Chimbuk Hill Bandarban, Bangladesh

Chimbuk hill is one of the top tourist destinations in Bandarban, Bangladesh. It is called the Darjeeling of East Bangal. Someone think, it is more than Darjeeling! Chimbuk Hill is aboult 1500 feet above the sea level and 26 kilometer away from Bandarban town under Thanci upazilla. You must be charmed (sometime feared) when you travel to Chimbuk throuth roller costar like zigzag hilly pathway. While your car will run through the various indigenous tribal villages, their daily lifestyle and simplicity must amaze you. When you look down from the top of the Chimbuk Hill, you may get the feelings of floating over the clouds! When it is a sunny day, you can observe the folds of clouds over the hills. It is seem that you can touch the cloud by hand!  The vast horizon of hills network seems as waves of a sea. There is mobile network also in Chimbuk Hill.

You may also visit the nearly situated tribal villages. It will be a great experience in your life if you visit the Bawm tribal villages around Chimbuk hill and Mru tribal villages a little further off. You may also visit Meghla Parjatan Complex (2 km west), Nilgiri Resort, Sakura Resort etc. which are the nearest tourist destinations from Chimbuk Hill.

How to Go Chimbuk Hill

Chimbuk Hill is 26 km away from Bandarban town. You can start to the Chimbuk hill using Thanci bound bus or Micro Bus, or any rental cars or Chander Gari (Rental Jeep) from Bandarban city. Up-Down rent may be approx Tk 2500/jeep. On the way to Chimbuk, you have to register your name and particulars to the military check post due to security purpose. It may take around one or one and half hour to reach the Chimbuk hill from the town depending on various factors.

Accommodation, food and drinks in Chimbuk Hill

There are two state owned rest houses in this area at the top of the Chimbuk Hill. There is a well managed canteen in the rest house. So don’t worry about your stomach. If you want to stay there, you have to confirm the reservation from the authority. You may contact to the official cell number 01714230354, 01712718051, 01558679688 for the above rest house reservation purpose. It is a better idea for foreigners to contact Bangladesh Tourism Board to visit Chimbuk Hill.

Nilgiri Luxury resort Bandarban, Bangladesh

Nilgiri is one of the tallest peaks and popular tourist destination in Bandarban, Bangladesh. Nilgiri is about 2200 feet above the sea level and situated at Thanci Upazilla, just 47 kilometer south-east from Bandarban town. You may observe even the Bay of Bengal standing at the peak of the Nilgiri when the sky is clear. There is beautiful resort named Nilgiri Resort at the peak of the mountain maintained by Bandarban Officers Club, a sister concern of Bangladesh Army. There is also a restaurant, a helipad etc. Electricity is available from 6 pm to 9 pm. There is high percentage of moisture and temperature is 10⁰ to 25⁰ C.

Day by day Nilgiri became one of the most lucrative and top tourist destinations at Bandarban where the clouds play with the waves of gentle breeze. In autumn and rainy season, the whole area is covered with the fold of clouds. You can enjoy a cloudy experience with illusive landscape around the hills chain. You will be amazed when you see that the cloudy sky often kisses the peak of the hill and you can touch the clouds! Can you imagine the scene?  In winter, the entire area is covered with the dense of fog. It is a nice place for campfire in winter season.  It may be one of your great memories in your life if you have a chance to enjoy a moonlit night in Nilgiri when it is full moon. Nilgiri is the most attractive place for those who love adventure, hills and clouds. It is not the end; you may also travel Mro tribal villages just beside Nilgiri Resrot. Their colorful culture and lifestyle of the tribal people surely an unexplored experience for you. In fact, the beauty of the Nilgiri is not describable in texts but to feel in mind.

How to go Nilgiri

Nilgiri is about 47 km south-east of Bandarban on the Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi rout. Visitor can go there by Thanci bound bus or jeep or you may hire a car, or a Chander Gari (public jeep) to reach Nilgiri from Bandarban city. On the way to Nilgiri, you have to register your name and particulars to the military check post for security purpose. You have to take permission from the DC office of Bandarban in case you are a foreigner. In this case, it is better to take the help of Bangladesh Tourism Board.

Accommodation in Nilgiri Resort

There are three luxury cottages ranging around Tk 5000 to Tk 10000 at Nilgiri Resort. There are also three tents having multi beds each Tk 1000 per tent/night. It is better to book around 2 weeks before you visit the place due to rush. For online Reservation, you may visit to Nilgiri Resort Reservation. For picnic party, you may contact to official cell number +880-1769299999 and for Foreigner booking, please contact to +880-1855550088. Good hotels are also available at Bandarban town. You have to stay at Bandarban city and next day you can move to Nilgiri. The hotels of the bandarban town are really cheap.

Food and drinks in Nilgiri

There is a clean and healthy restaurant in Nilgiri Resort. So don’t worry about food and drinks. Spicy Rice, Beef, mutton prepared in bamboo hole without water is really mouth-watering illusive menu in the restaurant. Every meal cost about 300-500 BDT. Various type of tasty foods are also available here.

Saint Martin Coral Island, Bangladesh

Saint Martin's is the most beautiful and only coral island in Bangladesh and one of the best Eco-Tourism Destinations among the others. It is called the marine paradise of Bangladesh, located in the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, just about 9 km south of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula and 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar. The island forms at the southernmost part of Bangladesh and at the estuary of the Naf River that divided Bangladesh and Myanmar marking as the international borderline between the two countries. The island is locally called as “Narikel Jinjira” that means Coconut Island when a lot of coconut grows in this island. Someone called it “Daruchini Dip” due to its lovely landscape and illusive crystal blue water of the Bay of Bengal that surrounding the island. The location of Saint Martin's Island is on the getaway in Bangladesh. The surrounding coral reef of the island has an extension named “Chera Dwip”.

The first human settlement started in the island just about 250 years ago by some Arabian sailors who named the island “Zajira”. During the British period, the island was named St. Martin’s Island. The population of the island is about 7500 and the main profession of the people is fishing. Besides algae collection, tourism services etc are the common profession of the inhabitants. Water transportation is the only way to reach this island i.e. boats and ships (mostly for tourists) from Teaknaf. The major goods for daily livelihood for the inhabitants come from the mainland Bangladesh.

From 1989 to 2004, non-residential Bangladeshis and foreigners were only allowed to visit the island. However, this has changed and now residential Bangladeshis are also allowed to visit the Island. There is no electricity supply from the national grid in the island. The tourist hotels of the island run on generators.

It is possible to walk around the island in a day because it measures only 8 km², shrinking to about 5 km² during high tide. You will get the best weather usually from November – February to visit this island. From March to July, the weather of the region may be rough. Very often, cyclone can strike during these times. The island was seriously harmed by the devastated cyclone in 1991 but has fully recovered, and was untouched by the 2004 tsunami. So from March to July is tourist off season.

In the past few years, St. Martin's visitors have increased dramatically. St Martin’s Island is perfect for tourists who wish to revive escaping the monotony of a robotic daily life. The island is all about sun, sea and palm trees. During the tourist season, the island comes alive with water and beach sports, with beach parties and bonfires lighting up the evening sky. The island is very suitable for scuba driving. One may also enjoy engine boat or speed boat tour in the very crystal blue water around this island. Though there is no security problem for the visitors, one can pop down to the Coast Guard station for any kind of security helping. There’s no land phone but mobile phone network. So you can communicate with the world and even you can browse Internet from your wireless devices.

Chera Dip, Saint Martin

Chera Dip is a coral based island adjacent to St. Martin but divided during tides. You can go to Cheera  Dip from St Martin’s island by walking (!) or by local motorboats or tourist boats. A lot of Corals of various species - living and dead form the land of the island. There is a small bush which is the only green part of Chera Dip enhancing the landscape of this island. There is no permanent inhabitant in Chera Dip, so it is advisable to the tourists to go there early and come back by evening. To enhance your enjoyment, you can taste there fry of fresh marine fisheries and green coconut water from a number of mobile shops dedicated to tourist services.

Hotels Booking in Saint Martin Island

Accommodation in St. Martins Island is limited, so it is advisable to book hotel before you plan to go to this Island. You will hardly get a chance to stay in this hotel if you are a sudden visitor of St. Martins Island. The remarkable tourist hotels in Saint Martin’s are Hotel Nijhum, Prashad Paradise, Sraboni Bilash, Samudra Bilash, Resort Simana Parie etc. Booking of these hotels are also possible from Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazaar. All these hotels are situated adjacent to Seashore. From these hotels lobby or veranda, you can enjoy the illusive breeze and romantic sound of Sea. There are also some other motels and hotels established recently in St. Martin’s for tourist accommodation. Besides, the local fishermen and inhabitants also rent their well decorated rooms for tourists’ accommodations purpose. If you are lucky enough, you can spend the exotic moonlit night at St. Martin’s Island. The beauty of Full moon in St. Martins Island cannot be expressed in words, if you are not there at that time.

How to Go St. Martin Island

You can go there by sea truck, local motorboat or tourist boats. Currently, five shipping liners run daily trips to the island, including Keary-Sindbad, Keary Cruise & Dine, Shahid Sher Niabat, L C T Kutubdia and Eagle from Teknaf. Beside a shipping liner recently inaugurate there service from Cox’s Bazaar. Tourists can book their trip from Dhaka, Chittagong or Cox's Bazar. You need to fly or take a direct bus down to Cox's Bazaar, and then take a bus to Teknaf, which is the most southern police station of Bangladesh. You can also go by rail to Chittagong and then a bus from Bahaddarhat station to Teknaf via Cox’s bazaar.  From my own experience, it is better to travel sea truck from Teknaf and take an open dock ticket to enjoy the adventure and thrill of the mighty Bay of Bengal. You will have a chance as a bonus to enjoy the green hill tracts of Taknaf to soothe your eyes in the west and Mayanmar borderline in the east when you are in open dock of a sea truck in Naf River and estuary. Sea trucks leaves Teknaf every morning at 9.00 am, and return from St. Martin Island in the same day at 3.00 pm.

Package Tour to Saint Martin Island

Beside Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, a number of renowned local Tour Operators arrange package tour to Saint Martin Island from November to February. It is a wise decision especially for foreign tourists to hand over all headache of journey, accommodation, foods and so on to an experienced Tour Operator to visit the amazing tourist heaven Saint Martin’s island, Bangladesh.

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.