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The Top 12 Tourist Places in Bangladesh That you probably Don’t Know

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Tourist Places in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has so much to offer from green hills and azure blue water of its rivers and sea to the terracotta plaques of its famous archaeological site. The country that is mostly known for its history of independence has so many beautiful tourist places. But most international tourists are unaware of the beautiful tourist places in Bangladesh.

With an area of only 148,460 square kilometres, this small country has mesmerizing sea beaches, forests, green hills, and so much more to leave a stunning experience in every tourist’s mind. The country might be small, but still, there are numerous tourist places in Bangladesh, some known, and perhaps most are yet to be discovered.

Now let me not beat around the bush and introduce you to the 12 best tourist places in Bangladesh that you must visit in 2022.

WHAT IS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE?

The 12 Best Tourist Places in Bangladesh

1. Cox’s Bazar

Coxs-Bazar
Cox’s Bazar

The fresh seafood, long natural beaches, local hospitality, and the nearby attractions are the notable reasons why Coxs’ Bazar is famous to both local and international tourists. It is the longest natural sea beach globally, with several beachside hotels making it easier for people to spend time at the beach. Near Cox’s Bazar town, other than the Cox’s Bazar Sea beach, several tourist attractions attract travellers all around the year.

At the east of Coxs Bazar town, Himchari National Park has around 117 tree species, 286 bird species, and 26 mammal species. Then there is Ramu, a Buddhist village selling local handicrafts in their markets. The first Safari Park of the country, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, is also located nearby. The only aquarium in Bangladesh, the Radiant Fish World, is also located in Cox’s Bazar. 

Things To Do in Cox’s Bazar

There are so many exciting things to do in Cox’s Bazar. You can do parasailing, horse riding, beach biking, water biking and visit all the tourist attractions nearby. You can also enjoy the sunset and sunrise from the beautiful beach. Before trying out any risky adventure in Cox’s Bazar, make sure that you have travel insurance.

Best Time To Visit Cox’s Bazar

Tourists visit Cox’s Bazar throughout the year. But November-December is the best time to visit the sea beach. During these months, it is the Winter season in Bangladesh. The prices of hotels are lower. You will see young tourists mainly during this time in Cox’s Bazar as the prices are affordable to them.

How To Reach Cox’s Bazar

You can go to Cox’s Bazar by flight, train, or bus from Dhaka. Novo Air and U.S. Bangla Airlines have daily flights to Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka. I think flights are the best way to go to Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka as they require the shortest time, which is around 1 hour.

If you are looking for an exciting journey to Cox’s Bazar, you can get on a train. Direct train journeys aren’t available from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar. But you can get on a train to Chittagong and then go to Cox’s Bazar by bus.

Both AC and non-AC bus services are also available from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar. If you choose to go to Cox’s Bazar by bus, you will most probably reach your destination within 10-12 hours. You can also drive directly to Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, which will require around the same time.

Where To Stay in Cox’s Bazar

There are many beautiful hotels and resorts to stay in Cox’s Bazar. You can also get mesmerizing views of the sea from some of these hotel and resort rooms. My favourite hotels to stay in Cox’s Bazar within a budget are-

2. St. Martin’s Island

St-Martin
St. Martin’s Island

The only coral island in Bangladesh is St. Martin’s Island. Due to the excessive coconut trees on the island, this island is known as “Narikel Zinzira” in Bengali, which means ‘Coconut Island’. The island is 9 km south of Coxs Bazar.

Some rare species of corals can be found only on St. Martin’s Island. There are some resort hotels on the island for tourists.

Things To Do in St. Martin’s Island

Walking over the clean beaches and swimming in the clean water are enjoyable. You can enjoy a boat ride to the Chera Dwip, a small island near St. Martin’s. Chera Dwip was detached from St. Martin due to high tides.

Scuba diving is a must when you are in St. Martin. You can also try the delicious local food, buy some souvenirs at low prices from the local market, and click some great pictures.

Best Time To Visit St. Martin’s Island

November-February is the best time to visit the island. There are chances of cyclones during March-July, so it isn’t safe to visit then.

How To Reach St. Martin

To reach St. Martin, first, you need to go to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar district. So, either you can go to Teknaf directly from Dhaka, or you can go to Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, then to Teknaf and, lastly to St. Martin.

From Dhaka, you can take a bus to Teknaf, which will require around 10-12 hours to reach. Then from Teknaf, you have to get on a ship to reach St. Martin. Ships are only available for the months November-April.

Ships leave the J.T. Ghat every day at 9.00 am and return from St Martin at 3.00 pm. So, if you miss the timing, you have to take a boat which is risky. Ships take around 2-3 hours to reach St. Martin from Teknaf.

Trawlers and speedboats from Teknaf to St. Martin are available throughout the year, but they are extremely risky to get on. Moreover, during the summer season, the seawater remains hot, so it’s not safe to travel over the sea during this time.

Where To Stay in St. Martin

Some of the best hotels and resorts to stay in St. Martin are-

  • Blue Marine Resort | Contact: +880 17272 66077
  • Shamudra Bilash Ananda Ashram | Contact: +880 19119 20666
  • Music Eco Resort | Contact: +880 16133 39696
  • Coral Blue Resort | Contact: +880 18441 70350

3. Srimangal

Srimangal
Srimangal

The green tea fields make Srimangal a famous tourist place in Bangladesh. It is located in the Moulvi Bazar District of Sylhet Division. It is the tea capital of Bangladesh due to a large number of tree plantations and the origin of the seven coloured tea.

Madhobpur Lake and Baikka Beel are two notable reasons for the popularity of Srimangal. Madhobpur Lake is the only confirmed site in Bangladesh where the great white-bellied heron is found. Baikka Beel is a small wetland that is home to the large-billed reed warbler.

Other than Madhobpur Lake and Baikka Beel, Srimangal is also popular for Lawachara Rain Forest, Hum Hum waterfall, and Reama Kalenga Reserve Forest located nearby.

Things To Do in Srimangal

While you are in Srimangal, trying out the seven-coloured tea is a must. You can walk around the tea gardens and click on some good photographs. You can take boat rides in Madhobpur Lake and Baikka Beel.

Bathing under the Hum Hum waterfall will be a really exciting thing to do. You can also walk around the two reserve forests, Lawachara Rain Forest and Reama Kalenga Reserve Forest.

Best Time To Visit Srimangal

You can visit Rangamati during the monsoon, that is, during March-May. As the main attraction of Srimangal is the tea garden, so to enjoy the best scenic beauty of the garden, it is better to visit the place during this time. And the nearby forests and lakes are also in the best state during the monsoon, which makes this season the best time to visit Srimangal.

How To Reach Srimangal

You can go to Srimangal from Dhaka by plane, bus, taxi or train. If you are an international traveller, you can directly take the flight to Sylhet Airport from your country and go to Srimangal by hiring a taxi.

But if your flight lands in Dhaka Airport, you can take a flight from Dhaka Airport to Sylhet Airport. You will reach Sylhet within 40 minutes by flight. Then you can hire a taxi and head to Srimangal, which will take you around 1 and half hours to reach your desired destination.

If you are looking for a cheap transportation method from Dhaka to Srimangal, you can get on a Dhaka-Sylhet train or Dhaka-Sylhet bus. If you go by train, you will reach Sylhet within 6-7 hours, and if you go by bus, you will reach there within 10-12 hours. From Sylhet Railway Station or Sylhet Bus Station, you have to take a taxi to reach Srimangal.

Where To Stay in Srimangal

There are many cheap hotels in Srimangal where you can stay. Some of them are-

4. Lalakhal

Lalakhal
Lalakhal

The wide canal, Lalakhal, is located in Jaintiapur of Sylhet District. The bluish-green water is the main reason why people visit this place.

Things To Do in Lalakhal

A boat ride is the only thing to do in Lalakhal. But the combination of the green hills and beautiful water of the canal will definitely blow your mind off. Sunsets have a different beauty in Lalakhal.

There are no restaurants nearby, so you have to take food and water along if you are on a day trip. But there are some resorts where you can stay and have your meal. 

Best Time To Visit Lalakhal

November-February is the best time to visit Lalakhal. During these months, the water of the canal is in its best form. It means that the colour of the water is clearly visible. If you are lucky enough, you might also see some migratory birds in Lalakhal. During other times of the year, especially during the rainy season, the water loses its clarity.

How To Reach Lalakhal

To reach Lalakhal, you can take a flight from Dhaka Airport to Sylhet Airport. Novo Air and Biman Bangladesh Airlines offer around 6-7 flights from Dhaka to Sylhet daily. After reaching Sylhet Airport, you have to head to Osmani Shishu Park in the city. You can go there by rickshaw or CNG within 20 minutes.

Microbus and bus leave from the gate of Osmani Shishu Park towards Sarighat. After reaching Sarighat, you have to take a CNG to Lalakhal. If you want a different kind of experience, you can go to Lalakhal by the river. From Sarighat, you can hire a boat and head to Lalakhal.

You can also go to Sylhet by train or bus and then leave for Sarighat from Osmani Shishu Park. Or, if you find the entire process hectic, you can hire a taxi from Sylhet Airport/Sylhet Railway Station/Sylhet Bus Station and head directly to Lalakhal.

If you hire a taxi, the cost will be more, but you won’t have to get down at different points and change your transportation. After reaching Sylhet, you will reach Lalakhal within 2-3 hours, no matter whichever transportation method you choose.

Where To Stay in Lalakhal

There aren’t many resorts and hotels in Lalakhal to stay in. There is only one resort in Lalakhal, which is a bit expensive-

You can stay in a hotel or resort in Sylhet city. Then you can go to Lalkhal by bus or taxi. Some budget-friendly hotels and resorts in Sylhet are-

5. Sundarban

Sundarban
Sundarban

Sundarban is home to some of the globally endangered species like- the Royal Bengal Tiger, river terrapin, estuarine crocodiles, and Ganges-Irawadi dolphins, which makes this mangrove forest one of the most famous tourist places of Bangladesh.

Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest globally, located in the Khulna Division of Bangladesh. About 60% of the total area of Sundarban is in Bangladesh, and the rest, 40%, is in India.

In Sundarban, there are 334 plant species, 150 species of commercially imported fish, 270 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and 8 amphibian species. There are around 180 Bengal tigers in Sundarban.

Things To Do in Sundarban

You can visit a wildlife sanctuary in Sundarban as there are around 4-5 sanctuaries. Many estuaries and canals are flowing through the forest. A boat ride through these in the morning can be an exhilarating adventure. You can walk on the peaceful and serene beach located inside Sundarban, which is Jamtola Beach. Tourists are mainly attracted by the Coxs Bazar sea beach, due to which the Jamtola beach remains empty, clean and quiet.

Best Time To Visit Sundarban

October-March is the best time to have a trip to Sundarban. The lovely weather and moderate temperature below 30 degrees Celcius make these months the perfect time to visit Sundarban. During summer the hot weather is intolerable to tourists and during monsoon the heavy rains won’t let you enjoy the beauty of the forest.

How To Reach Sundarban

There are many ways to go to Sundarban from Dhaka. You can fly from Dhaka to Khulna by Novo Air or Biman Bangladesh Airlines flights. They have daily flights from Dhaka to Saidpur. You will reach Khulna within an hour, and then you can get on a launch to Sundarban.

You can also get on a bus or train from Dhaka to Khulna. After reaching Khulna, you can get on a launch to reach Sundarban. Launches leave from Mongla Port and Khulna Steamer Port. But firstly, you need to buy a launch ticket from any travel agency. You will reach Sundarban within 2 hours by launch.

Where To Stay in Sundarban

As Sundarban is a forest, there’s no way for you to stay there. But there are some hotels in Khulna where you can stay to make the most out of your Sundarban trip-

6. Bandarban

Bandarban
Bandarban

In the past few years, Bandarban has gained extreme popularity as one of the beautiful tourist places in Bangladesh. Bandarban is a hill district of Chittagong Division. It is mainly famous for the exotic tourist attractions like- Boga Lake, Nilachol, Meghla Hanging Bridge, Keokradong peak, several Buddhist temples and many waterfalls.

Located in the Ruma Upazila of Bandarban, Boga Lake is a natural deep lake filled with sweet water. It is not allowed to swim in the lake because many deaths have been caused due to it. At the further east of the lake, Keokradong peak is the 5th highest peak in Bangladesh. The most famous waterfalls in Bandarban are Jadipai, Nafakhum, and Amiakhum. Out of numerous Buddhist temples of Bandarban, the Theravada Buddhist temple is the most popular to tourists.

Things To Do in Bandarban

As I said, there are numerous tourist attractions in Bandarban, so there are also many exciting things to do. You can have a boat ride in Boga Lake, hike in Keokradong, and sightsee the waterfalls. As Bandarban is a hilly area, so to enjoy most of the tourist attractions, you have to do a lot of hiking and trekking.

Best Time To Visit Bandarban

Most tourists visit Bandarban during Winter, that is during November-February as this is the busiest season in Bandarban, the prices rocket. During other months, especially during monsoon, the prices are lower, and the place is less crowded with tourists. But due to rain, there are great chances of landslides which is extremely risky and causes transportation problems.

How To Reach Bandarban

You can fly from Dhaka to Chittagong and then head for Bandarban by bus or taxi. Novo Air and Biman Bangladesh Airlines have daily flights from Dhaka to Chittagong. U.S. Bangla Airlines have flights from Dhaka to Chittagong on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

Each of these airlines has 10-12 flights from Dhaka to Chittagong per day, and you will reach Chittagong within 45 minutes. When you reach Chittagong, you can get on an A.C. or non-AC bus and expect to reach your destination within 2-3 hours. You can also hire a taxi from Chittagong to Bandarban.

Bus and train services are also available from Dhaka to Chittagong. If you choose to go to Chittagong by train, you will need 7-8 hours to reach your destination. And if you go to Chittagong by bus, you will need 10-12 hours.

And if you want to reach Bandarban directly from Dhaka, you can rent a car or drive by yourself. If you do so, you will reach Bandarban within 14-15 hours from Dhaka.

Where To Stay in Bandarban

Two great budget-friendly hotels to stay in Bandarban are-

7. Somapura Mahavihara

Somapura-Mahavihara
Somapura Mahavihara

Somapura Mahavihara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Paharpur of Naogaon district. It is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Bangladesh.

The architecture of the monastery consists of a quadrangular structure consisting of 177 cells and a traditional Buddhist stupa in the centre. The monks used the cells for their accommodation and meditation. The carved decoration, terracotta plaques, inscriptions etc., make this monastery a must-place to visit for those who love to know about history and culture.

Things To Do in Somapura Mahavihara

It might take you an entire day to check out the beautiful architecture of the monastery. So, you can join a guided tour to get a better understanding of this archaeological site. The good thing is that there aren’t many tourists here due to its remote location, so you will have an uninterrupted experience.

Best Time To Visit Somapura Mahavihara

As Somapura Mahavihara is an archaeological site, there is no need to worry about the weather; you can visit it any time of the year. The place remains uncrowded round the year, so you also don’t need to worry about that and pay a visit anytime.

How To Reach Somapura Mahavihara

To reach Somapura Mahavihara, you can either fly to Rajshahi or Saidpur from Dhaka and then take a taxi to Somapura Mahavihara. Novo Air and Biman Bangladesh Airline have daily flights from Dhaka Airport to Rajshahi Airport or Saidpur Airport. 

You will reach Rajshahi or Saidpur from Dhaka within 50 minutes to 1 hour. After reaching Rajshahi or Saidpur, you can take a taxi and reach Somapura Mahavihara within one and a half hours.

However, taking a bus from Dhaka to Natore is the cheapest way to reach Somapura Mahavihara. Buses leave from Uttara to Natore every 4 hours. It also takes four hours to reach Natore from Dhaka. After reaching Natore, you can get on a taxi and expect to reach your destination within 2 hours.

You can also rent a taxi or drive directly from Dhaka to Somapura Mahavihara. In both these cases, you will reach Somapura Mahavihara within 4-5 hours.

Where To Stay in Somapura Mahavihara

You won’t find any hotels and resorts very near to Somapura Mahavihara. But there are some hotels which are within a few minutes driving distance from this place. They are-

8. Bagerhat