Bandarban Tour
4 days - 4 nights
- Golden Temple
- Bugalek
- Keokradong
- Nafakhum
08.01.24
We were total 12 people, 10 people left Noakhali at 11 pm for Bandarban and the remaining 2 people will join from Chittagong. I reached Feni Mohipal at 1.30 pm. Our plan was to go from Feni to Chittagong and then from Chittagong to Pubali to Bandarban but luckily we got a direct bus from Dhaka to Bandarban at Mohipal.
★ Bus fare :- 250/- per person
09.01.24
I reached Bandarban at 4:20 am. It will be 10 am when our remaining 2 members from Chittagong come to Bandarban. About 5-6 hours were available. At 9 degrees Celsius, everyone's condition is bad.
So we sat in a mosque and waited for the dawn. As soon as the light came, we all had breakfast and wandered around the city of Bandarban.
We had already hired an up-down Chander car for Bagalek.
The rent was Tk.11000.
As two people were late coming from Chittagong, we hired 10 autos and went to see the Golden Temple. I bought a ticket for 50 taka per person and entered inside. Look inside the temple for a while. At 10 am the other two reached Bandarban from Chittagong and we left for Ruma. Enter everyone's name in the "Y" junction in the middle.
Reach Ruma Bazar in a little more than 2 hours. There our guide Jasim bhai was waiting for us. Jasim bhai we are not together for 2 days.
We all went and took permission from Ruma Bazar army camp. After taking permission, we started the journey towards Bagalek in Tarek Bhai's Chand car. On the way, I had to enter my name again at the Ruma Bazar police outpost. Ruma to Bagalek this roader fill was 100/100. Living with a different life is here. We reached Bagalek within 1 hour. At first glance, Bagalek is simply amazing.
After reaching Bagalek Army Camp, I entered my name. After leaving the bag at the cottage, I went to the bank of Bagalek and took a bath. After eating, go to the room and sleep for 1.30 hours. In the late afternoon I visited the whole Bagalek neighborhood. Very clean and tidy. The papayas and bananas from the neighborhood shop were nectar. In the evening, I held a dance party and a singing session at the edge of Bagalek. After eating at 9 pm, I went to bed early because the next day we had to do 4 hours of trekking in the mountains.
10.01.24
I woke up early in the morning and went to the bank of Bagalek. The entire Bagalek was called in the moon of fog. Had tea and took some photo sessions. In the morning, we had ordered khichuri at Bagalek canteen. Had breakfast there. At night in Keokradong, I took the necessary items for overnight stay in a small bag and left the big bag in my pocket and started trekking.
We started walking in the fog and the crooked path of the mountain. After walking for about an hour, we reached the shrimp spring. After 1 hour we started walking from Chingri Jharna and reached a place. There you will find mountain papaya, banana and different types of sherbet.
From there start trekking again, then reach Darjeeling Para. An incredibly beautiful, well-arranged village. After spending some time in the neighborhood of Darjeeling, I started walking towards our original destination Keokradong. I reached Keokradong within 40 minutes.
After reaching there, we entered the army camp. After some rest I went to the helipad and stayed there till sunset. Later in the evening it was time for dinner as everyone sat on the summit in the Konkan cold and chatted. After dinner, I came to the room and chatted again for a while and fell asleep.
11.01.24
I woke up in the morning and saw the sunrise. A raft of clouds below and the sunrise above. Couldn't stay longer at Keokradong as we have to reach Nafakhum today. Packed bags and checked out from Keokradong at 7.30am. To save time, we didn't track while getting down. Tarek Bhai was bringing Chand's car from above Darjeeling. He was paying us 3000/- more. The road was full of thrills. I quickly packed my bag from Bagalek and left for Ruma. In the morning, the game of clouds continued on this road from Bagalek to Ruma. I reached Ruma Bazaar to touch the clouds. Had breakfast at Ruma Bazar. Then Jasim Bhai managed another car for us to go to Thanchi.
★ Car rental :- 6000/-.
I went to the "Y" junction and quickly got into the car after entering the name of the army camp. There is nothing to say about the Chimbuk hill road, just wow. It seemed that all the benefits of life are here. On the way we saw the Nilgiris but we had less time, so we did not climb again. Moreover, after seeing Keokradong, the Nilgiris no longer attracted us. The road to Thanchi will introduce you to a different Bangladesh. After 3 hours I reached Bolipara army camp. After entering the name in the army camp, the journey started again as usual. It is good to say that while traveling around Bandarban you have to enter name in many places so don't be bothered by it, help them, it is all for your safety. I reached Thanchi in a short time from Bolipara. I performed the Friday prayer at the market place.
Then went to Thanchi Bazaar and met our pre-arranged guide Jacob. A cheerful and innocent boy. We make it a common dialogue to address him as Dada. I bought a huge bunch of bananas from Ruma Bazar, for lunch, bananas and forest. We ate a lot of bananas and local fruits + foods throughout the Bandarban tour. Time is short, permission should be taken from the police station and BGB camp very quickly. Because no more permission is given after 4 pm. Jacob fixed everything and we helped him. BGB gave one life jacket for everyone from the camp and took 100/- per life jacket, although we all knew satar that we didn't need life jacket but it was mandatory. As soon as we got down to Sangu, the boat that we had fixed arrived.
★ Per Boat :- 4500/- Taka (up-down, 4-5 people can sit in each boat)
★We have to pay 2000/- to Jacob to take Nafakhum.
The much awaited boat trip to Sangu has started. The lifestyle of Sangu Par is simple and challenging in one word. I was lost in the greenery after seeing the almond fields nearby. If you can travel by boat on Thanchi-Remakri route even once in your life then you can find the real Bangladesh. After 1.15 hours we reach Barapathar, a kingdom of huge boulders and full of eye-catching beauty. Within 2 hours we reached Remakri Bazar by which time evening was falling. I started trekking from Remakri to Nafakhum through darkness. Everyone has no energy at all but still we have to walk for 2 hours. I started walking with light moonlight and a flashlight. Walking along the Remakri Canal through the hills on such a dark night was the best experience of our lives. After a while I was asking Jacob and how long?? Every time dada reply 10 minutes but this 10 minutes reach us after 1 hour. I came to Nafakhum Para after tracking for a little more than 2 hours.
Everyone was tired, I went to bed refreshed. Food was ready at 11 o'clock in the night, with a hungry stomach I ate quickly without waiting and went to bed. The sound of nafakhum was coming to my ears (our cottage was next to nafakhum).
12.01.24
In the early morning, I visited Nafakhum in Konkan in the cold fog. Really Nafakhum chirjaubana,, we all did some photo session. Back to the room quickly packed the bags and again trekking for Remakri.
We have to reach Noakhali today. I was just surprised to see walking on the road. I walked through this path yesterday night. At 1.30 am we left Remakri Bazar, our boat was waiting for us. Without wasting time we leave. At noon we reached Thanchi Bazar. I was having lunch at Thanchi Bazaar. I fixed Chand's car for 2200 taka from Thanchi Bazar and headed for Bandarban. By the time we reached Bandarban, it was late afternoon. I took the 5 o'clock pubali bus ticket and came to Chittagong. From Chittagong we all went separately to our respective destinations. Overall this tour was the best experience of our life.
The whole tour cost us 6200/- per person.
And yes of course;
- Do not spoil the places by littering while walking.
- The people of the hills will be easy to treat them politely.
- Travel yourself, encourage others and promote places to promote the country's tourism.