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Bangladesh is the land of beauty, which sometime called as the land of rivers. But only very few call us as the country of sea beach or beautiful mountains. That’s really unfortunate where we have the longest sea beach of the earth and there are also some loving green mountains at the Chittagong division but our responsible institute did not work properly to expose those awesome places before the world.
Therefore we are here to help the tourists to change their addressing of Bangladesh representing the extreme beautiful touring places uncovered and secured through our Chittagong hilly area by our Army and BGB forces. We are very much confident that, after traveling these heavenly places any tourist will surely address our Bangladesh as the peace land of mountains. Whatsoever not extending my lectures lets view in detail of the paradise Sajek.
Back Story of Sajek:
Sajek -Valley therefore Sajek is the largest Union in Rangamati district under Baghaichari Upazila, which is situated at most eastern-north angle of the district. The eastern border of Sajek is with Mizoram of India which is about 8km far from the Sajek Valley.
The valley Sajek named by the river, which is in between of Baghaichari and Mizoram and separated Bangladesh from India. There are many small rivers and streams are connected with this river where Kasalang and Masalang are much known. And finally the river Sajek got connected with Karnaphuli where it somewhat started from India. Sajek is about 1800ft high from the sea level; so there was huge crisis of pure drinking water at the top of the valley.
The tribal people had to bring water from nearest stream which may have flowing below many hundreds of meters and at dry season they had to go more far distances for the water. For this reason many tribal family migrated to the very nearest land of Mizoram where their relatives or primogenitors lived and somewhat the place locally gone under control of them for few time. But from few years Bangladesh Army & BGB therefore Bangladesh government took the control of the area completely.
They developed the road and communication directly connecting with our mainland. They ensured the medication, sanitary, hybrid wind-solar-diesel electricity and also the solution of pure drinking water. The place also got the mobile phone network coverage. Therefore 200 of tribal family got rehabilitation at Sajek valley and this large scale activity done by our Army, BGB and by some NGO. They collectively made the paradise safe, livable for our tribes and also visit able to the tourists. And now you can call the Sajek as the Valley of Heaven
Attraction of Sajek:
Sajek holds an old habitation of some of our tribal citizens. There are many tribes like Lushai, Pankhua, Tripura and some are Sangma at Sajek therefore Baghaichari, where the main tribe is Lushai. Most of the peoples are Buddhist or Christians. The Ruilui-Para is the center developed area of Sajek which is completely restructured and organized by our Army & BGB forces, where some of social developments done by an NGO ALO (Assistance for the Livelihood of the Origins).
There are more two beautiful places beside Sajek; they are Marishsha & Kanlak. Kanlak is famous for juicy oranges therefore there are large orange gardens on the valley of Kanlak-Para. Common tourists can visit Kanlak Para but visiting Marishsha you have to trail over the hilly tracks. At Sajek bamboo is the core material for making houses and structures so you will find most of the structures made by locally available bamboos.
In a word the attraction of Sajek is Sajek; therefore the sunrise, sunset, rain, hugging cloud, the morning, evening, starlight night…….almost full day comes with different color and fragrances in all season. You will love everything and every moment at Sajek no doubt. You can touch the cloud here and most pleasantly sometime you will find yourself standing in clouds and you will not able so see anything beside you even for meters but only cloud.
In this heavenly natural beauty you can stay full day roaming with tribes, can purchase oranges when visiting orange garden, can join the tribal bazaar or purchase handicrafts made by the locals, can track over the mountains and streams or can stay idle at the hanging lobby of the Runmoy with a cup of tea; where no one will bother you or you will not feel boring a little. You can also spend your night on the mountains spreading a tent with a campfire or barbeque after getting permission from the BGB.
When you start your day of roaming at Sajek, you should start your day at the dark of the early morning. You will enjoy the heavenly game of starlight-darkness-sunrise with huge cloud around you. You may enjoy the holy feeling staying that time on the helipads situated on the mountain heads.
After the sunrise completing your breakfast you can move for Kanlak-Para orange garden or tracking toward Marishsha. But one thing you have to forget that is your bike, as there are no more roads for riding but only tracking. Therefore just put your geared backpack on your back, wear tracking boot and move with your guide. Just enjoy your time.
Way of Ride to Paradise:
Sajek Union is under Baghaichari Upazila of Rangamati district but there is no easy or direct road communication with the center. You have to go through the Khagrachhari town if you want to go Rangamati by road and that is about 136km far from Sajek. But by tracking and with surfing small boats you can move between Sajek & Rangamati. If any tourist wants to do that, they should arrange a guide getting permitted by the BGB. But as we are here for the bike riders we will detail you the easier way which is newly covered with solid asphalt to head forward the Sajek. And that is safe and very much enjoyable for the bikers.
Heading toward Sajek, first you have to reach at Khagrachhari town maybe you are from Dhaka or Chittagong or from anywhere else. If you are from Chittagong area you can follow the route of Chittagong-Hathazari-Bibirhat-Manikchari-Matiranga-Khagrachhari, which is around 116km. From Rangamati you can follow Rangamati-Mohalchhari-Khagrachhari route with the road distance of 70km. But be sure you have to cover the entire hilly route within daylight for the safety reason, and do not halt at the solitary on the track. If needed, take break at shops or bazaars and spent a short time.
After reaching Baraiyarhat you can take a tea-break as the road nature is totally different from there and you will face completely different character of road and traffic. Every time you will have to be much conscious of road and traffic. You will have to keep beeping the horns at every turning. The road is very narrow and hilly road starts some after from there. Moving from Baraiyarhat, after 3km you have to take a right turn at Korerhat and that toward Ramgarh.
Before Ramgarh you have to cross over Heyako Bazaar (Fatikchhari) with turning left. From Ramgarh to Matiranga therefore Khagrachhari you will have to cross the Jaliapara Bus Stand which is a cross road, where you have to take left turn again and move forward for Matiranga and then Khagrachhari town. So the detailed route from Baraiyarhat is Baraiyarhat-Korerhat-Heyako Bazaar (Fatikchhari)-Ramgarh-Jaliapara Bus Stand-Matiranga-Khagrachhari. In the hill track don’t forget to ask at shopkeepers or vehicle drivers for the route and ask at least two different people for confirming and double checking the information.
If you are a frequent rider you can cover the distance from Dhaka to Khagrachhari within the day and there will be more couple of hours to cover around 66km to head forward Sajek. In the meantime don’t forget having lunch at System Restaurant with their delicious tribal foods which are very famous at Khagrachhari.
If you are first time at hill track or may have lost some of your stamina then avoid moving forward Sajek and may stay at Khagrachhari where there are many hotels & resorts. The track toward the Sajek is extreme hilly, narrow and twisted like a snake; and of-course some bit like a rollercoaster track covered with sand, loose gravel and somewhere steep slope of mountains where you need extreme capability of riding, patience and sharpness of your senses.
Accommodations at Sajek:
There are two high facility resorts at Sajek developed by Bangladesh Army therefore “Region Officers’ Club Khagrachhari (ROCK) “; they are Sajek Resort and Runmoy Resort. The facilities are quite expensive for our civilians but if you are a government official or from defense then you will be eligible for the special deducted charges, and for the foreigners we think the fare is fair enough.
Without these resorts there are more opportunities to stay your night with comfortable charges at ALO Resort developed by the ALO NGO; and you can stay at the Clubhouse also. Without the Clubhouse at all the resorts you have to book your space and facilities paying some advance money through bank account. Without prior booking it is quite hard to get the accommodation there. So you should take care of booking just on planning for Sajek. Remaining those you can also can stay at the tribal people’s houses paying for accommodation and food. But in the holidays in touring season those houses also gets occupy with tourists these days.
Security at Sajek:
Sajek is completely secured by our BGB forces. Once there were some trouble with Indian Mizo tribals, but now it is organized and covered by our forces; and it is safe & peaceful there. Moreover when anyone travels for Sajek they have to register their name, identity and staying time-schedule for some security issue as mandatory. If there anything a little unusual they will not allow any tourist for further safety.
And when you got permission you can feel safe for 100% and after reaching at Sajek you will feel the safety of your own. But you should maintain the minimum social manners therefore honor the rules and the lifestyle of the tribes. And again please do not bother for the security of your bike at Sajek, there no one will touch your bike and you can put your bike anywhere simple locking the neck.
