then on to Hilsa Chattar, where the river trade and the town's famous fish are the draw. The Dakatia river is part of the local waterscape, and the Kali Bari Rail Station is another point to pass through as you move between the ghats and the streets. For a meal, try the Grand Hilsha Hotel, and look for shoukhin food around the town.

Day three: Use your last day for the river itself. The meeting of the Padma River and the Meghna River is the reason Chandpur exists, so take a boat out or simply watch the currents from the bank before you leave. If you are heading back to Dhaka, return to Dhaka Sadarghat by launch, or take a bus from the town's bus stands toward Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Laksmipur, Comilla or Barisal.