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Sundarbans
Located at about 320km. West of
Dhaka. Here in the south, spread
over an area of about 6000 sq.
km. of delta swamps along the
coastal belt of Khulna is the
biggest mangrove forest,
Sundarbans (beautiful forest) -
the home of the Royal Bengal
Tiger. These dense mangrove
forests are criss-crossed by a
network of rivers and creeks. One
find here tides flowing in two
directions in the same creek and
often tigers swimming across a
river or huge crocodiles basking
in the sun. Other wildlife in
this region is cheetahs, spotted
deer, monkeys, pythons, wild
bears and hyenas.
The forest is accessible by river
from Khulna and Mongla. There are
rest houses for the visitors to
stay and enjoy the unspoiled
nature with all its charm and
majesty. Spending some times
inside the forest can be a rare
treat for the lovers of nature.
BPC offers package tours to
Sundarbans.
Kaptai
Kaptai is an upazila under
Rangamati district. It is famous
for hydro-electric project. A
panoramic man-made lake called
Kaptai lake (680-sq. km.) in the
midst of hills has added to its
beauty. A pleasant and
picturesque drive of 64 km. from
Chittagong brings you to huge
expanse of emerald and blue water
ringed with tropical forest. Only
3 km. from Kaptai along
Chittagong road, lies the ancient
Chit Morong Buddhist temple
having beautiful Buddhist
statues.
Kuakata
A rare scenic beauty spot on the
southern most tip of Bangladesh
in the district of Patuakhali. It
has a wide sandy beach from where
one can get the unique
opportunity of seeing both the
sunrise and sunsetting. It is
located at a distance of 70 km.
from the district headquarters of
Patuakhali. Accessible by road,
by air to Barisal and then by
road, by river vessel.
Kuakata, locally known as Sagar
Kannya (Daughter of the Sea) is a
rare scenic beauty spot on the
southernmost tip of Bangladesh.
Kuakata in Latachapli union under
Kalapara Police Station of
Patuakhali district is about 30
km in length and 6 km in breadth.
It is 70 km from Patuakhali
district headquarters and 320 km
from Dhaka. At Kuakata excellent
combination of the picturesque
natural beauty, sandy beach, blue
sky, huge expanse of water of the
Bay and evergreen forest in
really eye-catching.
Kuakata is one of the rarest
places which has the unique
beauty of offering the full view
of the rising and setting of
crimson sun in the water of the
Bay of Bengal in a calm
environment. That perhaps makes
kuakata one of the world's unique
beaches. The long and wide beach
at Kuakata has a typical natural
setting. This sandy beach has
gentle slopes into the Bay of
Bengal and bathing there is as
pleasant as is walking or diving.
Kuakata is truly a virgin beach-a
sanctuary for migratory winter
birds, a series of coconut trees,
sandy beach of blue Bay, a feast
for the eye. Forest, boats plying
in the Bay of Bengal with
colourful sails, fishing,
towering cliffs, surfing waves
everything here touches every
visitor's heart. The unique
customs and costumes of the 'Rakhyne'
tribal families and Buddhist
Temple of about hundred years old
indicate the ancient tradition
and cultural heritage, which are
objects of great pleasure Kuakata
is the place of pilgrimage of the
Hindus and Buddhist communities.
Innumerable devotees arrive here
at the festival of 'Rush Purnima'
and 'Maghi Purnima'. On these two
days they take holy bath and
traditional fairs are held here.
All these additional offers to
panoramic beauty make the beach
more attractive to the visitors.
One should visit Kuakata and
discover the lovely grace of
Bangladesh.
Tamabil & Jaflong
Situated amidst splendid
panorama, Tamabil is a border
outpost on Sylhet-Shilong road,
about 55 km. away from Sylhet
town. Beside enchanting views of
the area one can also have a
glimpse of the waterfall across
the border from Tamabil. Jaflong
is also a scenic spot nearby
amidst tea gardens and rare
beauty of rolling stones from
hills.
Mainamati
An isolated low, dimpled range of
hills, dotted -with more than 50
ancient Buddhist settlements of
the 8th to 12th century A.D.
known as Mainamati-Laimai range
are extended through the centre
of the district of Comilla.
Salban Vihara, almost in the
middle of the Mainamati-Lalmai
hill range consists of 115 cells,
built around a spacious courtyard
with cruciform temple in the
centre facing its only gateway
complex to the north resembling
that of the Paharpur Monastery.
Kotila Mura situated on a
flaftened hillock, about 5 km
north of Salban Vihara inside the
Comilla Cantonment are is
picturesque Buddhist
establishment. Here three stupas
are found side by side
representing the Buddhist
"Trinity" or three jewels i.e.
the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Charpatra Mura is an isolated
small oblong shrinesituated about
2.5 krn. north-west of kotila
Mura stupas. The only approach to
the shrine is from the East
through agateway which leads to a
spacious hall.
The Mainamati site Museum has a
rich and varied collection of
copper plates, gold and silver
coins and 86 bronze objects. Over
150 bronze statues havo been
recovered mostly from the
monastic cells, bronze stupas,
stone sculptures and hundreds of
terracotta plaques each measuring
on an average of 9" higli and 8"
to 12" wide. Mairiamati is only
114 km. from Dhaka City and is
just a day's trip by road on way
to Chittagong.
Cox's Bazar
Located at a distance of 152 km.
to the south of Chittagong, Cox's
Bazar is the tourist capital of
Bangladesh. Having the world's
longest unbroken (120 km.) beach
sloping gently down to the blue
waters of the Bay of Bengal
against the picturesque
background of a chain of hill
covered with deep green forests,
Cox's Bazar is one of the most
attractive tourist spots in the
world. Miles of golden sands,
towering cliffs surfing waves,
rare conch shells, colorful
pagodas, Buddhist temples and
tribes, delightful seafood -
these are specialties of Cox's
Bazar.
The beach is good for bathing,
sunbathing and swimming. The
breath-taking beauty of the
sun-setting behind the waves of
the sea is captivating.
Attractive local variety of
cigars and handloom products of
the Rakhyne tribal families are
good buys. Their unique customs
and costumes attract visitors.
Cox's Bazar is connected both by
air and road from Dhaka and
Chittagong. Visits to the
fascinating picnic spot at
Himchari, Teknaf, Buddhist temple
at Ramu and nearby island of
Sonadia, St. Martin and
Mohaskhali are memorable
experience of one's lifetime.
The Aggameda Khyang, Cox's Bazar
: Equally elaborate in plan,
elevation and decoration is the
Aggameda Khyang near the entrance
to the Cox's Bazar town which
nestles at the foot of a hill
under heavy cover of a stand of
large trees. The main
sanctuary-cum-monastery is
carried on a series of round
timber columns, which apart from
accommodating the prayer chamber
and an assembly hall, also is the
repository of a large of small
bronze Buddha images-mostly of
Burmese origin-- and some old
manuscripts. Beyond the main
khyang to the south there is an
elevated wooden pavilion and a
smaller brick temple with a
timber and corrugated metal root.
Apart from bearing an inscription
in Burmese over its entrance the
temple contains some large stucco
and bronze Buddha images.
Himchari : It is about 32
km. South of Cox's Bazar along
the beach, a nice place for
picnic and shooting. The famous
"Broken Hills" and waterfalls
here are rare sights.
Inani : It is about 32 km.
South of Cox's Bazar and just on
the beach, with the sea to the
west and a background of steep
hills to the east. Inani casts a
magic spell on those who step
into that dreamland. It is only
half an hour's drive from Cox's
Bazar and an ideal place for
Sea-bathing and picnic.
Maheskhali : An island off
the coast of Cox's Bazar. It has
an area of 268 square kilometers.
Through the centre of the island
and along the eastern coast line
rises a range of low hills, 300
feet high; but the coast to the
west and north is a lowlying
treat, fringed by mangrove
jungle. In the hills on the coast
is built the shrine of Adinath,
dedicated to siva. By its side on
the same hill is Buddhist Pagoda.
Ramu : This is a typical
Buddhist village, about 16 km.
from Cox's Bazar, on the main
road to Chittagong. There are
monasteries, khyangs and pagodas
containing images of Buddha in
gold, bronze and other metals
inilaid with precious stones.
One of the most interesting of
these temples is on the bank of
the Baghkhali river. It houses
not only interesting relics and
Burmes handicrafts but also a
large bronze statue of Buddha
measuring thirteen feet high and
rests on a six feet high
pedestal. The wood carving of
this khyang is very delicate and
refined.
The village has a charm of its
own. Weavers ply there trade in
open workshops and craftsmen make
handmade cigars in their pagoda
like houses.
Sonadia Island : It is
about seven kilometer of Cox's
Bazar and about nine square
kilometer 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, fisherman
set up temporary camps on the
island and dry their catches of
sea fish.
Teknaf : Southernmost tip
of Bangladesh, Teknaf situated on
the Naaf river and just at the
end of the hilly regions of the
district. Mayanmar is on the
opposite bank of Naaf river. Wild
animals and birds are available
but the most interesting thing is
a journey on the river. Wide
sandy beach in the backdrop of
high hills with green forests is
an enchanting scene never to be
forgotten.
Mahasthangarh
Located at a distance of 18 km.
to the north of Bogra town.
Mahasthangarh is the oldest
archaeological site of Bangladesh
on the western bank of river
Karotoa. The spectacular site is
an imposing landmark in the area
having a fortified long
enclosure. Beyond the fortified
area, other ancient ruins fan out
within a semi-circle of about
8-km. radius. Several isolated
mounds, the local names of which
are Govinda Bhita Temple, Khodai
Pathar Mound, Mankalir Kunda,
Parasuramer Bedi, Jiyat Kunda
etc. surround the fortified city.
This 3rd century BC
archaeological site is still held
to be of great sanctity by the
Hindus. Every year (mid-April)
and once in every 12 years
(December) thousands of Hindu
devotees join the bathing
ceremony on the bank of river
Karatoa. A visit to the
Mahasthangarh site museum will
open up for one a wide variety of
antiquities, ranging from
terracotta objects to gold
ornaments and coins recovered
from the site.
Also noteworthy are the shrine of
Shah Sultan Bulki Mahisawary and
Gokul Medh in the neighborhood of
Mahasthangarh.
Paharpur
In Paharpur, a small village 5
km. west of Jamalganj railway
station in the greater Rajshahi
district, the remains of the most
important and the largest known
monastery south of the Himalayas
has bee excavated. This 8th
century A.D. archaeological find
covers approximately an area of
27 acres of land. The entire
establishment occupies a
quadrangular court, measuring
more than 900 ft. and from 12fh
to 15ft. in height with elaborate
gateway complex on the north.
There are 45 cells on the north
and 44 in each of other three
sides with a total number of 177
rooms. The architecture of the
pyramidal cruciform temple is
profoundly influenced by those of
South-East Asia, especially
Myanmar and Java. It had taken
its name from a high mound, which
looked like pahar or hillock. A
site museum built recently houses
the representative coactions of
objects recovered from the area.
The excavated findings have also
been preserved at the Veranda
Research museum at Rajshahi. The
antiquities of the museum include
terracotta plaques, images of
different gods and goddesses,
potteries, coins, inscriptions,
ornamental bricks and other minor
clay objects . It has been
declared as a World Heritage site
by UNESCO.
Courtesy/Content/Copy -Bangla2000 | 
