Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach, the Top Tourist Attraction in Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach -The top tourist attraction, Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar is known for its wide long sandy beach which is claimed to be the world’s longest natural sea beach (120 km long) and the top tourist attraction in Bangladesh located in the eastern coastline of Bangladesh.(At 254km, Brazil's Casino Beach is longer, but according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is partly man made). Among the 120 km coastline, 96 km of the beach is covered by hill side. Cox's Bazar has yet to become a major tourist destination in Asia.

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar is also a town, a fishing port and district headquarters located at 21°35'N 92°01'E. It is 152 km south of Chittagong. The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox; an officer serving in British East India Company defeated the Burmese king in 1799 and set up a Bazar (market) here which was named “Cox's Bazar” after him.

Lovely Wave in Cox's Bazar Beach

Over many years Cox's Bazar has been an attraction to both international and domestic tourists who come here to spend their leisure. Splashing on Golden Sandy Beach against a backdrop of beautiful and illusive chain of hills creates an unforgettable illusive view. Towering cliffs, surfing waves, delightful sea foods, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes against the picturesque background of a chain of afforested hills with rich wildlife made this beach as one of the most attractive tourist spot in the world Where every emerge of the wave present something like starfish, jellyfish, rare kind of small stone, oyster, snail and so on. You can pick up this kind of presents from sea as a souvenir of Cox’s Bazar. You can see the huge beautiful greenery Jhau Garden (Locally called Jhau Bon) nearby the sandy beach. There is proper scope to rest inside the garden and you can easily verbalize your own thought to your soul mate/s. Opportunities of bathing and swimming in shark free warm water, lazy Sun bathing facilities makes Cox’s Bazar as a top tourist attraction. To sit down in the umbrella set on the beach, you may sometimes heed into the past to see the vastness of the sea. The wind come from the sea will soothe your tired soul. You may forget the robotic city life and your personal problem also.

Sunset in Cox's Bazar Beach

Here sky and sea meet together as if they embrace each other! The sun rise and sun set on the sandy beach is particularly a matter of specialty. When the sun rises from the eastern side of the sea it looks like a fiery round shape globe is coming from the sea. During evening Cox’s Bazar provides a unique opportunity to observe the beauty of sunset behind the waves. When the light of the sun fall down to the sand at sunset, it looks like the sand is not as if they were pearl! After that tourists can flock to the fashion markets located near the shore and in the town. These markets are a good place for shopping. Typical items include conch-shell show-pieces, local made cigars, hand woven clothes and beautiful handicrafts from the tribal Rakhaine families are good buys.

Dusk in Cox's Bazar Beach

How can I describe the moonlight night of Cox's Bazar? Adorable and soft light of moon will embrace you with its beauty and magnetizing power. The sky with full of stars of the night and the glittering light of the fishing boats produced an atmosphere of super-natural. It creates a dreamy impression upon the mind of the visitors.
If you are really adventurous and want to enjoy the wildness and madness of the illusive blue Sea you can come to Cox's Bazar round the year but it is better during November to April. Sea continues its wildness till August and it has even more exotic if you come to Cox's Bazar in the time of depression of the Sea. 

How to go Cox's Bazar

You can start heading towards the Cox’s Bazar by air or by bus. By air form Sahajalal International Airport, Dhaka or Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong, You can go directly to Cox’s Bazar Airport through several local airlines such as Biman Bangladesh Airlines, United Airways, Best Air, GMG Airlines etc. one way fair range will be approximately BDT 3500 - BDT 7500.

You can directly go to Cox’s Bazar by bus as well. There are many bus services from different location of Dhaka and Chittagong. Ticket price range will be BDT 900-BDT1500.

If you are thinking of an adventurous journey with comfort, Train service of Bangladesh Railway is the best option. But unfortunately Train service is available up to Chittagong. From Kamalapur Railway Station or Airport Railway Station, Dhaka you can get board on the train towards Chittagong. Train is available in different time but night journey is best, start at 10.30 pm (Turna Nishitha) from Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka. After arriving Chittagong Railway Station, you can go bodderhaat and find the bus services of various companies which can lead you to Cox’s Bazar sea beach, Kolatoli point directly. It is a wish decision for the tourists from abroad to take help of the local tour operators. 

Hotels in Cox's Bazar

Undoubtedly Cox’s Bazar is the most visited tourist spot in Bangladesh. The place is visited by a number of tourists from all over the world every year. To Support the tourists, there is a jungle of luxurious tourist hotels, Motel rest house etc. including few 5 star hotels replacing the natural mangrove jungle. 

Others tourist attractions in Cox’s Bazar

There are many other tourist attractions around Cox’s Bazar, which are easily accessible. 

Himchari, Cox's Bazar

-Is famous for Himchari Waterfall and natural beauty beside the beach drive. It is located about 8 km south of Cox’s Bazar. You can go there by Jeep and it is really exotic experience to drive on the sea shore. 

Inani Beach

Inani Sea Beach, Cox's Bazar 

- A Pristine rocky beach with corals all around. The calmness and serenity of Inani Beach is mind blowing. It is bordered by hills and forests and is located only 32km south of Cox’s Bazar. It can also be accessed via Himchari. Don’t miss the chance to visit Inani Beach while going to Cox’s Bazar. You may take packet lunch with you.

Taknaf Marine Drive

Taknaf- is about 84km from Cox’s Bazar and it may be a memorable experience as the journey in marine drive through forested hilly roads. Taknaf is the border town in the southern tip of Bangladesh territory. The side of river Naf and the Bay of Bengal situate Teknaf Town. Wide sandy beach in the backdrop of high hills with green forests with rich flora & fauna and natural waterfalls enhance charms of the tourists and the scenery never to be forgotten. You can enjoy shopping in the local market called Burmese Market where you will find all the Burmese and tribal handmade materials. Do not forget to visit the Wall of Ma-Thin which tells a sad story of love. 

Ramu and Lamapara

A typical Buddhist village located 16 kilometers away from Cox's Bazar. It is accessible from the main highway leading to Chittagong. The village accommodates monasteries, khyangs and pagodas. The beautiful Burmese Bara Khyang at lamapara has the country's largest bronze statue and it has three wooden buildings house, a number of relics-precious Buddhist images of silver and gold set with gems and stones inside the pagoda. The temple lies in a quite palm shaded village about 5km from Ramu, on the bank of Baghkhali River. The village is famous for its handicrafts and homemade Cigars. Weavers trade there in open workshops and craftsman make handmade cigars in their pagoda like house. 

Moheskhali Island

It is another attraction for the tourists who come to Cox’s Bazar. The area of the island is about 268 square kilometers. The center of the island and the eastern coastline rises, a range of low hills, up to 300 feet high. But the coast to the west and north is a low-lying treat, covered by mangrove jungle. In the hills on the coast is built the shrine of Adinath and by its side on the same hill is Buddhist Pagoda. You can go to this Island by local motorboat called trawler or by speedboat from cox’s Bazar fisheries Ghat (Harbor). 

Dulahazra Safari Park

This Safari Park is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong –Cox’s Bazar highway about 50 Km from Cox’s Bazar Town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants, different type of birds, monkeys etc which are native to the area where domesticated elephants are available for ride. Other animal attractions are lions, Bengal tigers, Crocodiles, Bears, Coital etc. which is wonderful project to attract the tourists.

There are a number of other Islands too. Some names are Saint Martin Island, Chera Dip, Sonadia Island, Shah pori island etc have enough items to attract tourists.

Sundarban, the World Largest Mangrove Forest Tourism

Sundarban -The largest mangrove forest in the world situated mostly in Bangladesh. A small portion of it lies in India. The Indian part of the forest is estimated to be about 19% while the Bangladesh part is 81%. It is in the south west part of Bangladesh and the area is about 5725 square kilometers.

The word Sundarban means the Beautiful Jungle or Forest and it may be come from the Sundari Trees, that grown in Sundarban at a large in number. Beside the dazzling expands of green, the blue heaven overhead meeting the horizon and the illusive coastal beach, one can turned into an indescribable dreamy arena. It is not the end, there is the own lifestyle of the fishermen and other forest dwellers. The forest dwellers gradually developed a culture of their own, having an isolated life from the main stream. Professionals like fishing, honey collection etc. are unique of the area. Gathering wild honey in the wildness is among the oldest professions practiced by the dwellers of the area and still practiced in the traditional ways. Honey hunters' community lives along the borderline of the western forests are mostly destitute day laborer. Sundarban is a variegated playground of human civilization with its large forests, various creation, tradition, culture and history.

You could catch yourself a fun ride by a small boat, if you are interested to having more adventure. The mystery of the forest shattered often by the chirping birds, deer and monkeys that are the common fauna of the giant mangrove land.

Tour Operators in Sundarban

Just staying there in a moonlit night can make you have the fascinating experience of being reborn. But it is difficult to travel in the dense of the forest, A well equipped vessel is needed to be able to swan around in this barren land ran through by rivers and rivulets. Better if you have a skilled tour operator who can guide you through the splendor of the Sundarbans.

The national animal of Bangladesh “The Royal Bengal Tiger” (Panthera tigris), a rare species in the globe, is available here. According to wild fund, the forest contains 400 tigers and 0.20 million spotted deer, about 120 species of Fishes and more than 370 species of Birds, minimum 50 species of reptiles. The Sundarban now supports the only Estuarine or salty water Crocodile in Bangladesh. Besides, the Sundarban contains a large number of biodiversity including a number of rare species. There are three wildlife sanctuary areas named- 'Kotka-Kachikhali Tiger Point', 'Hiron-Point' and 'Manderbaria'. The Sundarban has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1999.

In the forest, Hundreds of canals pass through this mysterious jungle like a web. During high tide it is possible for the tourists to travel inside the deep of the forest. The exciting scenery of tiger swimming across the river at night could be im-memorable for any tourist of the world.

Since the present, different number of tourist spots are discovered, shortly described in the following- 

Hiron Point

– is commonly known as ‘Nilkamal’. It is 80 km away from the Mongla port.  It is famous for Sunrise and Sunset watching.  You can avail guest house facilities of Mongla port and Forest department here.

Katka - is in the south of the east sanctuary  and south east corner of Shronkhola forest range and  100  km. away  from Mongla sea port. There is a rest house at kotka. There is a wooden watching tower at Jamtala from where you can enjoy the scenic beauty of Sunderban like herd of deer, monkeys, and swine. Varieties symphony of birds and other wild fowls are available in Katka.  If you are lucky enough you may also met royal Bengal tiger here.  Radio communication is available here in the forest station.  Katka is one of the heritage sites in Sunderban.

Kachikhali - is an isolated sea beach in a deep forest of Sundarban adjacent to the Kotka tiger point . You can find pond, open green field, deer, monkey, snakes and other reptiles and varieties of birds here. There is a tourist rest house and forest office here.

Dublar Char Island

- Famous for fishermen. It is a beautiful island where hundreds of spotted deer, monkeys and swine are often seen to grazing. It is s an island (char) raised from the Bay of Bengal which is situated at the end of the southern part of east sanctuary, 25 km south west of the Kotka tiger point and 35 km in the south east of Nilkamal on the estuary of the river. In the eve of Rash Purnima (full moon) festival of the Hindu community, huge number of tourists visits the spot. People of Hindu community take bath in the sea on the occasion. The area is covered with wide green field, Sea Lake etc. Here you can   observe the technique of dry fish processing. ‘Mowali’ (local name of the honey collectors) take shelter here during the season of honey collection. There is also a cyclone shelter and a forest station in Dublarchar.

Tin Kona Island - Famous for a number tiger and deer.

For the research related person of Flora and Fauna, the lover of nature, the poet and the painter, even if you are not a lover of nature, this land provides a variety of wonder and the mystery of the forest will call you again and again. Its beauty lies in its unique natural surrounding. Thousands of meandering streams, creeks, rivers and estuaries have enhanced its charm.  It changes its beauties with tidal surge. If you visit the forest once, you will realize why you should be there at least once in a life.

It is must to take permission from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Khulna to visit the forest from Bangladesh part. It may be a wise decision to take the help of an experienced guide to explore the mysteries forest. For permission and guide support one may contact with the Bangladesh Tourism Board.

Traditional Foods and Food Habits in Bangladesh

Every country has its own tradition of foods. Bangladesh has also the same. In the sense of food habits, Bangladesh is influenced by the regional variations of her history. Being an outpost of Mughal Empire once, Bangladesh retains its heritage. Bangladesh is famous for rice production which has been the chief occupation of its people. Rice therefore the main food of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshis eat rice, not just a small quantity but a lot. They eat rice every day and at every meal with great testy and spicy curry of vegetables, fishes and meat.

You may not have realized that you may be ate Bangladeshi foods! Many of the restaurants framed in Brick Lane, London are actually Bangladeshi in origin. The same can probably be said for other called Indian restaurants throughout the world when Indian foods have much better branding.

For the vegetarians Bangladesh is a paradise. Plenty of fresh vegetables are available throughout the year. Among them, winter vegetables are more popular because of their different preparations and taste. The common vegetables from Bangladesh are Cauliflower, Cabbage, Tomato, Potato, Beans, reddish, Peas, Carrot, Radish, Pumpkin, Eggplant, Drumstick, Bitter-ground, Arum and Arum-root, Bind-weed and many others. Most of the restaurants serve some kinds of vegetable everyday either fried or curry or even Bharta (cereals of various vegetables or fishes dry or fresh with spices that are absolutely delicious).

Generally Bangladeshi take meal in three time a day called Breakfast around 8.00 am, Lunch around 2.00 pm and dinner around 10.00 pm . Besides in evening they take snakes.

In the morning, a farmer or a laborer starts his long day with a breakfast of Panta (plain boiled rice soaked overnight in water and slightly fermented). This watery rice mixed with salt and chilly, either green or fried dry ones but this is not just the only sort of breakfast. Muri (puffed rice) or Chira (flattened rice), or Khoi (popped rice) are other items of a traditional breakfast in most Bangladeshi homes in the rural areas. These are taken with milk, yogurt, seasonal fruits or Gur (a crude form of country sugar).

Wheat based plain bread (may be with oil) is another common item for breakfast. A large number of people of Bangladesh take baked bread and mixed vegetable including egg, various kind of meat, and a hot cup of tea at last of breakfast.

Traditional Foods of Bangladesh

Lunch is the main dish for Bangladeshis. Almost all the Bangladeshis take plain rice in lunch. Most of them take different kinds of vorta and Bhaji (saluted or fried vegetable with green or fried chilly and other spices) are very popular. They also take various kinds of spicy illusive fishes with it. So it is called that Mase vate Bangali (i e the land of rich and fishes). Fish or meat Jhol (liquidated, may be with different kind of vegetables) with plenty of chopped spices and other ingredients Cooked in low heat and for long is typical and an exclusive dish of Bangladesh. Dal (pulse) is must in Bangladeshi tradition in lunch. Adding ground ginger, garlic, onion, cumin, and chili pepper pastes, this dish also included fennel seed, black cumin, methie and so on herbs makes the Bangladeshi traditional meal greatly delicious.

Almost all Bangladeshis take same items of foods in dinner. Dudvat (milk and rice) is very common as the last item of dinner. This is eaten with seasonal fruits like mango, banana or jack fruit or just with Gur (country sugar).

Foods Varieties in Bangladesh

During the harvesting season breakfast and evening snakes consist of a great variety of Pithas (rice cakes) of different sizes and shapes, salted or sugary, fried, boiled, sun dried or cooked. The remarkable Pithas are Sandwish, chitoi, dhupi, Pati-Sapta, antasha, pufi, Vapa, pua, various Nakshi Pitha etc. Swandwish pitha (taler pitha) is prepared from a mixture of rice flour, gur and salt, fried in mustard oil. Chitai a paste of rice flour baked in especially designed clay pans. It may be soaked for a day or two in evaporated milk. Pati Sapta is a variety of rolled pancakes with Kheer (great delicious, prepared with milk thickened through continuous boiling) filling. During weddings the bridegroom is given Nakhsi Pithas-carved and decorated rice cakes, which are real tasty.

Rice Cakes of Bangladesh

In weeding or other social festival, Biriani (fine rice with chicken, beef or mutton cooked in Ghee or clarified butter), Pilaw (spicy like Biriani but without meat), with Chicken roast or mutton Rezala is served as main dish. Khichuri (Hotchpotch) is another popular item in Bangladeshi food habit. Different kind of pickle of mango, tomato, olive etc are also taken much.

Pickles from Bangladesh

Various varieties of inland and marine fishes are available throughout the country. Fish lovers should not miss the great taste of smoked or boiled or fried Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), the national fish of Bangladesh. Trout, Eel, Butter fish, Ruhi, Katla, Mackerel, Reetha, Pungas Catfish, Walking Fish, Giant snake head are very testy and common in Bangladesh. Among the marine fishes Lobster, Red Snapper, Rupchanda, Tuna, Bhetki, Loittya are very popular.

Local Fishes of Bangladesh

Among the seasonal fruits the appeal of jack-fruit (the national fruit of Bangladesh) is universal for its sticky and juicy substance. You may take the taste of Fazli aam (a famous mango) for sophisticated experience. There are a number of varieties of mango each having an exotic name differing in taste, varying in sweetness and even in flavours. The litchis of Rajshahi are juicy and colourful, pleasing both to eye and the tongue. Pineapple is another treat. Lots of them are grown on the hilly area. The other remarkable fruits of Bangladesh are Guava, Plum, Palm, Water Melon, banana etc.

Local Fruits of Bangladesh

Bangladeshi Snacks and Breads

Singara- is spiced potato pockets wrapped in thin dough and fried. It is really tasty and inexpensive snack that you can find almost anywhere in Bangladesh.

Samosa- Bangladeshi samosas tend to be triangular, filled with cabbage and other vegetables, and are very crispy.

Dallpuri-is a popular and common item as snakes contain dall(pulse) covered with specially prepared flour paste fried in hot oil. Sometime it contains potato in lieu of pulse.

Snacks of Bangladesh

Naan- (flat bread baked in a tan door oven) is a common item in almost all restaurants in Bangladesh. It may be contain banana or other fruits as paste.

Muglai Barata- (bread contains spicy egg or meat) is another popular item in evening snakes.

Tandori- (flat wheat paste baked in oven) in very popular and common item in breakfast.

Bakorkhani- (wheat and sugar based) is a famous and traditional snack available in old Dhaka.

Desserts of Bangladesh

Misti Dhohi, flat Chana, Sweetened Yogurt, Sandesh, Rasgolla, Ras Malai, Kalojam, Pudding etc are unique milk based dessert. Taste a Pranhara (heart winner) or a lady Kenny (named after Lady Kenning, wife of the British Governor of East India Company) and you will know what it means! Kheer is also a great tasty milk based dessert. Sweetmeat is served to a guest any time of the day or night. A messenger who would carry good news to a relative or a man also accompanies those sweetmeats. Besides, Halua based on carrot, sooji or wheat cream, almond, pistachio, nuts and so on and Zorda are the common dessert in Bangladesh.

Dessert of Bangladesh

Drinks in Bangladesh

Prepared Tea: Bangladeshis are a tea drinking people. You’ll find little tea stands throughout the country with a few people sitting and drinking a small cup, perhaps with some snacks. Tea drinking and tea stalls offer a great way to engage with and meet the common people. Most tea is black tea served with condensed milk and sugar, but you can also request red tea which is without milk.

Lassi: It is a yogurt and ice based refreshing drink. It refreshes both body and soul when you are tired in travel.

Sugarcane juice: You can find juice stands on the streets here and there, where fresh sugarcane thrashing and ready juice is served.

Lime and Date juice: Sometime you may found natural Lime and date juice in street that is really exotic to taste.

Green Coconut Water: It is also available in street and it is fine, safe and nutritious to drink.

Besides it, international soft drinks are readily available. Hard drinks are available in star hotels and selected restaurants.

Bangladeshi Restaurant Eating

Western foods are available in all major hotels and most of the renowned restaurants in import cities. But local dishes are normally far better and more exotic. In the capital city Dhaka, there are some famous and special menus which are greatly rich in taste, and only known to the food-lovers of the city dwellers. You should not miss the experience of the menus. Among the items, a short list is- Hazi Biriani- located in Alauddin Road in old Dhaka. Nanna’s Morog Polao- located at nearby Tara Mosque in old Dhaka. Ghoroa Restaurent’s Vuna Khichuri- located at Motijheel, the business heart of Dhaka. Sunami Restora’s Kacchi Biriani- located at Jhigatola Bus Stand at Dhanmondi. Jhunu’s Morog Polaw- located nearby Narinda police box, Mukta Biriani- located at Goran Tempu stand. Chhayanir’ Grill Chicken- Located in the Science Laboratory corner nearby new market etc.

Taste the above menu when you travel Bangladesh and let us know your experience about Bangladeshi foods.