Bangladesh Travel Guide

Ferry on Bay of Bengal

The northeastern portion of the Indian subcontinent is taken up by Bangladesh. Bangladesh is bordered on the west, north and east by India; on the southeast by Myanmar and on the south by the Bay of Bengal. The climate of Bangladesh is tropical due to its position on the Tropic of Cancer. This means Bangladesh has a mild winter from October to March and a hot, humid summer from March to June. The warm and humid monsoon season in Bangladesh lasts from June to October and provides the major of the rainfall for Bangladesh.

Nearly every year Bangladesh experiences natural calamities of some kind including floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and tidal bores. This, combined with the effects of deforestation, soil degradation and erosion causes much of Bangladesh's problems. As of 2007 the population of Bangladesh was 159 million making it the seventh most populous country in the world.

Things to Do in Bangladesh

If you are staying in the capital city of Dhaka then you should take some time at the National Museum, the Zoo or the Botanical Gardens. All excellent places to spend the day enjoying the sights and sounds.

River Sunset in Bangladesh

About thirty-one miles north of the capital is the Rajendrapur National Park which has some excellent bird watching opportunities. This national park is well known for its varied bird species. Then about 99 miles from the capital of Dhaka you can find the Madhupur National Park and Game Sanctuary. Or just about six miles outside the town of Barisal you will find Madubashah which is a destination for those who love nature since it features a lake and a bird sanctuary.

Visit the Sundarbans National Park where you can find excellent examples of coastal vegetation and all the varieties of wildlife that go with it. You also have the opportunity to spot a Royal Bengal Tiger which is the national animal of Bangladesh. You can also find spotted deer, monkeys and a variety of bird species. This isn't surprising since the area has the largest mangrove forest in the world. You will find this park in the Khulna Division which is largely marshland and jungle. There are tours that can be organized for ten people or more by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation during the winter months. Otherwise you can hire boats from Khulna or Mongla which are the main ports for the Khulna region. If you need accommodations then consider Heron Point.

If you are looking for beaches then you should go to Kuakata which is a new tourist resort. This spot offers scenic beauty on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh in the Patuakhali district. There is a wide sandy beach that provides the perfect vantage point from which you can watch the sun rise and set. You can also travel here to see the traditions and unique lifestyle of the Rakhane tribes.

Another choice for beaches is Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar which is a thriving regional tourist centre and beach resort in the extreme south of Bangladesh. It features the world's longest and broadest beach. The population here is a mix of Bengali and Burmese origins. The beach itself is 75 miles long and 180 to 300 feet broad depending on the current tides. However, the area hasn't been fully developed for tourism yet. But there are some thriving cottage industries for cigar making and weaving.

The most popular tourist beach is in the southeast, Patenga which is also broad and long. If you enjoy boating then you will likely head to Sunderbands National Park where there are large parts that you can only get to by boat.

Some good opportunities for sailing, swimming and fishing can be found at Kapati Lake in the Rangamati Hill District.

In Sitakund about 23 miles from Chittagong in the Southeast you can join the annual ten day pilgrimage every February. This area is famous for its temple which includes Chandranath and Buddhist temples, a hot spring and the supposed footprint of Lord Buddha.

Take a trip to Sylhet which is north of the capital and it is known as the land of two leaves and a bud because of the tea growing in the area that has been going on for years. The main centre of the Sylhet tea gardens is Srimongol.

At the Dhaka Metropolitan Soccer League you can enjoy a game of hockey, football or cricket. The soccer season starts in April. Games are typically held in the city stadium or on local playgrounds.

Things to See in Bangladesh

Rangamatti Lake Bangladesh

Visit the historic part of Dhaka where you will find many points of interest. Include the uncompleted seventeenth century Lalbagh Fort, the Ahsan Manzil Palace and Museum, the Chotta Katra and a great deal of mosques. In the northern part of this region you will find the European quarter which is called the British City. Here you will find the Banga Bhavan, the presidential palace, several parks and the Dhakeswari Temple. You should also stop by the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery which is near the Central Railway Station. Here you can see a thousand year old black stone Buddha. The Baldha Gardens is worth a visit due to their collection of rare plants. You will also find plenty of mosques and bazaars to visit, one of the best being the Kashaitully Mosque.

About twenty miles east of Dhaka you can get lost in the history of Sonargaon which was once the capital of the region back in the thirteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Today the city still has many historical relics, but many are currently just ruins.

About twenty-seven miles from the city of Sylhet you will find the ruins of Jaintiapur which was once the capital of an ancient kingdom.

Many tourists often pass up the Rajshahi Division in the northwest part of Bangladesh. But it contains a great deal of archaeological sites that are worth visiting. Those at Paharpur are the most important since this is where the vast Buddhist monastery of Somapuri Vihara and the Satvapir Vita temple are found. There is also a nice museum to walk through.

The second largest city in Bangladesh, Chittagong in the southeast features some old city remains that echo the past of the European settlements of the Portuguese.

North of Dhaka you can enjoy panoramic scenery that includes the waterfalls in Madhabkunda.

Northeast of Chittagong, Rangamati you will find the beautiful manmade Kaptai Lake which has some scenic beauty and an unspoiled tribal life.

On Sylhet-Shilong Road you will find Tamabil, a border outpost. This also gives you beautiful views of the surrounding area. You will also see some beautiful waterfalls that are across the Indian border. A scenic spot nearby is Zaflong which is placed among tea gardens and beautiful hills.

Lastly about five miles from Chittagong you will find Foy's Lake in the town of Pahartali. Then four miles northwest of the town you will find the town of Nasirabad that has the Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami which is a holy shrine. At the base of this shrine that is a large tank filled with hundreds of tortoises which are supposedly the descendant of evil spirits.

There is much to see and do in Bangladesh. You won't get to everything in one trip, especially if you aren't going to be there long. But just decide what you want to see the most and go there.

Some Scenery of Bangladesh

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