Bandarban: Bandarban is one of the most beautiful travel place in
south Asia. Bandarban is a
district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division and
Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bandarban (meaning the dam of monkeys), or in Marma or Arakanese language as
"Rwa-daw Mro" is also known as
Arvumi or the Bohmong Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati
is the Chakma Circle and Khagrachari is the Mong Circle. Bandarban town is the
home town of the Bohmong Chief (currently King, or Raja, Aung Shwe Prue
Chowdhury who is the head of the Marma
population. It also is the administrative headquarter of Bandarban district,
which has turned into one of the most exotic tourist attractions in Bangladesh
since the insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts has ceased more than a decade
back.
Geography:
One
of the three hill districts of Bangladesh and a part of the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, Bandarban (4,479 km²) is not only the remotest district of the
country, but also is the least populated (population 292,900). The three
highest peak of Bangladesh - Tahjindong (1280 meters, also known as bijoy). Another
two paek are Mowdok Mual (1052 m), and Keokradong
(1230 m) located in Bandarban district,
as well as Raikhiang Lake, the highest lake in Bangladesh. Chimbuk
peak and Boga Lake are two more highly noted features of the district. The
newly reported highest peak of Bangladesh - Saka Haphong (3488 ft) is also
here in Thanchi upazila.
 |
| Bandarban |
Tourism:
Bandarban
lies, by bus, eight hours away from Dhaka, two hours from Chittagong and three hours from Cox's
Bazaar. It is also possible to get there
by a six hour bus ride from Rangamati.
Bandarbon Town:
A nearly 52 km² hill-town housing
about 32,000 people, of which the majority are Marma. There is a Tribal Cultural Institute here, which features
a library and a museum. The town also features Bandarban Town Hospital
(offering the best medical service in the district), the District Public
Library, Bandarban Government College, the District Stadium, banashri, the
solitary movie theatre, the royal cemetery, and, of course, the Royal Palace
(two of them since the 11th and 13th royal lines both claim the throne). Apart
from the numerous kyangs and mosques, there is a temple dedicated to Kali, the most revered goddess of Hindus is Bangladesh.
History:
In
the early days of 15th century, Arakanese kingdom, where Mrauk
U was the capital, expended its
territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal. After the victory of Arakan on Burma's
Pegu kingdom in 1599 AD, the Arakanese king Mong Raja Gree appointed a Prince
of Pegu as the governor of newly established Bohmong Htaung (Circle) by giving
the title of "Bohmong" Raja. That area was mostly populated by the Arakanese descendants and ruled by the Burmese (Myanmar) noble
descendants who started to call themselves in Arakanese language as Marma. Marma is an archaic Arakanese pronunciation for Myanmar. As the population of the Bohmong Htaung were of Arakanese descandants, these Myanmar-descendants Bohmong chiefs
(Rajas) of the ruling class took the titles in Arakanese and speak a dialect of
the Arakanese language.
Bandarban
Hill District was once called Bohmong
Htaung since the Arakanese rule. Once Bohmong Htaung was ruled by
Bohmong Rajas who were the subordinates to the Arakanese kings. Ancestors of
the present Bohmong dynasty were the successor of the Pegu King of Burma under the Arakan's rule in Chittagong. In 1614, King Mong Kha Maung, the
king of Arakan appointed Maung Saw Pru as Governor of Chittagong who in 1620
repulsed the Portuguese invasion with great valour. As a consequence, Arakanese
king, Mong Kha Maung adorned Maung Saw Pru with a title of Bohmong meaning Great General. After
the death of Maung Saw Pru two successors retained Bohmong title. During the
time of Bohmong Hari Gneo in 1710, Arakanese King Canda Wizaya recaptured
Chittagong from the Mughals. Bohmong Hari Gneo helped King Canda Wizaya in
recapturing Chittagong and as a mark of gratitude the later conferred on
Bohmong Hari Gneo the grand title of Bohmong
Gree which means great Commander in Chief.
Beautifull
Places in Bandarban:
Buddha
Dhatu Jadi: The largest Buddhist temple in
Bangladesh, located in Balaghata, 4 km from the town, is one excellent place to
visit locally known as 'Swarna Mandir'. This Theravada Buddhist temple. set
atop a 60 meter hill, is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and
houses a sacred relic and the second largest statue of Buddha in Bangladesh.
 |
| Meghla |
Shoilo
Propat,
Meghla and Nilachal: The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchari, 4 km from
the town on the road to Thanchi, is also excellent site maintained by
Bangladesh Parjatan, the national tourism promotion corporation.The Parjatan
Motel is not a small thing at all. It has a huge three-storey building on a
high place. The room rent here a little high compared to other places The site
maintained by the Distrcit Administraion is Meghla, 4 km from the town on the
road to Keranihat, which features a mini-safari-park, a zoo, and a hanging
bridge. The District Administration has also developed the Nilachal tourist
site near Meghla, in Tigerpara.
 |
| Chimbuk |
Raj
Vihar
and Ujanipara Vihar: The numerous Buddhist temples, known as kyang in
local toungue, and vihars in the town include the highly notable the Rajvihar
(royal Monastery) at Jadipara. The monastery at Ujanipara, known as Ujanipara
Vihar, is also a major place of interest.
Chimbuk: Chimbuk is one of the tallest peaks in
Bangladesh and lies some 14 km from the town. Bawm villages around Chimbuk and
Mru villages a little further off are also lie within a day's journey from the
town.
 |
| Nilgiri |
Nilgiri:
Nilgiri is one of the tallest peaks and beautiful place in Bangladesh and
lies some 46 km from the town. there is beautiful resort in the top of the
mountain maintain by the Bangladesh Army. Booking to be done through army
officer. There are three well furnished cottages ranging from Tk.4000-7000.
There are also three tents having 4 beds each @ 2000 per tent. Foreign tourist
will be restricted there. there is restaurant, helipad.
 |
| Boga Lake |
Boga Lake:
A beautiful lake surrounded by high hills and a small village just beside the
lake. Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. It is also
known as Bagakain Lake or Baga Lake. Boga lake is 18 kilometer away from Ruma
Sadar Upozilla in Bandarban. The area of this lake is about 15 acres. It is
about 3000 feet above sea level. The color of water of this lake is blue and
very nice. There are many mythological stories behind the creation of this
lake. There are many tourists make their way to Boga lake every year, specially
in the winter season. Small tribe community like Bawm, Khumi have localities
besides the Boga lake. In the rainy season, it is quite difficult to stroll
beside the boga lake. The road from Ruma to Boga lake is still under
construction. There waiting lots of pleasure and delight for you at Boga lake.
You will definitely be amazed looking at the big rocks lying in and out of the
Boga lake. You can have a camp fire beside the lake, that will be unbelievable
and mind-blowing memory in your life.
 |
| River Sangu |
Sangu River: The River
Sangu (also known as Sangpo or Shankha), the only river born inside Bangladesh
territory, runs through Bandarban. The other rivers in the district are
Matamuhuri and Bakkhali. Parts of Kaptai Lake, the biggest lake in, Bangladesh
fall under the are people.
