Hills and Island of Bangladesh

Rangamati - The Lake District
From Chittagong, a 77 km. winding road that passes through lush green fields and forested hills take you to Rangamati at the heart of the lake district. The township is located on the western bank of Kaptai Lake. Rangamati is a favourite holiday resort because of its scenic beauty and its lakeside location, its colourful tribes, homespun textile products, ivory and jewellery.
For tourists the attractions of Rangamati are numerous, speedboat cruising, water skiing, bathing or merely enjoying nature as it is. It is a rare spot for eco-tourism. Visitors are fascinated by the rich culture of its ethnic people. A visit to the tribal museum and the hanging bridge on the lake a must.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation provides good hotel and cottage accommodation, auditorium, catering, speedboat and other facilities at Rangamati. For advance booking contact Parjatan Motel, Rangamati. Ph: 880-351-63126, 61046 or Central Reservation, Commercial Division, BPC Head Office, Dhaka. Phone:(880 - 2) 9899288-91, 8811109, 8821548 Fax: :(880 - 2) 8811150 e-mail : info@bangladeshtourism.gov.bd Khagrachhari - The Hilltop Town Khagrachhari is the district headquarters of Khagrachhari hill district. Connected to Chittagong by a 92 km. all-weather metalled road, Khagrachhari is ringed by thick rain forests that shelter a wide variety of birds and animals. For the tourist seeking nature in a restful mood, Khagrachhari is the place. For advanc booking contact Parjatan Motel Khagrachhari Phone : 880-371-62084-5 Bandarban - The Roof of Bangladesh 92 km. from Chittagong by a metalled road, Bandarban is the district headquarters of the Bandarban hill district. It is home town of the Bohmang Chief who is the head of the Mogh tribe. The Moghs are of Myanmar origin and Buddhists by religion. The Moghs are a simple and hospitable people. Bandarban is also the home of the Murangs who are famous for their music and dance. Several other tribes of great ethnogical interest live in the remote areas of the district. The highest peak of Bangladesh - Tahjin dong (4632 ft.)- is located in the Bandarban district. For advanc booking contact Parjatan Motel Bandarban Phone : 880-361-62741-2 Sylhet Blessed with a beautiful and bountiful nature, Sylhet is one of the popular tourist destinations of the country.For most part plain land , Sylhet is ringed by low hills on northern and southern boundaries. These are the foot hills of the Khasia and Jaintia range. Sylhet is dotted with lakes, thick forests and fruit gardens,. abounds in wildlife. The reserved forests have different species of birds and animals and ideal for bird watching and trekking. The Sylhet valley is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named Surma and Kushiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and south. The valley has a good number of haors which are big natural depressions. During winter these haors are vast streches of green land, but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent seas. The haors provide sanctuary to millions of migratory birds who fly from the north across the Himalayas every winter.The patron saint of Sylhet is Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA). Sylhet town draws thousands of devotees and visitors every year. The tea gardens stretch for miles like a green carpet spread over the slopes of the hills. There are excellent rest-house facilities in many of these tea gardens. For advanc booking contact Parjatan Motel Sylhet Phone : 880-821-712426 Mainamati About eight km. to the west of Comilla town and 114 km. south-east of Dhaka lie the low hills of Mainamati-Lalmai ridge - an old centre of Buddhist culture. On the slopes of these hills lie scattered runis that testity to as a early Buddhist civilization (8th to 12th century). At Salban in the middle of the ridge, excavations have laid bare a large Buddhist Vihara (monastery) and an imposing central shrine. Further explorations have revealed valuable information on the rule of the Chandra and Deva dynasties which flourished here from the 8th to 12th century A.D. The whole range of hillocks run for about 18 km and is studded with more than 50 such sites. A site museum houses the archaeological finds that include terracotta plaques, bronze statues and caskets, coins, jewellery, utensils, pottery and votive stupas embossed with Buddhist inscriptions. Mymensingh The greater Mymensingh district stretches from the plains north of Dhaka to the Garo foothills that edge the northern border with India. Along the frontier line many tribes such as Garos, Hajongs and Kochis who are ethnically quite distinct from the people around them. Mymensingh has earned an important position in Bangla literature for its rich folklores and folk songs. On the road from Dhaka to Mymensingh there is a national park and game sanctuary at Madhupur about 160 km. from Dhaka. There are a number of reserve forests in the area with rest-houses and picnic spots. The famous painter Zainul Abedins Art Gallery at Mymensingh town is worth visiting. Foy's Lake Set amidst panoramic surroundings of small hills and islands in the suburbs of Chittagong, this ideal spot for outing and picnics attracts hundreds of visitors every day. Central Reservation, Commercial Division, BPC Head Office, Dhaka. Phone:(880 - 2) 9899288-91, 8811109, 8821548 Fax: :(880 - 2) 8811150 e-mail : info@bangladeshtourism.gov.bd Moheshkhali An island off the coast of Cox's Bazar, Moheskhali has an area of 268 sq. km. Through the center of the island and along the eastern coastline rises a range of low-hills, about 300 feet high, but the coast to the west and north is low-lying and fringed by mangrove forest. Atop Moinak Hill lies the old temple of Adinath, dedicated to Shiva. By its side on the same hill is a Buddhist pagoda. Ramu Ramu is a typical Buddhist village, about 10 km. from Cox's Bazar, on the main road to Chittagong. The village has a number of colourful pagodas and Khyangs and monasteries where one can see icons and statues of lord Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. One of these pagodas on the Bankhali river houses a 13 feet tall bronze statue of Buddha that rests on a six feet high pedestal. The pagoda also contains some interesting relics and rare Burmese handicraft. Weavers in Ramu ply their trade in open workshops and craftsmen make handmade cigars in their pagoda like houses. Sonadia Island Sonadia Island lies in the bay about seven km. off Cox's Bazar and is only 9 sq. km. in area. The western side of the island is sandy and different kinds of shells are found on the beach. Off the northern part of the island, there are beds of window pane oysters. During winter, fishermen set up temporary camps on the island and dry their catches of sea-fish. Central Reservation, Commercial Division, BPC Head Office, Dhaka. Phone:(880 - 2) 9899288-91, 8811109, 8821548 Fax: :(880 - 2) 8811150 e-mail : info@bangladeshtourism.gov.bd