Destinations in Bangladesh – the east: jungle, mountains and ethnicities. The other, autonomous Bangladesh.

Rangamati, the capital of the district of the same name with 70,000 inhabitants, is located on the western shore of Kaptai Lake and is a popular national holiday destination due to its scenic beauty, the lake and the indigenous groups. With 6,116 km², it is the largest of the three Hill Tracts districts, in which around 700,000 people of all tribes and settlers live. Rangamati is still the seat of the King of the Chakma, the best known and most dominant of all 16 tribes. Many Chakma live across borders in Burma and India, particularly in the states of the northeast and West Bengal. What's in Rangamati (Town)?
Kaptai Lake on our Youtube channel
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To the Sajek Valley album

• Joseph Church – Father Gerome welcomes you, the hostel and school for children of ethnic groups are affiliated with the church.
• Kaptai Lake Terminal – loading and unloading the boats and trucks, a spectacle.
• Fishery Ghat – the small terminal for daily catches.
• Chakma Rajbari – the actual residence is burned down and inaccessible, but some (annex) buildings of the former residence of the Chakma king are still standing, such as courthouses, religious buildings, stupas etc.
• Rangamati Town – the hustle and bustle in the evening in downtown (around Bonorupa Jame Masjid).
• Rajbani Vihara – founded by the royal family in 1974, idyllically situated on a peninsula, built in the style of Burmese architecture, it is the largest Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh.
• Tribal Museum (Cultural Institute) – very nice museum on the subject of ethnicities in the CHT.
• Kaptai Lake – was created in the 1960s by the Karnaphuli dam. A boat trip is highly recommended, you could visit Chakma villages.
• Kaptai Dam – a visit to the top of the dam is impossible, but it is worth a boat trip (from Jetty Ghat).
• Kaptai National Park – was created in 1999. 55 km² of evergreen mixed forest & tropical rainforest in connection with the azure Kaptai Lake. One of the most visually attractive national parks.
• Pablakhali Natural Reserve – founded in 1983, 420 km² in the northeast corner of CHT. Evergreen mixed forest and grasslands cover the mountainous surroundings.
• Sajek-Valley – the “Roof of Bangladesh” or the “Queen of Rangamati” is located in the far north of the province and offers a fantastic view of a spectacular area. Only accessible via Baghaihat, from there in an organized convoy.

Khagrachari is the capital of the district of the same name. Approximately 650,000 people, Bengal, Tripuri, Chakma, Marma and Tanchangya, live in the smallest and deepest of the three CHT districts with 2,800 km². Khagrachhari is the seat of the King of Mong. About 40,000 people live in the city itself. The district is undoubtedly the most difficult to reach and travel because of the official machinery. Even though Khagrachari is a pretty, quiet town, it doesn’t offer that much to the traveler. But it invites you to take a walk through the city center to the Gonjopara Bridge (Chengi River). Various markets and manufacturer, everything slowed down and the Sri Sri Laxmi Narayan temple are on the way.
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• Town walk – a walk through the center of the town, various markets and manufacturer, everything slowed down very much.
• Sri Sri Lakshmi Narayan Temple – a Hindu temple dedicated to Lakshmi.
• Gonjopara Bridge – with an excellent view of the Chengi River.
• Alutila Cave – also “The Mysterious” about 8 km from the city. Outside: a beautiful view of Khagrachari and deep green forest. Inside a 100 m long limestone cave without light, but spring water flows on the floor.
• Richhang Waterfall – a pretty seasonal waterfall. It‘s not the size, height or width that matters, it‘s the surroundings! Near the cave.
• Aparajita Buddhist Pagoda – a few hundred meters from the Alutila Cave towards Khagrachari. A new, pompous Buddhist meditation center with pagoda.

The “mother of the monkeys” is the capital of the same name of the district in southeast Bangladesh. This covers approximately 4,500 km² and around 400,000 residents, of whom 35,000 live in Bandarban Town, including the King of Marma. Bandarban is the mother country of Marma, but Tripuri, Reang, Mro, Bawm, Khyang, Lushai, Khumi, Chak and Tanchangya also live here. Visits to the indigenous village communities are a must, as is a boat trip on the Sangu River, as one of the most beautiful river landscapes in the country is ideal. The river is the center of public life anyway. Villages of the Marma, mountain landscapes, agriculture and bamboo rafts alternate and become an exhilarating experience in the late afternoon. What’s in Bandarban (Town)?
Around Bandarban on our YouTube channel
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• Sangu River Point – bridge overlooking the Sangu River. Suitable as a starting point for a walk through Bandarban.
• Bandarban Bazar – shops, street markets, hustle and bustle. Not a straight face remains! The Sangu flows on the left, its bank is worth more than a detour.
• Sangu Riverbank – center of public life especially in the late afternoon, pigs, soccer, laundry etc.
• Rajguru Buddhist Pagoda – the first pagoda in Bandarbans, today with an associated monastery.
• Nilachal (Tiger Hill) – around 600 meters high, offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area and Bandarban Town. Nearby is a Tripuri village.
• Buddha Dhatu Jadi – the “Golden Pagoda” of Bandarban, about five kilometers from the town (from Rangamati). Certainly the most beautiful pagoda in Bangladesh in a fantastic setting.
• Shoilo Propat – approx. 7 km south of Bandarbans, a small vantage point with a mountain stream and villages nearby.
• Chimbuck Hill – is located about 25 km south of Bandarban and offers a great view at almost 700 m altitude and a village nearby.
• Nilgiri Hills – 40 km south of Bandarbans, around 900 m high, offer a fantastic view of a spectacular landscape.
• Tahjindong – No. 1 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 1280 m.
• Mowdok Mual – No. 2 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 1052 m.
• Keokradong – No. 3 of the top 3 in the “alpine world” of Bangladesh, 883 m. On the way to Keokradong you can find:
• Bogakain Lake (Boga Lake) – 60 km southeast of Bandarban town, deep, large, natural at a height of 600 m. Picturesque collection of rainwater in the crater of a volcano that has been extinct for 2000 years.
• Chingri Jhiri Waterfall – only 5 km further, can be easily reached on foot if already on site. Another 3 km to Keokradong.
• Jadipai Waterfall – one of the widest waterfalls (seasonal) in Bangladesh, the waterfall and the surrounding area deserve the title "magnificent"! Two kilometers behind the Keokradong.

Foreword: Comilla is located in the Tropic of Cancer and is the warmest city in the country. Queen Victoria visited Comilla several times, the Comilla Victoria College was founded in her honor. In Mainamati, near Comilla, there is a collection of hills with the remains of more than 50 Buddhist settlements dating back to the 8th to 12th centuries. The archaeological site is one of the most important, while Shalban Vihara is one of the most famous monastic sites of the subcontinent. It was founded around the end of the 8th century by King Shri Bhava Deva. Originally, the monastery was named as the king (Bhavadev Bihar), today the name refers to a grove of shals trees. To the album

• New Shalban Vihara – directly opposite the Thai Royal Family finances a neat new building, visitors are welcome.
• Kutila Mura – the picturesque remains of the monastery are unfortunately not accessible to foreigners, as restricted area. But more than just a consolation:
• Itakhola Mura – is one of the most impressive ruins and enjoyed its heyday between the 7th and 12th centuries.
• Rupban Mura – consists of the remains of a remarkable half-cross-shaped shrine of medium size from the 6th to 7th century.
• Ananda Vihara – with almost 200 meters of side length was it the largest and most important (?) of all the structural works with the largest artificial lake in the area.
• Maynamati War Cemetery – Comilla was one of the most important military bases of the British-Indian army during the Second World War.
• Comilla City – the lively city or its center around the Zero Point is, if anyway here, definitely worth a stay!