Dhakeshwari Temple, Hindu temple in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhakeshwari Temple is a walled Hindu temple complex in Old Dhaka, divided into an eastern inner section with the main shrine and a Natmandir, and a western outer section with smaller temples, a rest house and rooms. The main buildings are painted bright yellowish and red. Four Shiva temples of equal size stand in a row at the northeast corner of the tank, and a lion gate called Nahabbatkhana arch gives entry.

The exact founding period of this place remains unclear, though historians believe it was built between the 12th and 16th centuries. The use of lime mortar points to Muslim building traditions common in this region during that period.

The name Dhakeshwari means "Goddess of Dhaka," and legend says Ballal Sen found the idol hidden (dhaka) in a forest, giving the city its name. The temple is a Shakta pitha where a jewel from Sati's crown fell. Each year Dhaka's largest Durga Puja is held here, attended by the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries.

The compound opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, with the best visiting times outside major festivals when fewer people are present. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the main shrines and ensure their clothing covers shoulders and knees.

A sacred pond sits within the walls where devotees perform ritual washing before entering the shrines. Four separate Shiva shrines are scattered across the grounds, each with its own stone lingam representation inside.