Sylhet (সিলেট): travel guide

Northeastern haven of rolling tea estates, Ratargul swamp forest, and spiritual shrines.

Sylhet is in Sylhet district, Sylhet division, Bangladesh. Compare bus, train and air fares to Sylhet and see the route on a map.

Things to do in Sylhet

  • Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar Sharif (শাহজালাল দরগা): Shrine of the 14th-century Sufi saint Shah Jalal on a low hillock in Dargah Mahalla, Sylhet, one of the most visited religious sites in Bangladesh. The compound has mosques, a langar kitchen and a tank with large catfish that visitors feed; Religious, free entry, best time: Early morning or after sunset
  • Keane Bridge (কীন ব্রিজ): Iron bridge over the Surma River built in 1936 and named after a British governor of Assam; now limited to pedestrians and rickshaws. Historical, free entry
  • Sada Pathor (Bholaganj): White-stone river landscape on the Dhalai River at Bholaganj, Companiganj Upazila, beside the India border; Wikipedia calls the Dhalai at Bholaganj the largest stone quarry area in the country, with the old Bholaganj ropeway nearby. Nature, free entry, best time: Winter for stone landscape views
  • Lalakhal (লালাখাল): Canal in Jaintapur Upazila fed by the Sari-Goyain River, where the water shifts between blue and green. Visited by boat, boarding near Sarighat; boats reported at BDT 500-1,000. Nature, free entry, best time: Early morning; June to September for full water
  • Ali Amjad Clock Tower (আলী আমজদের ঘড়ি): Red clock tower (Ghori Ghar) on the north bank of the Surma beside Keane Bridge, called the oldest clock tower in Bangladesh. Wikipedia says Nawab Ali Ahmad Khan of Prithimpassa built it in 1872 and named it after his son Ali Amjad Khan (Wikivoyage gives... Historical, free entry
  • Malnicherra Tea Estate (মালনীছড়া চা বাগান): Tea estate on the Airport Road edge of Sylhet city, usually described as the first commercial tea garden in Bangladesh (Banglapedia dates it to 1854; Wikipedia gives 1849), covering about 1,500 acres. Nature, free entry
  • Shah Paran Dargah (শাহ পরাণের মাজার): Hilltop shrine and khanqah of Shah Paran, a 14th-century Sufi saint linked to Shah Jalal, at Khadim Nagar (Dakshingarh) on the east side of Sylhet. It is an active shrine with a mosque and a busy gate bazaar. Religious, free entry
  • Osmani Museum (ওসমানী জাদুঘর): Museum in the ancestral home of General M. A. G. Osmani, commander-in-chief of Bangladesh Forces in 1971, at Dhopa Dighir Par (Nayasarak) in central Sylhet. Opened in 1987 and run by the Bangladesh National Museum. Museum, free entry
  • Khadimnagar National Park (খাদিমনগর জাতীয় উদ্যান): Hilly forest of 678.8 ha about 13 km east of Sylhet town, declared a national park in 2006, with about 352 plant species, bamboo groves and tea estates around it. Nature, free entry
  • Bichanakandi (বিছানাকান্দি): Stony river spot on the India border in Gowainghat Upazila, where streams from the Khasi hills form a clear pool linked to the Piyain River; it is also a stone-collection area. Nature, free entry
  • Museum of Rajas' (Hason Raja Museum) (মিউজিয়াম অব রাজাস): Folk museum in the century-old 'Raja-Kunjo' house at Zindabazar, keeping items of the Raja family, the mystic poet Hason Raja, and Sylheti folk literature and music. Museum, free entry

Where to stay in Sylhet

  • Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort (Luxury), about From ৳7,000/night. Resort-style hotel beside the airport
  • Nirvana Inn (MidRange), about From ৳2,600/night. Modern AC hotel in town centre with indoor pool
  • Nazimgarh Garden Resort (Resort), about From ৳8,600/night. Hillside resort about 9 km from Keane Bridge with pool, gym, sauna and several restaurants
  • Grand Palace Sylhet (MidRange), about From ৳5,300/night. Central hotel with indoor pool in the Jollarpar/Zindabazar area
  • Hotel Star Pacific (MidRange), about From ৳4,100/night. 4-star hotel with rooftop pool near Shah Jalal Dargah
  • Hotel Metro International (Budget), about From ৳1,900/night. Three-star hotel in the Bandar Bazar commercial area
  • Hotel Crystal Rose (MidRange), about From ৳6,000/night. Three-star hotel at Amberkhana, close to Shah Jalal Dargah
  • Hotel Noorjahan Grand (MidRange), about From ৳2,800/night. Rooftop infinity pool and restaurant, a short walk from Shah Jalal Dargah

Travel advice for Sylhet

  • No drinking in public: Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in public areas of Sylhet.
  • Dress modestly at shrines: Shah Jalal and Shah Paran are active shrines. Dress modestly and visit early morning or after sunset for fewer crowds.
  • Panshi and Panchbhai in Jallarpar: Both are popular Bengali eateries in Jallarpar, Zindabazar, with affordable prices. Also try Sylheti shatkora beef, a curry made with the local citrus rind.
  • Beware of pickpockets in crowds: Pickpockets work crowded areas such as Zindabazar and are hard to spot. Keep valuables secure.
  • Akhni (Sylhet): A mixed rice dish of rice, spices and meat cooked in the meat broth, similar to biryani or polao but with its own aroma, from the Bengali Muslim kitchens of Sylhet and Chittagong. Panshi and Pach Bhai in Zindabazar are known for it; go early as it sells out.
  • Getting around the city: Sylhet is not very walkable and footpaths are poor. Use Uber, CNG auto-rickshaws or rickshaws for short trips.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

JatraSathi is a free Bangladesh trip planner in English and Bangla. Prices are estimates; check before you travel.