Into the wilderness of Bandarban

Novoair has announced two nights of free hotel stay on purchasing two return tickets to Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route.

 

To enjoy this offer, tickets must be purchased from Novoair sales counter by 30 June, and travel must be completed by 31 July, said a press release.

The hotels where the offer can be availed are Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort, Hotel the Cox Today, Seagull Hotel, Neeshorgo Hotel & Resort, Windy Terrace Hotel and Grace Cox Smart Hotel.

Novoair operates daily flights from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar at 7:45 am, 8:45 am, 10 am, 11 am, 2:20 pm and 4 pm.

Similarly, flights from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka are operated daily at 9:20 am, 10:20 am, 11:35 am, 12:35 pm, 3:55 pm and 5:35 pm.

ress of the journey was worth every penny. When I say that never had I ever laid my eyes on such a breathtakingly beautiful resort, I mean every word. I slowly walked towards the dining area and was invited by a view which looked like it would belong to a story book. The cottages, pool, walkway, every single amenity seem to have been made outside, softly placed here so that the terrain and contour of the original topography remain intact. The sky, punched with clouds, were floating across the sky. The sea of yellow-green hills, the bank of clouds, the warmth of sunlight, everything seemed so coherent.

We were lucky enough to arrive before the sunset. The slanting rays of the sun gave an orange tinge to the sky. The sense of inner peace and harmony was unmatched. We admired the fresh, bright and charming nature as the sun gradually sank below the horizon. Darkness then covered the entire earth.

We were exhausted after such an eventful day so we finally decided to give some rest to our eyes. The first rays of sunlight lit up our room the next morning. Woke up, I was puzzled if I had been lying in plenty of openings fitted with long glazed glass allowing clear vision of hills, tress and chirping birds right from my bed. The balcony was extended from the slope of the hill and looked hanging in space; when leaned on its rail I wished I had a parachute to jump and fly.

We had a tight schedule, so we immediately got ready for our next adventure, a 55-km journey up to Thanchi – along Bandarban’s mystic hills. When reached after about two hours of zigzag journey, I almost shrieked in excitement when heard that our next event would be a boat journey from Thanchi to Remakri. “What a perfect day for a boat journey!” I thought. My father rented a boat and all of us clambered onto it. The smooth wave pool tides followed the boat as it left the harbour and into the Sangu river. It was time to see what else Bandarban had in store for us.

I always thought no place in Bangladesh would exceed my hopes and expectations but the journey to Remakri proved me wrong. No words would be able to describe the beauty it holds. The sky was light blue with some dainty see-through clouds and a slight warm breeze. The river was like a greenish blue stream seeping and dribbling as it swerved through the forest. It sprung over the rocks in its way. Pebbles whisked about in the under wash like pieces of glitter. Streams are the liquid soul of the forest, and this one was glowing. Chords of soft light speared down from above, bathing its surface in gold. We could hear the chorus of the pleasant-sounding birds. The trees seemed like silhouettes in the glorious expanse.

We had to get off the boat at times as the flow of water wasn’t strong enough to carry us. We treaded by the riverbank and happily jumped over all the rocks and pebbles blocking our way. After a lot of hiking and trekking through the uneven landscape, we spotted our boat waiting for us and hopped onto it again. We reached Remakri in about two hours.

All my stress and anxiety seeped out of my body the moment I splashed my face with the river water. The forest aroma ran down through my spine. Remakri looked like a hideaway of the lost heaven. The river came in black-green serenity, hurdling its way among the various sized pebbles and rocks, calling up to forest boughs. I sat on a rock and took a minute to appreciate the peace Mother Nature holds in herself. For the first time in my life I can confidently say that I have witnessed a place where nature has reached its highest peak. It was getting late so we were forced to get up and bid farewell to Remakri.

An important feature of the community dwelling in remotest part of this region is that people here don’t expect any cash reward in exchange of help. When we were stuck by a giant size rock, two locals helped us got out and then refused to accept any cash for the deal.

Another day, another adventurous event. We wasted no time and hit the road to Boga Lake. It was another long journey. Our ears popped as we went higher up the hills till it felt like we were on top of the clouds. The 5-hour journey did not pain us at all thanks to the majestic view.

The lake was as blue as a swimming pool and the atmosphere was very quiet. Boga Lake is situated on top of a hill and is 125 feet deep, almost the height of a 12-storey building. Till this day, not even foreign scientists found an answer to where its water came from. It was as if the lake has mysteries, waiting to be discovered. The most popular myth is that the lake was formed as a curse from a deity, who inundated the villagers as they stopped worshipping it.

We decided to enjoy every second of our last day in Bandarban. It is meaningless to stay at Nilgiri and not experience the sunrise from the top of the hill. We were successful in waking up before the crack of dawn even with our exhausted bodies. We scurried our way towards the sunrise view point and patiently waited for the sun to peek through the horizon.

The morning air was so fresh, and there was not a sound in the world. Waking up this early gave me a chance to witness one of the true beauties in the world. All of what happens before the world wakes up, on the top of Nilgiri, is something everyone should witness once in their lives. The hilltops and the valley below seem to be bathed in light. The vast sea of clouds underneath added perfection to the scenery. Slowly the orange and the yellow sun begins to appear and began to rise higher and higher, very slowly, and the colours became more vibrant.

On our way back to Dhaka, we stopped at a shop to buy souvenirs. The local people humbly greeted us and we learned a lot about their culture. My mother enthusiastically did her shopping and the moment I dreaded finally arrived. It was time for us to leave this wonderland and return to the harsh reality of our lives.

Bangladesh is a beautiful country and you should explore the wilderness of Bandarban. No matter where you look, you see beauty. Everywhere surrounding you are hills, with blankets of cloud above you. Readers, this is a sign that your next trip should definitely be at Bandarban.

*The writer is a student of Class VIII at Sunnydale School.