Nilgiri Hill Resort A Place Where Clouds Are Your Playmate

No other tourist destinations of Bangladesh can be compared with Nilgiri hill resort in terms of natural beauty. That is why, it is also referred to as one of the best hidden treasures of Bangladesh. The pictorial landscape around the hills and green atmosphere has given it a photogenic look. To get relief from the boredom of the city life, pollution and work stress, people can visit here and spend some quality time.

The main attraction for which tourists visit here is cloud. One will find himself covered with the thick layer of clouds. Playing with clouds and touching them is really something imaginary. Autumn and rainy season is perhaps the best time to experience such kind of thing. When clouds play with the waves of gentle breeze, it looks like that sky has come down at the peak of the mountain. After rain the Bay of Bengal also becomes visible from the peak. Its natural attraction has made it one of the lucrative tourist spots in Bangladesh.

If you go there, it may seem to you a piece of heaven. You will never feel tired seeing its beauty because it changes with the time. At night, the entire surroundings become calm and quiet, making it a perfect situation for couple to enjoy the moonlight. After reading such vivid description, it becomes difficult for tourists to resist their desire to go to the place.

Where is it situated?

Nilgiri hill resort, which is 47 kilometres away from Bandarban town, is located in Thanchi upazilla of Bandarban district. To be more specific, it is situated on Chimbuk Range about 3500 above sea level. It lies on the Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi route.

How to go there?

Nilgiri hill resort is in a remote locality and is also restricted area. So there is no direct way of going there. Those who want to visit this place will have to go to Bandarban first. The only means of transportation from Dhaka to Bandarban is bus. There are many bus companies providing bus services from different parts of Dhaka city- Fakirapul, Sayedabad, Motijheel, Arambagh, Kamalapur and Kalabagan. Bus services like S. Alam, Soudia Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Unique Service, Shyamoli Paribahan, BRTC, Saint Martin Paribahan, and Eagle Paribahan transport passengers from these stoppages. Both AC and non-AC bus services commute to Bandarban. After reaching Bandarban, you will have to hire either a private vehicle from town or you can choose Chander Gari (public jeep) to arrive at Nilgiri from Bandarban city.

If you want to avoid traffic congestion in the road and save time then you can choose airway as an alternative and quickest way of communication. For that, you have to go to Chittagong by air from where it will take more than three hours by road to reach Nilgiri resort.

Where to stay?

Accommodation is the next big problem after transportation. Visitors become worried about getting suitable lodge or hotel room at an affordable price. If you decide to stay at Bandarban city, you will find a number of good hotels, but the problem you will have to face is to wake up early in the morning to see clouds at the top of the Nilgiri hills. So, the best way to enjoy the natural beauty of Nilgiri hills is to book a room of one of the cottages. There are five cottages named Akashlina, Marma Reesa, Nilangana, Tehkho Reesa and Meghdut. Prices of these cottages’ rooms vary from 5000 to 10000, allowing maximum two persons to live in each room.

Marma Reesa-1, which is known as a honeymoon lodge, is a duplex cottage. It attracts tourists for its unique structure.

What makes Tehkho Reesa-1 different from other is the use of bamboo. It is totally made of bamboo.

Meghdut cottage has all the modern facilities. That is why, most of the people prefer it to make their tour memorable. From this cottage, visitors will get clear view of clouds and surroundings.

Akashlina cottage can increase your happiness by providing ultimate relaxation. It is one of the cottages situated over the hill of Nilgiri.

Besides cottages, there are also three tents having four beds each. To stay here, tourists will have to spend BDT 2500 taka per night. For keeping additional person in the cottage, tourists will have to pay BDT 500 extra for per person. However, there is a discount on cottage rent for members of Bangladesh defence- Army, Navy, Air Force.

Nilgiri hill resort is one of the busiest tourist spots in Bangladesh. That is why, I will suggest you to book cottage before you travel here.

How to book Nilgiri resort?

As it is maintained by Bandarban officers club, sister concern of Bangladesh Army, it has become mandatory for visitors to book the resort through any serving first class Bangladeshi military officer. For reservation, you have to take the help of 69th Infantry Brigade whose headquarters is in Bandarban Cantonment. One will have to go through some procedures to book resort. To know more about booking procedures, contact information and for online reservation, visit the official website- http://nilgiriresort.com/index.php.

If you want to organize a picnic here, call this number-01769299999. It should be noted here that there is limitation for foreign tourist. If any foreigner wishes to go there and book resort, they should contact in this number- 01855550088. They have to take permission from the DC office of Bandarban. For additional help, they can contact with Bangladesh Tourism Board. Interested people will also keep one thing in mind that is booking money is non-refundable. Tourists are also advised not to try to book any cottage which indicates ‘on process’.

Where to eat?

Visitors need not to worry about food and drinks. There is a clean and healthy restaurant in Nilgiri Resort. If you taste food once your mouth will be filled with water every time you think about it. Food items like Rice, beef and mutton are prepared in bamboo in a special way which requires no water. It may cost BDT 200-500 for per meal.

Health Issue:

Recently an Ekattor TV videographer died of cerebral malaria while covering news in Bandarban. So before going to travel any hilly area, visitors are advised to take precaution to remain fit and safe from diseases.

If you want to see white clouds waving at Nilgiri then only wacth this video

Ratargul Swamp Forest The Amazon of Bangladesh

It is an enormous forest where rows of trees are standing in a wetland dipping their waist under water. This woodland is so dense that even scorching sunlight cannot touch the water through leaves. That is why, major portion of this forest remains greenish in colour. Wherever you look you will see only water and trees, and high land is beyond your sight. It may seem to you that you are trapped in a submerged forest. It is not end here. There is danger everywhere. While wandering around this jungle, visitors may encounter snake hissing from adjacent trees and anonymous birds flying over the head. Except water drops and moving of wind, no other sound will come to your ear. Birds like eagles and vultures are waiting on top of the tree for their prey. Reading such description the thing that will come to your mind first is Amazon forest. However, you will be surprised to know that this narrative was about Ratargul Swamp Forest which is almost similar to Amazon. Because of its similarity, it is even called Amazon of Bangladesh.

Brief history:

You need to know the basic information about Ratargul Swamp Forest before making your trip. It is at the centre of attraction among tourists because it is the only swamp forest in all over Bangladesh. Another thing that allures people is that it is one of the twenty-two freshwater swamp forests in the whole world. In the Indian subcontinent, there are only two of them- one in Sri Lanka and the other is in our country. Water of this forest can be compared with crystal clear. Not only the shades of the tree fall into the water and give it green colour but also you can see the bottom layer. The Government of Bangladesh has conserved this forest under the Department of Forestry.

This forest changes its beauty with the change of season. That is why, it looks different in different seasons. Diversity of its nature attracts tourists all over the year, but the best time to travel Ratargul is during and after the rainy season.

Ratargul Swamp Forest is connected with the Gowain river through a lake named chengir khal. During the rainy season, the entire forest goes under water because at that time water, coming from hills of India, enters into the lake through river. This state of weather remains same from May to early October and temperature remains 32 degree Celsius which decreases to 12 degree Celsius in January. There remains 20-30 feet water in the monsoon period while the water level decreased to 10 feet deep during the rest of the year.

However, in winter season, we can see totally opposite scenario. Forest becomes dry at that time. Only water reservoirs dug inside the forest reserve water. It becomes a safe haven for migratory birds.

Location:

In order to see this marshland forest, travellers will have to go to Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet division. The country’s only recognized swamp forest is about 26 kilometres from Sylhet city. The size of the forest is 30,325 acres; of them 504 acres of land was declared wildlife sanctuary in 1973.

How do you go there?

If you live in Dhaka or other divisions of Bangladesh then you will have to go to Sylhet first. From there, you have to go to Ratargul. There are two main ways to go there. It is up to you which one you will choose.

Let’s first talk about the easiest way to go to Ratargul swamp forest. For that, you have to hire an auto rickshaw from Ambarkhana point of Sylhet city. It may take one and half an hour to reach Motorghat. From there, you can hire an engine driven boat or normal boat which may cost Tk 300-400 per person. After the visit, you will return to Sylhet in the same way.

The second one is costly as well as time consuming. If you plan on visiting Jafflong at the same time in the same route then you can go for it. This journey also requires two boats to travel the forest. You can choose either auto rickshaw from Ambarkhana point of Sylhet city or Jafflong bound bus from Sobhanighat as a means of transportation. Whatever transport you choose, you have to go to Gowainghat upazila which is about two and half an hour journey. After reaching there, you have to hire an engine boat two ways around on contract which may cost around Tk 1500. Boarding on this boat, you will have to go to Forest bit office of Ratargul. There you have to shift to small boats for getting into the forest.

Flora and Fauna:

Existence of various types of plants and animals has added extra attraction to this forest. Till now, it houses 73 species of plants which cover 80 percent of the forest with its upper part, also known as umbrella of the tree. While roaming the forest, visitors will come to see Banyan Tree very often. Apart from this, Millettia pinnata (Koroch tree), Barringtonia acutangula (Hizal tree), Sacred Garlic Pear or Temple Plant, Alstonia Scholaris (Chatim tree) can also be seen. Despite being a natural forest, the Forestry Department of Bangladesh has planted some watery plants like Calamus tenuis, Burflower Tree, Schumannianthus dichotomus etc.

After visiting Ratargul Swamp Forest, you may feel like swimming into the water. But do not dare to do this because this submerged area is the home to many venomous and hazardous animals and most of them live under water. Snake and worm snake are commonly seen in this water-drown forest. In the dry season, mongoose can be spotted. It is also the residence of monkey, water monitor, insects and different kinds of birds- Heron, Egret, Kingfisher, Parrot, Bulbul, Swan, Dove, Water fowl, Eagle and Kite. Winter season is the best time to see Cotton Pygmy Goose, migratory birds and almost extinct Vulture. It is also a source of various types of local fishes- Batasio, Rita, Pabda, Rohu etc.

Precautions:

This submerged forest is not a safe tourist place for those who do not know how to swim. Boats may collapse, causing the death of visitors. To avoid being drowned because of boat accident, you can use life jacket. During monsoon, water level increase and at that time, poisonous snakes take shelter in the trees. If you visit the place at this time, try not to touch the trees or water nonchalantly. For better precaution, you can also carry Carbolic acid.

Food and accommodation facilities:

There is no quality restaurant near Ratargul Swamp Forest. That is why, visitors are advised to collect whatever foods they get according to their need from Gowainghat bazaar. There are a number of quality hotels in Sylhet city. You can choose any of the hotels according to your demand and budget. It is heard that the Department of Forest is making a rest house for the tourists. No doubt, it will help provide the tourist accommodation.

In the end, I would like to request you all not to pollute the forest leaving empty bottles, packets of chips or biscuits here and there. We have to keep in mind that this is our asset. So, it is our responsibility to keep it neat and clean.

Moinot Ghat The Mini Cox’s Bazar

Every person wants to travel the tourist spots in search of mental peace but lack of time and loads of work keeps them busy. Many people worry about many things before traveling. There is tension about time, adequate money and good travel companion. You might have seen all the tourist spots around Dhaka city. You do not have enough money and time to travel somewhere far away, but you need an aesthetic and pleasant environment to make yourself resilient.

To see the waves of the Padma River and boat trip, you can go to Moinot Ghat located in Dohar upazila of Nawabgonj. The beautiful high waves will enchant your mind. Walking on the bank of the beautiful river, and seeing the boats swinging sideways by the waves would make you feel that you are on Cox’s Bazar sea beach not in Dohar, Dhaka. For this reason, many people call it ‘Mini Cox’s Bazar’.

As Moinot Ghat is not yet known, many nature lovers are deprived of enjoying the beauty of this place. If you go there early in the morning then you will see the bazaar of various species of fish including Hilsa. If you want you can buy fish at cheat price from here.

The best time to enjoy the beauty of Moinot Ghat is rainy reason. It is amazing to see the sunset sitting on the bank of the Padma River. Here visitors can see plenty of sailboats of various colours. Local people living in the surrounding areas roam into the river with speed boat or trawler during holidays. Tourists start coming from far away. It is not like that you will go back just seeing the beach. Besides, you can visit Judge Bari (house), Ukil Bari, Khelaram Kotha and many other tourist spots in Nawabgonj.

What is the rent of speed boat, trawler or small boat?

If anybody wants to go to Faridpur’s Charbhadrasan Upazilla from Moinot Ghat by speed boat then each person will have to spend Tk 160. Each speed boat has the maximum sitting capacity of 10-12 adult passengers. It takes 16 to 17 minutes to reach Charbhadrasan from quay. If there is strong wave in the Padma River then it will take 20 minutes. According to statements taken from boatmen, if you want to reserve a boat for floating on the river for 20 minutes then you will have to pay Tk 2000 and Tk 1000 for 10 minutes. It is better if some of you can share the rent together. If you want to reserve a trawler and roam onto Padma River then you have to spend Tk 500-1000. You should bargain about the boat rent. Moreover, if you want to roam onto the river by small engine run boat then you have to pay 300-600 taka for one hour.

How to go there?

The distance between Dhaka and Moinot Ghat is almost 61 kilometres. The easiest way to go to Moinot Ghat of Dohar from Dhaka is to take direct bus of Jamuna Paribahan, which leaves for Moinot Ghat in front of Golap Shah Mazar in Gulistan. Price of the ticket is Tk 90. It will take two to two and half hours to reach the destination. At the time of returning, come back to Dhaka with the same bus. Those who want to go there by private car or motorbike can use the bus route. It will be easier to go there. It is better to take your own car or some of you can rent a car together for travelling Moinot Ghat and all places of Nawabgonj. The last bus leaves for Dhaka from Moinot Ghat at 6:30 pm evening.

Where to stay?

There is no accommodation facility for tourists to stay near Moinot Ghat. No hotel, resort or boarding has been constructed either by government or private organization. You have to return within the sun set if you cannot manage to convince any local resident to let you stay.

Where to eat?

It will not happen that you will go there but will not eat Hilsa fish. Most of the people have the desire to eat Hilsa fish caught from the river sitting on the bank of the Padma River. There are only two hotels in Moinot Ghat that sale rice. One is Atahar Chowdhury’s hotel and another one is owned by Julhash Bhuiyan. There is a fast food shop named Shikdar Fast Food in Kartikpur. Along with Dhaka hotel, there are some more hotels that also sale rice. You should not miss the opportunity to taste the traditional sweets found in Kartikpur. Many people send Kartikpur’s traditional sweets abroad. Ranjit and Niranjan mishtannovandar (sweet shops) of Kartikpur bazar have reputation.

Additional caution:

If you do not know how to swim, it is better not to go very deep into the river while bathing. Do not litter cigarette or food packets, water bottle or any kind of dirt here and there. It is your responsibility to protect the nature. So, refrain yourself from hunting any kind of birds. At the time of rainsy reason, wave becomes stronger. Do not go deep into the river by a very small boat. Do not go to a boat trip withou life jacket if you do not know how to swim. Do not travel by a speed boat without wearing life jacket. When going for boat trip, try to enjoy the nature instead of creating chaos.

I hope readers will enjoy reading this article and after reading this, they will make up their mind to visit the place as early as possible either with their friends or family members. This place is worth visiting. If you do not go there then you will miss something