Chimbuk Hill Bandarban, Bangladesh

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 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 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 10⁰to 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 Start

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 Resort

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.

Boga Lake Bandarban Bangladesh Tourism

Boga Lake Bandarban Bangladesh Tourism

Boga Lake is called the highest natural lake of Bangladesh. It is about 2700 feet above the sea level. But few experts think that the Boga Lake is about 3000-3700 feet above the sea levels indeed. Boga Lake is about 2000 years old hill enclosed natural lake covering total 15 acres of land. The origin of the name Boga come from the local word �BAGA� means fire of Dragon. Boga Lake is familiar through different local names among the local habitats. Suppose Bagakain Lake, Bagakyne Lake or Baga Lake along with Boga Lake. Boga Lake is bounded by deep bamboo bushes from its three sides and high hill in rest side. There is a small village just beside the lake. The Boga Lake is either rectangular or funnel shape. The Boga Lake is average 38 meters deep. Bagachara is the deepest part of Boga and it is 153 meters deep. Boga Lake is a closed lake and there is no way to drain out water. Rain water is the source of the water of the Boga Lake. Some Geologist argue that the Boga Lake have origin from a devastated earthquake. Some geologists believe that the origin of Boga Lake from a dead volcano and the collection of rain water in the cave area resulting the creation of Boga Lake. The nature of the water and the soil of the Boga Lake also support their opinion. Due to high acidity in water, Boga Lake is not appropriate for living any kind of common flora and fauna. But it is interesting that no travelers miss the chance to take a hot bath in the beautiful lake to refresh their soul.

At present, Boga Lake has placed as a heavenly place of beauty and great pleasure for those travelers who love adventure and to face challenging travel. That is why a number of tourists from home and abroad makes their destination to the paradise of nature every year. Boga Lake is as a heaven where nature has opened up all its beauty and charms without any hesitation for the tourists. The bamboo and wild bushes around the lake, the grass and the known and unknown amazing wild flowers and other plants contribute as like verse of a great poem of beauty and charms. The travelers forget to take breathe when the soft clouds appears in front of them around the magical Boga lake. The beauty is not only describable in word but also to feel to soothe both the eyes and mind to quench the thirst of beauty.

The charm and amazing beauty of the Boga Lake changes with the color change of water, depending on various indicators such as sun light, clouds humidity seasons etc. But usually the water of Boga Lake is super fine crystal clear with blue shade surface which reflects like pearls. Visitors will definitely be amazed looking at the big rocks lying here and there in Boga Lake. A camp fire beside the lake will be great and mind blowing memory in your life. Boga Lake attracts the nature lovers in such magnetic way that very few tourist places can dare to be the alternative of Boga Lake. Boga Lake is such a magnetizing place which must astonish the tourists with amazing landscape, zigzagging thin path-way and all other wild elements around the Boga Lake.

How to start

Boga Lake is about 65 km away from the Bandarban city and 15 km away from Ruma Upazilla Sadar. There are two ways to go to Boga Lake. They are Ruma route and the way of Jhiripath. The formal route is Ruma. At first you have to make a trip from Bandarban to Ruma by �Chander Gari� (public jeep), public bus or a private vehicle. From Ruma, you can hire a public jeep up to Boga Lake. On the way, you have to register your name and particulars in the respective security camp. It is mentioned that you are not allowed to leave Ruma for Boga Lake after 4 pm. From Ruma, you have to go Koikhong Jhiri by public bus or Chander Gari. You can also hire a Chander Gari (public jeep) up to Koikhong Jhiri. It takes 1-1.50 hours to reach koikhong Jhiri. You may also hire a boat approx one hour journey to Koikhong Jhiri. Finally you have to walk through the zigzag hilly way to Boga Lake. It is quite difficult to visit Boga Lake in the rainy season but winter is better to travel the same. From My own experience, It is better to take a local guide to visit Boga Lake from Ruma or Khikhong Jhari.

Accommodation at Boga Lake

There is no residential hotel except the rest house of district council at Boga Lake area. So the tourists have to arrange accommodation in the local tribal communities. The tribal people have built some small but attractive cottages with sufficient facilities within their range for rent purpose to travelers in return of a comparatively cheap amount of money. But before reaching Boga Lake, the tourists have to stay at the Bandarban or Ruma Bazaar.

Food and drinks arrangements in Boga Lake

Since there is no hotel, motel or restaurant in Boga Lake, the tourists or travelers should have to manage their foods, drinks and other stuffs from local tribal communities. Of course the travelers have to pay them for this services which is not much expensive at all. But travelers should be aware about dog or pig meat, dried snakes and other uncommon dishes if they want to avoid the same. Most of the foods cooked by the tribal peoples feel too much hot and spicy but extra ordinary delicious to the tourists. Dry fishes are most common food item here. From my own experience, it is better to manage some dry food stuffs from Ruma Bazar when there is no shop at all after Ruma Bazar.

 Locally produced rice wine popularly known as �Arriaa� is a popular drink among the community. It may be flavored with pineapples, stone-apples, elachi etc. Tea is a popular drink here but server with salt rather than sugar.

Consciousness and Precautions before trekking to Boga Lake

You have to mentally and physically prepare for a tough and rough journey in such long way. 

Be careful about using local water.

Bandarban is a malaria affected zone. So you should carry mosquito resistant kits.

You should carry some dry foods, water purifying kits and first aid box with particular medicine.

You should carry water resistant bag and should avoid heavy loads of baggage.

Be friendly with the local inhabitants.

Be careful and seek permission from the ethnic people before taking photographs.

There is no mobile network, no good road communication.

Price may vary with different indicators. So, be careful before fixing price.

Try to avoid unknown persons and strangers on the way.

It is better to start the journey in a group.

All non-Bangladeshis are required to contact and register his particulars in the local police station .

Saint Martin Coral Island, Bangladesh

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

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.