As China is slowly recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and taking steps to restart its economy, the Chinese authorities on Monday urged the safe and orderly opening of tourist sites ahead of the upcoming five-day holiday in May.

Authorities across China should guarantee healthy travels during the holiday while trying to boost tourist consumption. Efforts should be made to control passenger flows, avoid gathering of crowds, implement reservation systems and raise public awareness of epidemic prevention and control.

Also Read:China opens more online exhibitions amid virus outbreak

Here are 3 tips to visit a tourist site safely – making an appointment before going out; ensuring personal protection while travelling; and checking temperature before entering a scenic spot.

 

Nature purifies our soul through releasing stress. It is said that we should visit a new place every year. However, it may not be possible to plan a luxury tour when you work for six days a week. If you want to experience the divine beauty of pinkish hills, blue water ponds and a sinuous river but can hardly afford more than a day, visit Durgapur. This heavenly place is located in the North region of Bangladesh. Falling near the border area of India, Durgapur holds the reminiscent touch of Meghalaya hills. Though not promoted like other tourist spots of Bangladesh, Durgapur is one of the most beautiful places in Bangladesh.

Durgapur Upazila falls under Netrokona district in Bangladesh. Durgapur is enriched with versatile topography. This remote area of Bangladesh attracts the outdoor enthusiast from within and outside the country for its mesmerizing natural beauty. The most popular tourist spots of Durgapur includes Shomeshwari River, China Clay Hill, China Clay Lake, Ranikhong Church, Hajong Mata Roshimoni Monument, Cultural Academy (Palace of Maharaja Susang), Tribal community of Hazong people, Garo village, Dasha Busha Temple, Ramkrisna Temple, Bijoypur Border, Orange Forest, Kongsha River, Gajarie Forest, etc.  Stay with us to know some fascinating details about these places.

Shomesshori River, Susang Durgapur, Netrokona, Bangladesh

Stepping on the soil of Durgapur, the enchanting beauty of Shomeshwari River will steal your mind. Not to mention, it is one of the most stunning rivers of Bangladesh. Originating from Garo Hill, under Garo-Khasi range at Meghalaya in India, this hilly river entered the country through Bijoypur border, Netrokona. You have to cross the Shomeshwari River by boat to explore different places in Durgapur. With the change of seasons, this magical river Shomeshwari brings changes in this landscape. Monsoon rains make this river unruly, but blossoms its beauty in full. The photogenic beauty of this undulating river at the backdrop of Meghalaya hills will remain in your mind forever. However, during the winter the water dries up almost! 

Ceramic Hill area is another unforgettable natural treasure of Durgapur. In several places you will find hills built with China Clay soil. Ceramic Hills at Birishiri Union in Durgapur Upazila have acquired a significant reputation among travellers around the world. These clay hillocks are also available around the Limestone Lake at Kulagora union. These hills are also known as China Matir Pahar or China Clay Hills. What makes these hills stand out from general hills is their amazing pinkish colored soil. The secret behind this exclusive appearance is the special chemical composition of the soil. Since 1960, Ceramic companies had been excavating at Birishiri to collect the ingredients for ceramic objects and crockeries. You can hike these Ceramic hills to add some thrills in your trip. What is more? During the rainy season blue water is stored at the valleys of these hills making the whole environment blissfully romantic.

Limestone Lake Birishiri Netrokona - Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Want to spend some tranquil moments beside a picturesque blue water pond at the backdrop of pinking hills? You will find such a paradise called 'Limestone Lake' at Kulagora union in Durgapur Upazila of Netrokona District. The heart-touching scenic beauty of this divine blue water will pacify your soul taking you far away from the humdrum of hectic city life. This Limestone Lake is also known as Neel pukur, China Matir Lake, China Clay Lake, etc. The mystery behind its exclusive blue water is the presence of chemical compounds specially Copper Sulphate in the soil. However, being mesmerized by the beauty of this pond, don’t try to jump in the water. This Limestone Lake is fairly deep, so any attempt for swimming can cost your life.

While planning your itinerary at Durgapur, don’t miss the BGB camp located adjacent to the Bangladesh-India border at Bijoypur Netrokona. From this place you can enjoy the mind-blowing cloud-hugging green mountains of Meghalaya in India. Not to mention, here you can enjoy the thrill of visiting a foreign land without a passport or visa. As the BGB Camp is standing beside the Shomesshori River, you can take a boat trip to view the surrounding place.

Hills of Netrokona - Image Credit Wikipedia

During your journey towards Bijoypur BDR Camp, you will find Hajong Roshimoni Monument which was built as a remembrance of the courageous sacrifice of Hajong Roshimoni. Looking back to history during British empires the Zamindar used to own all lands of this area. The poor farmers were permitted to cultivate the lands, but were forced to pay their yield which made them economically handicapped. In 1938 the ethnic farmers of Netrokona and Mymensingh created a collective movement called Tonk Andolon under the leadership of Roshimoni. In 1946, Roshimoni Hajong was mercilessly killed by the dictator. Though looking simple, this monument inspires the people and the tourists to stand against oppression.  

Hajong Roshimoni Monument  - Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Near BGB camp you can visit Orange hill, which is another tourist attraction of Durgapur. Moreover, at the vicinity of BGB Camp, you can spend some time at Ranikhong Church. This holy place was built around 1910 to 1915. Standing over a small hillock, this historical church attracts both the pious minds and the tourists.

In Durgapur you can observe the lifestyle of two ethnic groups – Hajong and Garo.  To know more about the culture and history of these ethnic groups, you can visit the Tribal Cultural Academy – former palace of Maharaja (King) Susang – at Birishiri in Durgapur.  

How to Reach Durgapur:

Starting the journey from Dhaka, you can reach Durgapur by bus, train or private transport. From Mohakhali bus stand of Dhaka, you can take a bus heading towards Birishiri. The journey will take around 7 hours. The last few hours can be very tough, as the road is quite bumpy near Birishiri. However, the train journey is comparatively more comfortable than the bus ride. Reaching at Kamalapur Railway Station, catch the train on the Dhaka – Jharia route. This journey by train usually takes around 10 to 11 hours. Dropping at Jharia station, you can hire a local transport to reach your desired tourist spots. Usually it takes one day to visit all places in Durgapur.

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Read: Bandarban Tourist Spots.

Tourists thronged ‘Shimul Bagan’ in Tahirpur upazila to celebrate Pahela Falgun (first day of spring) and Valentine’s Day on Friday.

‘Shimul Bagan’, a garden of Shimul tree (scientific name Bombax ceiba), wore a festive look with the presence of hundreds of tourists in the area.

Joynal Abedin, a tree love, planted about 3,000 Shimul trees on 2,400 acres of land in 2003 beside Jadukata River.

Youths in red and yellow attires celebrated Pahela Falgun, and the Valentine’s Day on the same day as Bangla Academy has revised Bangla Calendar to match it with the Gregorian calendar.

Pahela Falgun usually falls on February 13 but this year it coincided with Valentine’s Day.

The name, Dooars, is sometimes only associated with jungle and wildlife although the greeneries of foothills of the eastern Himalayas in northeast India has a peaceful connection with Bhutan through a shy river named Jaldhaka. A deep dive within the route uncovers a less explored side of touring India.

The Jaldhaka Rivers flows at a tremendous speed along the Bhutan-India border. A lovely route towards the barrage holds memorable spots like Samsing, Jhalong, Suntale Khola and many more. The origin of the trip, Gorumara Jungle Resort, itself is only 13 kms away from Gorumara National Park.

The assistant manager of the resort, Mihir Roy, told UNB that the famed location is mainly visited by film crew.

“Within the next few days, the spot will be used as filming location for an upcoming movie. But the beauty and the serenity of Dooars never loses the charm,” he said.

A jeep took us to Samsing, the first stoppage of the trip, on the second day after arriving at the resort.

The small hamlet, Samsing, had cozy people and a gorgeous view of surrounding tea estates and hills. It is located 3000 ft in the foothills in between Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. It is known for its beautiful landscape with green tea estates, hills and forests that attract a lot of tourists.

It is the home to more than 4,000 people and its climate is noted for fog and cool breezes. Lali Guras and Suntaley Khola are the two key spots that I visited in Samsing.

Lali Guras offers a wide view of the Murti River as it lies near Suntaley Khola and the river viewpoint about 3 kms from Samsing. Flanked by the river and a serene, green landscape, the spot offers the perfect relief to weary city dwellers looking to escape from the drudgery of their daily mundane routines.

Suntaley Khola, part of Samsing at 4 km trekking distance, had a mountaineering stream that passes under the hanging bridge. An interesting fact is that the Suntaley Khola lodge is accessible via that bridge only.

Following the crisscrossing and meandering roads in-line with the Murti River, the jeep took us to Gairibas viewpoint at Jhalong where we first glanced at the lovely Jaldhaka River separating India and Bhutan.

A short stoppage there introduced the landscape of Bhutan Mountains and settlements on both sides of the river.

The Bindu barrage was the final stoppage of the trip and at the heart of Bhutan-India border where three streams of Bhutan named Dudh Khola, Bindu Khola and Jaldhaka connect and reemerge as Jaldhaka after crossing the dam.

The dam is part of a hydroelectricity plant at Bindu. Visitors are not permitted to visit the dam but photographing the dam was allowed. A Bhutia settlement was visible on the other side of the plant.

The Jaldhaka waterway is a mix of said three streams originating from the same glacier in Himalayans. The Jaldhaka streams over Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar before going to Bangladesh near Mathabhanga through the Cooch Behar region.

In Cooch Behar area, the stream takes the name of Singimari. In its course to Bangladesh, the Jaldhaka River again changes the name to Dharla and streams into Brahmaputra in Kurigram.

The population near the border is scarce but welcoming as a small number of shops selling various foods and souvenirs were operated by the locals. They generally had a positive impression about the peaceful and jolly environment of the Indo-Bhutan border.

The importance of the trip lies in an alternative route of tour-hungry Bangladeshis to visit not only the ever-enchanting forestry of Dooars, but also to get to see the amazing views of spots like Samsing, Jhalong and Bindu all in cooperation with the always welcoming locals.

The easiest route to Dooars and surrounding areas is to enter through Banglabandh land port and visit Siliguri, India. From there, the passage towards the Gorumara National Park has a variety of resorts for holidaymakers and rest is fairly simple through tour packages.

 

Regular stress of city life tends to suck the energy out of the soul pushing people towards chronic anxiety. Every once in a while, you must plan a vacation on a hill, where the blue sky, unruly hilly rivers and voluminous natural cascades can revive your soul. Visit Bandarban! Located in the south western part of the country, and part of the storied Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban district holds enough magic to do the trick. In this article, we are going to focus on the best places to see and the craziest things to do in Bandarban. 

Boga Lake Bandarban

The mirror view of Boga Lake can make you forget the humdrum of city life and pacify your soul preparing you for facing life with greater stamina. Bagakain Lake or Boga Lake is one of the most magnificent lakes of the country.  This 15 acre wide natural lake is about 18 km far from Ruma Sadar Upazila under Bandarban. Placed about 3000 feet high above the sea-level, Boga Lake fascinates the visitors with blue water, big rocks, surrounding greenery, local tribal communities, etc.

It is believed that Boga Lake was created by an earthquake that occurred 2000 years ago. There are interesting supernatural mythologies related to Boga Lake. The fact that it never dries up adds fuel to those ancient folk tales. Several tribal communities – like Bawm, Khumi, etc. – live around Boga Lake. Winter is the best season for tourists to visit Boga Lake.

Boga Lake Bandarban: Picture Credit Wikimedia Commons.

How to get there 

After reaching Bandarban town, hire a local transport four wheel Jeep called ‘Chader Gari’ to arrive at Ruma Upazila. From Ruma, you have to make another trip by Chader Gari to reach your destination Boga Lake. If you want to take a bus ride, the fare will cost about 300 BDT per-head.

On the way, you would be required to register some basic information (Name, address, etc.) to the local security authority. Remember that tourists are not allowed to leave Ruma heading towards the Boga Lake after 4pm.

Tajingdong Peak Bandarban

If you want to leave your footprint on one of the highest peaks of the country, put Tajingdong on your bucket list. Tajingdong Mountain is located at Remakri Pangsha union in Ruma upazila under Bandarban Hill District. In local tribal dialect “Tajing” means ‘Great’ and the ‘Dong’ means ‘Hill’. So the whole word stands for “Great hill”. Tajingdong is also popular as “Bijoy”.

Adventure tourists love to explore Tajingdon during the winter season. This mountain will amaze you with diverse natural beauties, like hide and seek of clouds on the hill-top, dense forests, hills and mountains, wildlife, zigzagging paths over the green hill, natural springs, hilly roadside, and the surrounding  inhabitants’ simple lifestyle, tradition and culture.

Tajingdon Peak, Bandarban: Picture Credit travelmate.com.bd

How to Reach Tajingdong?

To conquer Tajingdong Peak, arrive at Bandarban first.  Then you have to go to Ruma Upazilla, which is about 50 KM  from Bandarban town. While planning your itinerary keep in mind that after 4pm, the tourists are not allowed to leave the Ruma Upazila to visit Tajingdon. You can reach Ruma by local four wheeler transport (Chader Gari).  From Ruma take a bus or Chader Gari to reach Boga Lake. From Boga Lake you have to start trekking to reach Tajindong. 

Bandarban Golden Temple (Buddha Dhatu Jadi)

It is said that Buddhism is the religion of peace. Bandarban is the pious hub of Theravada Buddhism practiced by tribal communities like Marma or Mogh. Here you will find Buddha Dhatu Jadi, the largest Theravada Buddhist Temple of Bangladesh and the second biggest Buddha sculpture of the country. This Buddhist temple is called ‘kyang’ in local language. It is also popular as ‘Bandarban Golden Temple’ to the tourists.

In the temple area, you would find a small pond on the top of a hill. People adore this place as “The Pond of Angels”. Standing on this place, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and vast natural greenery. Here diverse festivals take place every year.

Buddha Dhatu Jadi: Picture Credit Wikidata

How to Reach Bandarban Golden Temple? 

This holy Theravada Buddhist temple stands at Pulpara area, which is 4 KM away from Balaghat town. ‘Buddha Dhatu Jadi’ is 10 kilometer from Bandarban Hill District. You can reach this place from Bandarban town hiring a local transport like auto rickshaw or manual rickshaw. Bandarban Golden Temple is open for tourists from 5 to 7 PM. The entrance-fee is only 10 BDT. Before entering the temple precinct you need to remember that here pilgrims follow a strict dress code like ‘no shorts and no shoes’.

Nafakhum Waterfall

Do want to enjoy both thrill and life-threatening suspense while bathing in the mighty springs of a wild hilly fountain? If yes, then dare to explore Nafakhum, the most wonderful and equally powerful waterfall in Bandarban.

Nafakhum is also called Remakri waterfall. Nafakhum falls under unruly hilly river Sangu at Remakri in Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban Hill District. In this natural waterfall, heavy flow of water pours down with great power, sound and volume declaring pride and grandeur. Not to mention, Nafakhum is one of the most voluminous natural cascades in Bangladesh.

The serpentine Sangu River creates a stunning combination with the blue sky and surrounding hills. The breathtaking beauty of the big rocks over Sangu will make your trip unforgettable. This place is popular as ‘Boro pathor’.

Nafakhum Waterfall: Picture Credit Flickr.com (Abid Tonoy)

How to Reach Nafakum Waterfall? 

To enjoy the splendour of Nafakum, you have to reach Bandarban Hill district first. Then, you can get on a bus heading for Thanchi Upazila, which is 79 KM away from Bandarban. The journey may take around 4 to 5 hours.  You would be required to enter your basic information details at the Remakri Army Camp. At Remakri it is mandatory for the tourists to hire a tour guide selected by the Tour Guide Committee. The tour guide will accompany you throughout your journey. Usually, a tour guide charges 500 to 600 BDT per day.  

At this point you need to hire an engine boat to reach Remakri. For up and down journey, the boat fare ranges from 4000 to 5000 BDT depending on boat size and capacity. It usually takes about four hours to reach Remakri from Thanchi.

Nil Giri, Thanchi

If you want to touch the moving clouds while standing over a hill-top, visit Nilgiri, which is another favorite of tourists in Bandarban. Standing 3500 feet above sea level, Nilgiri is located in Thanchi thana in Bandarban Hill District.

The beauty of Nilgiri varies with the change of seasons. During winter this place becomes foggy. Tourists love to enjoy campfire in such weather. While in monsoon this place gets nearly covered by the fleeting clouds. Besides these, from Nilgiri you can enjoy the spectacular view of sunrise, sunset, sinuous Sangu River, surrounding greenery, etc.

Near the Nilgiri hill, you can visit a traditional village of ‘Mro’ aborigines. Their simple but colourful lifestyle can make you rediscover the meaning of life from a new perspective.

Nil Giri, Thanchi: Picture Credit yourtravel-info.blogspot.com

How to Reach Nilgiri, Thanchi

Nilgiri is located about 46 kilometers away from Bandarban. You can hire a private vehicle from Bandarban Sadar to reach Nilgiri. On the way, you have to register your information (Name, contact details, etc.) to the Army check post. Alternatively, you can ride on a Thunchi-bound bus or local transport to arrive at Nilgiri.

When to Visit Bandarban Tourist Spots?

During the monsoon season the weather of Bandarban feels warm with good chances for rain. Tourists hardly visit Bandarban in these months. If you are looking for deals and offers at resorts and hotels, take the chance. However, during rainy season the Hill Tracts region including Bandarban Hill District runs the risk of landslides, which can hinder the local transportation system for days. 

Due to the nice weather with very small chances of rainfall, Winter is the  best as well as busiest season for tourism in Bandarban. The charges of hotels and resorts usually increase during this period. 

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Read: Get the Best out of Khagrachhari