The national temple of Bangladesh and the shrine the city is named for, with four Shiva temples in its courtyard. Free to enter.
Dhakeshwari means goddess of Dhaka, and the city is widely held to take its name from this shrine rather than the other way round. Tradition credits its founding to Ballal Sen of the Sena dynasty in the twelfth century; the buildings standing today are the result of later rebuildings and repairs.
The complex has two parts. The main temple holds the image of Dhakeshwari and takes the crowds; across the courtyard stands a row of four Shiva temples, square and white with ribbed domes, the most photographed corner of the site.
The temple was badly damaged during the war of 1971 and restored afterwards, and was declared the national temple of Bangladesh in 1996. Durga Puja is the great festival here, when the courtyard fills and the schedule changes entirely.
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