Dhaka city is no less than a maze of concrete, where recreational activities mostly center around the hundreds of restaurants scattered around commercial and residential spaces. Whenever we think of hanging out with friends, eating out is the first thing that comes to most of our minds. But don’t we all look out for diverse activities to engage in? Let’s peek at some cute and fun ideas that can work perfectly as a bonding session with friends.
Painting, Pottery, and Graphic art
Whether you’re a new-generation Picasso or just a noob who can hardly hold a brush, painting will never fail to be therapeutic. This can be a great pastime in winter, as you’ll be able to sit under the open sky in places like Curzon Hall at Dhaka University, Ramna Park, Shahabuddin Park at Gulshan, or any park in your locality and paint in a natural ambience with your peers. For warmer seasons, choose any of your friends’ places or a nice and cozy coffee shop to play with your favorite colours. Take it from someone with the painting skills of a two-year-old, you are not going to regret it.
Pottery is a significant branch of arts and crafts and needless to say, a super fun activity. Clay Station Dhaka is one such place where you can go to unleash your latent creative potter. They have two branches at present, one at Chef’s Table Courtside and the new branch at Jatra, Banani. Kolpokar is a café in Gulshan where you can cut loose your inner artist and engage in different activities like 3D printing and drawing, art and designing, virtual reality, etc.
Kayaking and Boat-Riding
Although Dhaka is a lot about concrete and infrastructure, you can still enjoy peaceful boat rides in some parts of it. Boat rides at Sadarghat have been available since forever. Besides that, Balu Nodi at Beraid graam, 100 feet can be a great experience amidst nature if you opt for a day trip. For shorter trips- Hatirjheel, Diabari Bot Tola lakeside at Uttara, and Palpara Ghat at Mirpur 1-Diabari Beribadh are some wonderful options to spend some time in the middle of the calmness of rivers and lakes. Apart from these, Dhanmondi Lake happens to be a go-to option for paddle boats for many.
Now a moment of surprise- did you know that you can now go kayaking in Dhaka? Get off at Uttara Centre Metro station and you’ll find this kayaking spot right in front of pillar no. 73 and 74 of metro rail. For 100 taka per person for 30 minutes and 150 taka per person for an hour, you can have an amazing kayaking experience within Dhaka.
Museums, Bookshops, and Galleries
For the ones who love some thought-provoking pastimes to themselves, museums and galleries may be your best pick! Dhaka does have many museums and galleries worth visiting. Starting from the National Museum of Science and Technology to the Liberation War Museum and the National Museum, the places carry a bit of childhood nostalgia for many Dhaka kids as they explored these museums hand in hand with their parents. Growing up, revisiting these places can be a nice walk down memory lane through sharing anecdotes with friends. Besides, the Bangabandhu military museum has been all the rage for the past two years. Novo Theatre, right beside the military museum can be a great visit as well.
For art enthusiasts, what can be a better place to visit than a good aesthetic gallery? Besides the annual exhibitions at Charukola and the National Art Gallery at Shilpakala Academy, Bengal Gallery of Fine arts, Edge Gallery, Gallery Chitrak, Drik Gallery etc. are wonderful options to submerge into the magical world of arts.
If you’re a bookworm, you will undoubtedly have the best time taking strolls different bookshops around the city. Rows of books meticulously arranged on shelves, the smell of old and new books, and the overall calm ambience might as well make a non-reader fall in love with books. The Bookworm, Batighor, and Pathok Shomabesh are some of the bookshops readers love to visit.
Historical places
If you’re a history enthusiast and love visiting places that hold historical significance, widely recognized places like the Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, and Panam Nagar near Dhaka are not going to disappoint you. These could also be great options for retreats and day tours.
Cinema and Theatre
Do I even need to mention how fun movie dates with friends are? Star Cineplex at Bashundhara City, Shimanto Shambhar, Sony Square, SKS Tower and Blockbuster cinemas at Jamuna Future Park are the holy grails for movie lovers. While we absolutely love to see characters play their magic on screen, theatre artists also play a magnificent role in bringing the characters to life on the spot. Open Space Theatre is one such group you can depend on for optimal live theatre experience.
For the adrenaline rush
Thrill-seekers love activities that speed up the adrenaline rush and provide the ultimate fun experience. Gaming zones, rides, and arcades offer the perfect opportunity. Places like Toggi Fun World and Star Zone at Bashundhara City, Go Kart and Ground Zero at Courtside, Players’ Club at Jamuna Future Park, and Xtreme Racing at Fantasy Kingdom can provide super exciting experiences as such.
Spending Time with Animals
Lastly, here’s an idea that is capable of satisfying your soul. Animals are the most precious things in this world and naturally, you can never have a bad time with them. Randomly go out on a stray feeding spree with your friends and see how your day instantly gets better with all the love you receive from stray dogs and cats. You may also pay a visit to the Capawcino Cat Café at Bashundhara R/A and Happy Puppy Dog Kennel at Uttara for a cute and amiable experience with the fluff balls.
With the ideas above, you can choose whether to spend a relaxing and cozy afternoon or an exciting day; whether to opt for an economical and happy hangout or splurge a little to have some extra fun. Whatever the choice is, don’t forget to make loads of precious memories amidst the din and bustle of this city called Dhaka.