CHITTAGONG is famous for large hill forests and lakes. Chittagong is a good vacation spot. It is the second largest city of Bangladesh and a busy international sea port. Its green hills and forests, broad sandy beaches and fine cool climate always attract holiday makers. It combines the hump of a restless seaport with the pleasure of a charming hill town with its undulating topography. Chittagong is the country's chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery are also located here. Chittagong is connected with Dhaka by rail, road, air and water. It is also connected with Cox's Bazar and Calcutta by Air. There are many interesting places here like Sharine of Byazid Bostami : This holy shrine attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims. At its base there is a large tank with several hundred tortoises floating in the water. Foy's Lake: Set amidst panoramic surroundings, this ideal sport for outings and picnics is thronged by thousands of visitors. Ethnological Museum: A unique treasure house of variety of tribal culture and heritage of Bangladesh. Court Building: Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a magnificent bird's eye view of Chittagong city particularly at night. Day long attractive sightseeing is organized in Chittagong by TRAVEL BANGLADESH (TRAVELBD) during tourist season. For bookings one may contact the Tourist information centers in Dhaka or Manager (Tours) TRAVELBD Head Office Phone: +880 2 9890075. Web site URL: www.travelbd.com, email: info@travelbd.com
Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami: Situated on a hillock at Nasirabad, about 6 km. to the north-west of Chittagong town, this shrine attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises. Tradition has it that these animals are the descendants of the evil spirits (genii) who were cast into this shape because they incurred the wrath of the great saint who visited the place about 1100 years age.
World War II Cemetery :In a well-preserved cemetery at a quiet and picturesque place within the city lie buried in eternal peace over 700 soldiers from British, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Myanmar, East and West Africa, The Netherlands and Japan who laid down their lives on the Myanmar front during the World War II.
Shrine of Shah Amanat : The Shrine of Shah Amanat is another place of religious attraction, located in the heart of the town, the shrine is visited by hundreds of people everyday who pay homage to the memory of the saint.
Court Building Museum : Situated on the Fairy Hill,this building commands a panoramic bird's eye view of Chittagong. This had been the scene of intense activity during the independence War in 1971. A museum has been established here.
Panoramic view of
Foy's Lake, Chittagong
Foy's Lake(Pahartali Lake): Set amidst picturesque surroundings in the railway township of Pahartali 8 km. from Chittagong this is an ideal spot of outing and picnic thronged by thousands of visitors every week.
Mercantile Marine Academy at Juldia: The only training institute of its kind in Bangladesh, situated on the month of the river Karnaphuli.
Panoramic view of
Patenga sea beach, Chittagong
Patenga and Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches: Patenga beach is about 22 km. from Chittagong and is approachable by a motorable road. On the way to the beach one passes the Patenga Airport. Another ideal picnic spot is the Fouzdarhat sea-beach about 16 km. from Chittagong.
Port Area: Located near the river mouth of the river Karnaphuli, the Chittagong port has a recorded history from 9th century. Today, this is the principal seaport of the country.
Panoramic view of Chittagong
Ethnological Museum
This museum located in Agrabad is a treasure-house of a variety of tribal culture and heritage of Bangladesh.
Zia Museum
The government Circuit House where former president Ziaur Rahman was assasinated has been turned into a museum.
Sitakunda
About 37 km. from Chittagong lies an interesting place known as Sitakunda, served by a railway station of the same name. Famous among the many temples in this place are the Chandranath Temple and the Buddhist Temple has a footprint of Lord Buddha. These places particularly the hilltops are regarded as very sacred by the Buddhists and the Hindus. Siva-chaturdashi festival is held every year in February when thousands of pilgrims assemble for the celebrations which last about ten days. There is a salt water spring 5 km. to the north of Sitakunda, known as Labanakhya.
Climate : Pleasant and cool in winter and warm and humid in summer.
Language : Bangla, English is spoken and understood.
Wearing Apparel : Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.
Climate : Pleasant and cool in winter and warm and humid in summer.
Language : Bangla, English is spoken and understood.
Wearing Apparel : Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.
Meghla tourist spot, Bandarban
A view of Bandarban town
Tribal Hut, Chittagong
An over view of Khagrachari
Parjatan facilities for Tourists in Chittagong
Motel Shaikat at Station Road is a good Motel for budget tourists. It has 2 AC suites; 13 AC Twin Rooms; 13 non-AC Twin Rooms; Shaikat Restaurant-60 seating, Tourist Information, Phones : 619514, 619845, 611046-8. Other hotels in town are Hotel Agrabad, Hotel Shahjahan, Hotel Miskha, Hotel Safina & Hotel Hawaii.
Communication & Transport :
Chittagong is connected by road and rail with rest of the country. Air link is available with Dhaka and Calcutta.
Car Rental:
Rent-A-Car facilities are available for city sightseeing and trips to Rangamati, Cox's Bazar, Sitakunda and other touristically important places.
Hill Districts
The Hill Tracts is divided into three districts, namely Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
From Chittagong a 77 km. road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you to Rangamati, the headquarters of the Rangamati Hill District which is a wonderful repository of scenic splendours with flora and fauna of varied descriptions. It is also connected by water way from Kaptai.
The Hills
The Hill Tract is divided into four valleys surrounded by the Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and Matamuhuri rivers and their tributaries. The ranges or hills of the Hill Tracts rise steeply thus looking far more impressive than what their height would imply and extend in long narrow ridges. The highest peaks on the northern side are Thangnang, Langliang and Khantiang while those on the southern side are Ramu, Taung, Keekradang, Tahjindong (4632 ft, highest in Bangladesh), Mowdok Mual, Rang Tlang and Mowdok Tlang.
Th e Lakes
Famous Kaptai Lake, the largest "man-made" lake, spreading over 680 sq. km. of crystal-clean water flanked by hills and evergreen forests lies in the Rangamati Hill District. The lake was formed when the Karnaphuli river dam (153 feet high, 1800 feet long crest) was built for the purpose of hydroelectric power project at Kaptai. The old Rangamati town was submerged under lake water and a new town had to be built later. The lake is full of fish and provides facilities for cruising, swimming and skiing. There are also facilities for angling and short trip by Sampan, local name for country boats.
The forests
The valleys of the Hill Tracts are covered with thick planted forests. The vegetation in semi-evergreen to tropical evergreen dominated by tall teak trees. The natural vegetation can be seen best in the Rain-khyong valleys of the Bandarban district. This district provides the country with valuable wood used for various purposes, besides supplying wood and bamboo for the Karnaphuli Paper Mills and the Rayon Mills situated at Chandraghona. Here a tourist may be lucky to see how huge logs of wood are being carried to the plain by the tamed elephants.
Climate
There are there main seasons, the dry season (November to March), which is relatively cool, sunny and dry, the premonsoon season (April and May), which is very hot and sunny with occasional shower, and the rainy season (June to October), which is warm, cloudy and wet.
Tribal life
The inhabitants of the Hill Tracts are mostly tribal. Life of the tribal people is extremely fascinating. Majority of them are Buddhists and the rest are Hindus, Christians and Animists. Despite the bondage of religion, elements of primitiveness is strongly displayed in their rites, rituals and everyday life. The tribal families are matriarchal. The women-folk are more hardworking than the males and they are the main productive force.
The tribal people are extremely self-reliant, they grow their own food, their girls weave their own clothes and generally speaking, they live a simple life. Each tribe has its own dialect, distinctive dress and rites and rituals. The common feature is their way of life which still speak of their main occupation. Some of them take pride in hunting with bows and arrows. Tribal women are very skilful in making beautiful handicrafts. Tribal people are generally peace loving, honest and hospitable. They usually greet a tourist with a smile.
Places of Interest
For visit of foreign tourists to the Hill Districts prior permission from the Government is required which can be arranged through BPC.
Chandraghona
Forty-eight kilometer from Chittagong, on the Kaptai Road is Chandraghona where one of the biggest paper mills in Asia is located. Close to the paper mill there is a rayon factory which produces synthetic fibers from bamboo.
Khagrachari
Khagrachari is the district headquarters of Khagachari Hill District. A drive of 112 km. from Chittagong, by an allweather metalled road through the green forest brings you to Khagrachari, abode of fascinating clam. For the tourists seeking nature here in restful mood, Khagrachari is a ideal spot.
Bandarban
Ninetytwo kilometer from Chittagong by metalled road, Bandarban is the district headquarters of the Bandarban Hill District. Bandarban is the home town of the Bohmong Chief who is the head of the Mogh tribe. The Moghs are of Myanmar origin and Buddhists by religion. Jovial and carefree by nature, the Moghs are simple and hospitable people. Bandarban is also the home of the Murangs who are famous for their music and dance. Fat into the interior there are several other tribes of great interest for anyone who cares to make the journey.
Bangladesh Parjatan corporation, the National Tourism Organization has created a number of facilities for the tourists at Rangamati holiday resorts.
These are:
Parjatan Motel : 1st Class -3AC Twin Rooms, 15 Non-AC Twin Rooms; Labiyal Restaurant-32 seating. Phone: 3126
Cottages : Standard 3 cottages, 4 beds each; phones : 3126 Two, 8 beds each, phone : 3126
Other Facilities : Speed Boats, Paddle Boats and Canone Boats for Lake-cruise, AC Auditorium for Cultural Functions & Conferences-200 seating; Picnic Hill, and Tourist information, Phone: 3126
There are a few small hotels and rest houses. For reservation of Parjatan Moteis at Chittagong & Rangamati you may contact Central Reservation, BPC Head Office, Phone : 8119192, 8117855-9 and Fax : 880-2-8117235. E-mail: bpcho@bangla.net
