Orientation

Across the Surma River to the south is where you'll find the train and bus stations. This section of town, which is newer, but hardly modern, has little of interest other than the vegetable market and river life. The river is traversed by two bridges. The older, more central one, Kean Bridge, is a narrow steel structure that is continually congested with rickshaws, usually pushed by 'assistants' who get paid Tk 1 for the crossing. The bridge was repaired after being damaged by Pakistani bombers during the Liberation War. If you walk across, (often faster than taking a rickshaw), watch out for rickshaws hurtling down the steep slope whenever the way is clear. Just east of that bridge, on the northern side, is a dock with some speed boats. If you'd like to rent one for a trip on the river, ask here or at the nearby Circuit House, which has friendly helpful staff. See Places to Stay later in this section for more information.