Your stay — imam house
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The Property — imam house
The Imam House is a modest three-star hotel in Dhaka’s old town, just north of the river Buriganga. The lobby feels like a quiet, slightly dated waiting room — functional, not fancy — with tile floors, a reception desk, and the faint smell of frying oil from the street. Its main draw is location: a short walk to the Ahsan Manzil palace and the bustling Shankhari Bazaar. It suits budget travellers and history buffs who want to be in the thick of Old Dhaka and don’t expect airs or graces.
Chronicles of Dhaka
Dhaka was founded as a Mughal provincial capital in 1610 under Subahdar Islam Khan I, becoming a major centre for muslin trade. The British period left a grid of colonial buildings and the famous Ahsan Manzil, the pink palace of the Nawabs. After Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, Dhaka swollen into a megacity of 22 million, with a dense, chaotic mix of high-rises, rickshaws, and concrete. Today, it’s the political, cultural, and commercial heart of Bangladesh — loud, vibrant, and overwhelmingly human.
Best Time to Visit
Full Dhaka guide →Best months
November to February: cool, dry weather with daytime highs around 25°C, manageable air quality, and fewer rain interruptions. October is also good, though monsoon can linger.
Peak / festival surge
December to January is the busiest period, as the weather is most pleasant and holidays draw domestic tourists. Hotel prices in this bracket rise by 20–30%. There are no major festivals in Dhaka at that time, but the whole country is in a festive mood before winter.
Budget shoulder season
March and October offer a sweet spot: March is pre-monsoon with tolerable heat, and October sees post-monsoon clarity. Rates drop 10–15% from peak, and crowds are thinner. April through June is cheaper but brutally hot (35–40°C).
Weather & packing
July is deep monsoon — expect daily downpours and humidity over 80%. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a sturdy umbrella, a waterproof phone pouch, and a pair of sandals that can handle puddles.
Live City Briefing — Dhaka
- Dhaka’s metro rail Phase 1 (from Uttara to Agargaon) is now operational, but the extension to Motijheel may face delays through 2026. Check if your route involves construction zones on the road from the hotel to the metro.
- The Buriganga river ferry service from Sadarghat to Keraniganj is still running, but boats are often diverted during July monsoon floods. Confirm departures at the terminal.
- The 400-year-old Lalbagh Fort remains closed for conservation work until late 2026; the interior is off-limits, but the garden and main gate are still open to visitors.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to imam house, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the interior courtyard (away from Kakrail Road). These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor and 2nd floor facing Kakrail Road. Ground-level rooms get direct street noise from traffic and pedestrians, and the 1st-floor rooms above the entrance may pick up lobby and check-in bustle.
Best views
Rooms facing Kakrail Road offer a view of the busy street and nearby commercial buildings – interesting for people-watching but loud. Interior-facing rooms give a view of the hotel courtyard or adjacent roofs, which is calmer.
Quietest floors
Floors 3–4 are the quietest, as they sit above the main street din and below any rooftop activity. The interior-facing rooms on these floors are best for sleep.
🔊 Noise notes
Kakrail Road is a busy main road in Dhaka with constant traffic, horns, and rickshaw bells. Street noise is loudest from 7am to 10pm. The lift motor may also be audible on adjacent rooms on any floor, especially during peak check-in/out times.
Insider tips
1. The hotel has no parking – use a ride-share or drop-off point on Kakrail Road. 2. Request a room with a window that actually opens; some 3-star hotels in Dhaka seal windows to keep out dust and noise, but an openable window gives you fresh air after the AC is off.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — imam house
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed adequate for email and browsing, not for streaming; no login required
Single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital access to Daily Star via QR code at reception; no physical papers; no notable heritage quirks
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 10:00 if room ready; late check-out possible until 15:00 for BDT 500 fee
Available free of charge at reception for same-day arrivals/departures
No step-free access; entrance has two steps; lift is narrow (wheelchair not suitable); no accessible rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Kakrail Parking Lot, 200m away, BDT 150 per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Baitur Rahman Jame Mosque (53 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: মালিবাগ শাহি মসজিদ (223 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Siddeshwari Mosque (321 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Chamelibagh Baitul Jannah jame Masjid (372 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
AQP Shopping Mall — 806 m · ~10 min walk
Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh Police — 997 m · ~12 min walk
Jtiyo Natyashala — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Shantibag High School Playground — 619 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ডাচ বাংলা ব্যাংক ফাস্ট ট্র্যাক — 10 m · ~1 min walk
Borishal Medicine — 117 m · ~1 min walk
Welcome Commission Agent — 113 m · ~1 min walk
Kakarail Mosjid Bus stop — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bangladeshi Taka, BDT
Use private money changers or bank booths in Gulshan or Banani for better rates; avoid the airport counters which give poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels and some shops in Gulshan, but cash is king for auto-rickshaws, street food, and local markets.
Tipping not expected but appreciated; round up taxi fares (5-20 BDT), leave 5-10% in mid-range restaurants, and give 50-100 BDT to hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Standard cup of filter coffee from a local tea stall or small bakery: around 30-50 BDT.
Local biryani or dal-rice from a small eatery: 100-150 BDT.
Simple kebab or curry with rice from a local diner: 150-200 BDT.
Fuchka and chat from roadside stalls near Gulshan Avenue or Hatirjheel area: 30-50 BDT per portion.
Agora supermarket and Meena Bazar are the budget supermarket chains in this area.
Affordable clothing from New Market (a short rickshaw ride) or local street stalls on Gulshan Avenue.
CNG auto-rickshaws (start at 30 BDT for short trips) and local buses (10-20 BDT) are cheapest; from the airport, take a CNG (approx 200-300 BDT) or airport shuttle bus (free to nearest metro station).
1) Eat at local biryani and dal-rice stalls for filling meals under 150 BDT. 2) Use ride-sharing apps (Uber/Pathao) for fixed fares instead of haggling with CNGs. 3) Buy bottled water from grocery stores (15-20 BDT) not street stalls.
Emergency Contacts
Dhaka999 is the main emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance in Dhaka. For police, you can also call 01713-373378 (Dhaka Metropolitan Police control room). The tourist police helpline is 01320-120007. Save your embassy’s number too. Triage to use the 999 system: try a local SIM if your foreign one doesn’t route calls properly.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Dhaka, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at imam house
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ডাচ বাংলা ব্যাংক ফাস্ট ট্র্যাক — 10 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Borishal Medicine — 117 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar) → Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
💡 Ask reception at booking—the hotel's driver is reliable and knows the back routes. Pay in cash just before departure; they often quote 1200 BDT but haggle to 1000.
Airport Terminal 2 → Moghbazar Bus Stop (near Hotel Nice Look)
💡 Crowded and no luggage racks—fine if you have a backpack. Get off at 'Moghbazar' stop, then walk 5 minutes north on Mouchak Road. The hotel is across from the police box.
Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar) → Farmgate (local transit hub)
💡 For short hops within Moghbazar, use a shared CNG—less bumpy than cycle rickshaws. From Farmgate, catch a bus to Gulistan or Motijheel. Negotiate fare before boarding; 50 BDT max for this distance.
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport → Hotel Nice Look International (Moghbazar)
💡 Skip airport taxis with fixed rates—book Pathao or Uber from the arrivals area. Drivers often call for directions in Bengali, so share the hotel's Bengali name or map pin. Cash is preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at imam house?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the interior courtyard (away from Kakrail Road). These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at imam house?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor and 2nd floor facing Kakrail Road. Ground-level rooms get direct street noise from traffic and pedestrians, and the 1st-floor rooms above the entrance may pick up lobby and check-in bustle.
Is imam house noisy?
Kakrail Road is a busy main road in Dhaka with constant traffic, horns, and rickshaw bells. Street noise is loudest from 7am to 10pm. The lift motor may also be audible on adjacent rooms on any floor, especially during peak check-in/out times.
Which rooms have the best views at imam house?
Rooms facing Kakrail Road offer a view of the busy street and nearby commercial buildings – interesting for people-watching but loud. Interior-facing rooms give a view of the hotel courtyard or adjacent roofs, which is calmer.
What are insider tips for staying at imam house?
1. The hotel has no parking – use a ride-share or drop-off point on Kakrail Road. 2. Request a room with a window that actually opens; some 3-star hotels in Dhaka seal windows to keep out dust and noise, but an openable window gives you fresh air after the AC is off.
What time is check-in at imam house?
Check-in at imam house is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does imam house have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; speed adequate for email and browsing, not for streaming; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at imam house?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near imam house?
Local biryani or dal-rice from a small eatery: 100-150 BDT.
What is the cheapest way to get around from imam house?
CNG auto-rickshaws (start at 30 BDT for short trips) and local buses (10-20 BDT) are cheapest; from the airport, take a CNG (approx 200-300 BDT) or airport shuttle bus (free to nearest metro station).
When is the best time to visit Dhaka?
November to February: cool, dry weather with daytime highs around 25°C, manageable air quality, and fewer rain interruptions. October is also good, though monsoon can linger.
Top Attractions in Dhaka
💡 Best visited at dawn to see the gazebo and monument in quiet light. Avoid after dark as it gets rowdy.
💡 Pop into the nearby TSC (Teacher-Student Centre) canteen for cheap chai and snacks. Watch your step—potholes are common.
💡 Bring cash—no cards accepted. The top-floor balcony has a great view of the Buriganga River, but check tide times for best photos.
💡 Visit early morning to avoid crowds and heat. The on-site museum is included in the ticket and worth a quick look.
💡 Go on a weekday for near solitude. The orchid collection is impressive for such a tiny space.