Dhaka Weather in January

Cool, dry days

January feels like Dhaka's easiest month for being outdoors. Afternoons are mild, evenings turn cool, and rain is rare. You'll get plenty of sun for walking around Lalbagh Fort or exploring the lanes of Old Dhaka. The cooler air also makes a rickshaw ride through Ramna Park more pleasant than in the sticky months ahead.

Skip long walks at midday if you're sensitive to sun, and don't expect beach weather: Dhaka is inland. January is the coolest month in the data, tied with December for the least rain.

Festivals and crowds

The Dhaka International Trade Fair is usually held in January at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal. It draws big crowds, especially on weekends, and traffic on the way there can be slow. Biswa Ijtema, a major Muslim gathering near Tongi, sometimes falls in January, but its dates vary.

If you hate crowds, visit the trade fair on a weekday, or choose a quieter day for Old Dhaka's Ahsan Manzil. January is part of Dhaka's popular winter season, so visitor demand and hotel rates can be higher than during the wet summer months. The city's traffic is busy year-round, though, so don't expect empty streets.

Make the most of it

With comfortable days and little rain, January suits sightseeing better than the hot, wetter months that follow. You can explore the National Museum or stroll around the University of Dhaka campus without the same sticky afternoon feel. December is a touch warmer, while February gets hotter and a little wetter.

For the trade fair, ask your hotel about the best route to Purbachal before setting out; it's well beyond central Dhaka. In Old Dhaka, stop for biryani around Shakhari Bazar after visiting Ahsan Manzil. The narrow lanes are easier to explore on foot in January's mild weather.