"The National Temple of Bangladesh, where the Goddess who named a city persists through centuries of upheaval"
Dhakeshwari Temple
Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
In Old Dhaka, the temple that may have given the capital its name continues to function as the spiritual center of Bangladesh's Hindu community. Dhakeshwari — the Goddess of Dhaka — has been worshipped here since the 12th century. Officially recognized as the National Temple in 1996, the site hosts the country's largest Durga Puja celebration, drawing dignitaries and devotees alike to a place where faith has proved more durable than the political orders that have surrounded it.
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Quick Facts
Location
Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
Tradition
Site Type
Year Built
12th century
Coordinates
23.7231, 90.3901
Last Updated
Mar 9, 2026
Learn More
Built in the 12th century, Dhakeshwari is believed to be both a Shakti Pitha and the origin of the city's name. It became Bangladesh's National Temple in 1996.
Origin Story
King Ballal Sen of the Sena dynasty built the temple around 1100 CE, recognizing this site as a Shakta Pitha where the gem of Sati's crown had fallen. The Goddess Dhakeshwari became the presiding deity of the settlement that grew around the temple, and tradition holds that Dhaka takes its name from her. Over centuries, the gem was lost and the original idol was relocated, but the devotion persisted.
Key Figures
King Ballal Sen
Sena dynasty ruler who built the original temple around 1100 CE
Spiritual Lineage
The temple connects the Sena dynasty's Hindu patronage in Bengal to the present-day Hindu community of Bangladesh. Its Shakti Pitha status places it within the network of 51 seats of the Goddess's power across the subcontinent.
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