The heavenly beauty of Bandarban

Bandarban has occupied a very important place in Bangladesh tourism map due to the presence of many striking natural beauty and a good number of thrilling place. Three highest places of Bangladesh are located at Bandarban. These are - Tajindong (Bijoy), Mowdok Maul (Saka Hafong) and Keokradang.

Anyone can easily hike through the jungle and hilly rivers to win any of these wonders of nature. There are so many waterfalls hidden through the hills Bandarban and will appear in your hiking. The exotic offerings such as foods, tribal handicrafts etc. from the tribal people will delight your heart. Meanwhile you can easily experience the tribal culture very closely.

Shoilo Propat : Shoilo Propat is located at Milonchori area and within four kilometers of Bandarban town to Thanchi road. It is one of the notable waterfalls of Bandarban. The flow of water becomes very high in Monsoon. While visiting this place you may want to ramble around the small market near this waterfall for handicraft, handloom products and exotic foods sold by the tribal people. You can reserve a jeep from Bandarban town for going Shoilo Propat at Thanchi upazilla.

Nafakhum : Nafakhum is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Bangladesh. Nafakhum is situated on the wild hilly Sangu River at remote area called Remakri on Thanchi uapazilla under Bandarban Hill District. Nafakhum is also known as Remakri waterfall. Any traveller will feel to visit this travel spot again and again. Necessary vehicles are available for going Nafakhum from Bandarban district town.

Zadipai Waterfall : Zadipai waterfall or Zadipai Jharna is one of the widest waterfalls in Bangladesh. This waterfall is located at Ruma upazilla of Bandarban district. From Keokradang Summit to Zadipai waterfall a traveller will take about one hour walk.

How to go : From Bandarban you have to hire a Chander Gari (Geep) to reach Ruma Bazar. From Ruma Bazar you have to hire a Chander Gari to Reach Boga Lake. At Boga Lake you have to stay a night because, it will be evening when you will reach there. There are many tribal villages in the area of Boga Lake. You can stay the night and take dinner here and guide will help you to find a good place. At morning you have to start journey to Keokradang as soon as possible. After reaching Keokradang you have to go long way to Zadipai. It will take two and half hours to reach Zadipai.

Boga Lake : Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. It is 18 kilometers away of Ruma Upazilla. The area of this lake is about 15 acres. It is about 3,000 feet above sea level. The color of this lake is blue and very nice. There are many mythological stories behind creation of this lake. There are many tourist make their way every year especially in the winter season. Small tribe community like Bawm, Khumi etc. have localities besides the Boga lake. It is difficult to stroll besides the Boga Lake in the rainy season. You can have a camp fire beside the lake and it will be a mind-blowing memory in your life.

Buddha Dhau Jadi Temple : Another name of Buddha Dhatu Jadi Temple is Bandarban Golden Temple. This temple is situated at Palpara which is ten kilometers away from Bandarban town and four kilometers away from Balaghata. You will get the second largest Buddhist statue in Bangladesh at this temple. The height of the temple is 200 feet. Its construction work was began in 1995 and finished in 2000. It is an attractive place for not only Buddhist pilgrims but also for any tourist of home and abroad. There is a small pond in the temple named ‘The Pond of Angels’on the top of a hill. You can enjoy the beauty of Balaghata and surrounding places from this place. Different kinds of festivels are arranged here every year. It is open from 05 : 00 p.m. to 10 :00 p.m. from the visitors and each visitor is charge 10 taka for entrance. A strict dress code ‘no shorts and no shoes’ in temple precincts is followed here. You can go to this temple from Bandarban town by Rikshow or Autorikshow.

Chimbuk : Chimbuk is the third highest mountain in Bangladesh. It is one of the most familiar tourist spots at Bandarban. It is 26 kilometers away from Bandarban district town. Chimbuk about 2,500 feet high from sea level. The road of this area is zigzag. So jeep riding is a thrilling experience there. You will cross tribal village when you will go by jeep. There are two government-own rest houses at Chimbuk. You have to take permission before if you want to stay there. There is an well-managed canteen in the place. So you can easily take food or snakes there. You have to reserve a private vehicle from Bandarban town because, location of Chimbuk is far away from Bandarban. You can also take sit on bus or jeep from Bandarban to Thanchi. On the way to Chimbuk, visitors has to register name and address to the military chek-post.

Meghla : Meghla Parjatan Complex is the most amazing visit spot for the tourists coming from all over the country. Meghla is in the contiguous area of the Bandarban hill district council on the gateway of Bandarban maintained by local administration. It is 4 kilometers away from Bandarban town on the road to Karanihat which features a mini safari park, a zoo. Boat journey, hanging bridge and at the bottom of the hills artificial lake has been made. It is a popular picnic spot. A lot of tourist make the way to Meghla to celebrate their vacation. Inside Meghala there is no arrangement for heavy food. Visitors can have snakes only. There are two restaurants with Chinese and Continental food at Holiday Inn Resort and Parjatan Motel. Accommodation facilities are also available there. Meghla Parjatan Complex is just four kilometers away from Bandarban town. Visitors can hire private jeep or Rikshow for going to Meghla. Local buses are also available.

Neelachal : Neelachal is located near Meghla Parjatan Complex and also known as Tiger Hill. It is the nearest tourist spot from Bandarban town. It is situated at Tigerpara which is five Kilometers away from Bandarban. The altitude of Neelachal is about 2,000 feet. You can look a bird eye view to whole Bandarban town from Neelachal. You will feel the thrill of walking inside clouds during Monsoon. Not only golden sunset but also spectacular beauty of Moonlight night is available from Neelachal. Foggy morning will be visible in winter. There is no eating facilities available at Neelachal. If someone wants to stay long there he/she should take food and drinking water from Bandarban town. It is located near Bandarban town and one can easily go to Neelachal by private Jeep or Autrikshow.

Neelgiri : Neelgiri is one of the tallest peaks and beautiful tourist spots in Bangladesh. It is about 3,500 feet high and situated at Thanchi thana. It is about 46 kilometers south of Bandarban on the Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi road. Beside this spot you can see Mro villages. This place is very much appropriate for campfire. Bangladesh Army supervise the place. There is a conspicuous resort made by them on the top of Neelgiri. You have to confirm reservation through an army officer for staying there. Restaurant and helipad are also available there. Electricity is available from 06:00 p.m. to 09:00 p.m. The temperature of this area is 10 to 25 degree celcious. Visitors can hire private vehicle Bandarban town or can go to Neelgiri by Thanchi bound bus or Jeep. Visitors have to register name and address at the military check post.

Other places : The other beautiful places at Bandarban are Shuvra Neela, Jiban Nagar Pahar, Baklai waterfall, Rijuk waterfall, Chingri Jhiri waterfall, Prantik Lake, Mirinja Parjatan Complex, Keokradang Hill, Tajindong Hill etc.

Communication, food and stay : Buses are available from capital city Dhaka. If you prefer to go via Chittagong, Luxury buses and trains are also available from Dhaka. AC or non AC buses goes to Bandarban from Bahaddarhat of Chittagong. Direct buses are available after interval of 30 minutes. A good number of residential hotels of different budgets are available at Bandarban district town.

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