Known for
- 1
Zamindar palaces.
Baliati in Saturia is the grandest landlord estate near Dhaka: a row of columned mansions behind one long front, with a big pond. Teota in Shibalaya, near the Jamuna, is older and more ruined, with its tall Nabaratna temple.
- 2
Where the rivers meet.
At Aricha and Paturia the Jamuna joins the Padma; the old ghat was once the main gate to the north and west, and the riverbank is still the place to watch the boats and the wide water.
Best season
GoodFairNov–Feb
November to February: dry roads, mild days for the palaces. The rivers are widest after the monsoon (August to October), when the Jamuna at Aricha is a sea of water; summer is hot.
Getting there
Bus
Dhaka (Gabtali)
About 1.5 h to the town
On the Dhaka–Aricha highway, on to Aricha and Paturia
Getting around
In the district
Autos and CNGs from Saturia to Baliati and from Shibalaya to Teota
Buses from Gabtali in Dhaka run on the Dhaka–Aricha highway to Manikganj town (about 1.5 hours) and on to Aricha and Paturia. For Baliati, change at Saturia or take a bus to Saturia from Gabtali.
Local food
River fish curry
At the ghat eateries of Aricha and Paturia
River fish from the Jamuna and Padma, and the sweets of the district towns. Food stalls cluster around the Aricha and Paturia ghats.
Places to see
River, lake and haorShahnoor Habib Munmun · CC BY 3.0Aricha Ghat
The historic river port on the Jamuna in Shibalaya, once the main crossing to the north and west, now a quieter place to watch the great rivers.
Fort and palaceNahid Sultan · CC BY-SA 3.0Baliati Palace
The 19th-century estate of the Baliati zamindars in Saturia: seven buildings behind a long colonnaded front, a big pond and an inner court.
Matter Math
A tall old brick memorial tower (math) near Manikganj town, one of the best-known landmarks of the district.
Fort and palaceMdiht · CC BY-SA 4.0Teota Zamindar Bari
A crumbling zamindar estate in Shibalaya near the Jamuna, with mansions round a court, a bathing ghat and a Nabaratna temple.
Sources 2
Times, fares and opening hours change. Check before you go.
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