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Road trip

Dhaka to Chittagong: quick stops on the way

Most people drive the Dhaka–Chittagong (Chattogram) highway without stopping, apart from a tea break. Along the way are an abandoned merchants' town, Buddhist ruins, a war cemetery, Comilla's famous rasmalai, a hill lake you can kayak on, and a beach covered in grass.

Route
Dhaka to Chittagong on the N1 highway, about 250 km
Time
About 5 to 6 hours non-stop off-peak. Much longer around Eid and holidays. Add time for each stop.
Best way
A private car with driver, so you can stop where you like. Intercity buses don't stop at these places.
Halfway
Comilla (Cumilla), the usual food and rest stop
Continue
Heading for the beach? See Chittagong to Cox's Bazar.

Hours, fees and road conditions change. Confirm before you set off.

Quick stops on the way

Small places most people drive straight past. Each is tagged by how long it's worth: 15 min for a quick break, 1 hour for a short experience. Follow the line from Dhaka to Chittagong. Grey dots are well-known landmarks, to help you keep your place.

Road map from Dhaka to Chittagong with six numbered quick stops Dhaka 1 Panam Nagar Meghna bridges 2 Shalban Vihara 3 War Cemetery 4 Matri Bhandar 5 Mohamaya Lake 6 Guliakhali Chittagong

Swipe sideways to follow the road on a small screen.

  1. Dhaka

    Start

  2. 1 hour

    Panam Nagar, Sonargaon

    Off the highway at Mograpara, under an hour from Dhaka

    A street of crumbling 19th-century merchant mansions, about 2.5 km off the highway at Mograpara, less than an hour from Dhaka. A small entry fee applies.

  3. Meghna and Gumti bridges

    Busiest point at holidays

  4. 1 hour

    Shalban Vihara and Mainamati Museum

    Near Comilla

    The brick ruins of a Buddhist monastery near Comilla, with a small museum of finds next door. The museum is usually closed on Sundays.

  5. 15 min

    Mainamati War Cemetery

    Near Comilla

    A quiet, well-kept Commonwealth cemetery for around 700 Allied soldiers of the Second World War, near Comilla.

  6. 15 min

    Rasmalai at Matri Bhandar, Comilla

    Comilla town, the halfway break

    Comilla's famous rasmalai, from the original shop at Monoharpur, Kandirpar. Many shops claim to be "Matri Bhandar" dealers, so look for the real one.

  7. 1 hour

    Mohamaya Lake, Mirsharai

    Off the highway at Thakurdighi

    A lake in the hills about 2 km east of the highway at Thakurdighi. Hire a kayak and paddle between the green slopes.

  8. 1 hour

    Guliakhali Beach, Sitakunda

    About 5 km from Sitakunda town

    An unusual beach where green grass runs down to the sea, about 5 km from Sitakunda town.

  9. Chittagong (Chattogram)

    End, about 250 km from Dhaka

Most drivers know these places. Agree the stops and the extra time in the price before you set off.

Make the most of the drive

Prices

Rough guides from travel sites. They change, and foreign visitors often pay more at historic sites.

ItemTypical priceNotes
Shalban Vihara entryabout ৳20–30 locals, ৳200 foreignersSources differ. The museum charges separately.
Panam Nagar entryreported up to ৳300No official figure found. Check at the gate.
CNG from highway to Mohamaya Lakeabout ৳100From the highway near Thakurdighi.
Kayak at Mohamaya Lakeabout ৳200 for 30 min, ৳300 per hourTwo people per kayak. Usually 9am to 5:30pm.

Get ready to go

Sources

Last checked October 2026.