Photo of Bayazid Bostami Shrine — Al Riaz Uddin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Destination guide
Bayazid Bostami Shrine
বায়েজিদ বোস্তামীর মাজার
On a hillock in Nasirabad, one of Chattogram's best-known holy sites. The giant ancient turtles in the pond beside the shrine are the main attraction — devotees love feeding them, and kids can stand at the water's edge for hours. Pilgrims and travellers arrive daily from far and wide.
History & significance
Hazrat Bayazid Bostami was a famous Persian Sufi born in Bostam, Iran. Legend says the pond's turtles were once jinns, transformed into turtles as punishment for angering the saint. The mosque at the hill's foot is believed to date from Aurangzeb's era, and the tomb was discovered in 1831. Historians note, however, that there is no firm evidence he visited this region. The turtles are the critically endangered black softshell species, protected by the shrine's Mazar Committee.
How to get there
On Bayezid Bostami Road, Nasirabad — just 4 km from GEC Circle. From 2 No Gate or Oxygen Circle, a CNG, rickshaw or bus drops you right in front of the shrine.
Entry fee
No verified entry fee yet
Entry is completely free. Turtle feed from the small stalls at the pond costs ৳10-20.
Opening hours & best time
The shrine area is generally open all day, but we found no reliable published schedule.
Best time
Mornings are quieter; the turtle-feeding scene is liveliest in the afternoon.
Traveller tips
It's a holy site — dress modestly and keep quiet inside.
Don't overfeed the turtles — the stall feed is enough; people say excess feeding harms the animals.
Combine with Foy's Lake or the Ethnological Museum in a single day — everything sits inside the city.