Dhaka is a busy city and it can be quite challenging to go out anywhere because of the relentless traffic jams combined with the summer heat. However, when the chance to visit the tree fair arose, I could not resist. I had never been to any of these tree fairs and was very eager to experience one. As a bonus, the location of the fair was very close to where I was staying.

The fairground was close to the National Parliament Building and was spread out like a square. I took a clockwise route from the entrance. There was no particular organization in the type of vendor stalls or what was being displayed although I did notice a lot of different kinds of fruit trees among the first group of vendors. What I found fascinating was all the different fruit trees in dwarf form yet the fruits were of normal size. I was particularly amazed by the mango trees growing in barrels but bearing a large number of mangoes. Some of the other fruit trees on display consisted of several varieties of citrus, guava, papaya, custard apple, banana, date, coconut, palm and those that I do not even know the names of. The vendors went all out and displayed everything from flowering plants to house plants, aquatic plants, cacti and bonsai. A certain section of the fair did display pottery for plants and some stalls also carried small fish. Most of the stalls had both an indoor and outdoor section and the outdoor section stretched out and was packed with plants and trees. The fair did attract a respectable number of plant lovers.

Overall, I had a good time since I actually made a couple of rounds and bought quite a few plants. The weather was hot and humid but I had little trouble with that. After spending so many weeks in Dhaka, the weather, people, sights and sounds and everything else became a part of me. And I happily embraced it all.

While one has to be there in person to appreciate the tree fair, pictures can offer a glimpse of that experience and I am very happy to share them. But I will certainly encourage everyone to visit the next tree fair in 2014.

Entrance to the tree fair.

Mango madness!

Different types of citrus plants.

All types of house plants were on display.

Different kinds of cacti.

Outdoor section lined with different kinds of plants.

Hanging plants in the outdoor section.

A beautiful bonsai tree in the outdoor section. And in case if you are wondering, that is not a real cat!

A mini tree with fruits but I don’t know its name. I have had the fruits before and it is a little on the sour side.

Not sure what this fruit is and I don’t think I have tried it before.

This fruit resembled a melon but it was much smaller.

Star fruits on a miniature tree.

I am not sure about the name of this fruit but they are sweet, succulent and refreshing. They come in red too and it tastes even better.

One of the many exotic flowers that I came across.

Another interesting flower at the fair.