Rajshahi

Rajshahi sits on the north bank of the Padma River at an elevation of 18 meters (59 feet), close to the border between Bangladesh and India within the Barind Tract. The city spreads over flat terrain interrupted by fields and small waterways.

Dutch merchants opened a trading post in the early 1700s, bringing textiles and spices from the region into European commerce. The settlement gained formal municipal status in 1876 under British rule and grew into an administrative center for the surrounding districts.

The Varendra Research Museum dates back to 1910 and holds objects that show Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim traditions across centuries of Bengal history. Visitors can trace how these communities shaped art, writing, and religious practice in this corner of South Asia.

Road access arrives through the N6 national highway, while trains and flights through Shah Makhdum Airport link the city to other parts of the country. Traffic can be slow during peak hours when cars, buses, and rickshaws share the lanes.

Nearly all of Bangladesh's silk comes from factories and workshops around the city, where silkworms are raised and cocoons are processed. The Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board coordinates breeding and trade across the country from this location.