Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh and a busy
international seaport, is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and
forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract
the holiday-markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang
(7th century A.D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and
given the title of "Porto Grande" by the 16th century Portuguese
seafarers. Chittagong remains true to both the descriptions even today. It
combines remains true to both the descriptions even today. It combines the
busy hum of an active seaport with the shooting quiet of a charming hill
town.
Chittagong is the
country's chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy,
medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery
are also located in Chittagong.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
Besides, the longest sea-beach, Cox's Bazar and its adjoing areas
have a lot of things to see and places deserve visit by the tourists.
Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami:
Situated on a hillock at Nasirabad, about 6 km. to the north-west
of Chittagong town, this shrine attracts a large number of visitors and
pilgrims. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises.
Tradition has it that these animals are the descendants of the evil
spirits (genii) who were cast into this shape because they incurred the
wrath of the great saint who visited the place about 1100 years age.
World War II Cemetery
In a well-preserved cemetery at a quiet and picturesque place
within the city lie buried in eternal peace over 700 soldiers from
British, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Myanmar, East and West
Africa, The Netherlands and Japan who laid down their lives on the Myanmar
front during the World War II.
Shrine of Shah Amanat:
The Shrine of Shah Amanat is another place of religious attraction,
located in the heart of the town, the shrine is visited by hundreds of
people everyday who pay homage to the memory of the saint.
Court Building Museum:
Situated on the Fairy Hill,this building commands a
panoramic bird's eye view of Chittagong. This had been the scene of
intense activity during the independence War in 1971. A museum has been
established here.
Foy's Lake(Pahartali Lake):
Set amidst picturesque surroundings in the railway
township of Pahartali 8 km. from Chittagong this is an ideal spot of
outing and picnic thronged by thousands of visitors every week.
Mercantile Marine Academy at Juldia: The only training institute of its kind in Bangladesh,
situated on the month of the river Karnaphuli.
Patenga and Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches:
Patenga beach is about 22 km. from Chittagong and is
approachable by a motorable road. On the way to the beach one passes the
Patenga Airport. Another ideal picnic spot is the Fouzdarhat sea-beach
about 16 km. from Chittagong.
Port Area:
Located near the river mouth of the river Karnaphuli, the Chittagong port
has a recorded history from 9th century. Today, this is the principal
seaport of the country.
Ethnological Museum
This
museum located in Agrabad is a treasure-house of a variety of tribal
culture and heritage of Bangladesh.
Zia
Museum
The government Circuit House
where former president Ziaur Rahman was assasinated has been turned into a
museum.
Sitakunda
About 37 km.
from Chittagong lies an interesting place known as Sitakunda, served by a
railway station of the same name. Famous among the many temples in this
place are the Chandranath Temple and the Buddhist Temple has a footprint
of Lord Buddha. These places particularly the hilltops are regarded as
very sacred by the Buddhists and the Hindus. Siva-chaturdashi festival is
held every year in February when thousands of pilgrims assemble for the
celebrations which last about ten days. There is a salt water spring 5 km.
to the north of Sitakunda, known as Labanakhya.
Climate
: Pleasant and cool in winter and warm and humid in
summer.
Language
: Bangla, English is spoken and understood.
Wearing Apparel : Tropical
in summer and light woolen in
winter.
Climate
: Pleasant and cool in winter and warm and humid in
summer.
Language
: Bangla, English is spoken and understood.
Wearing
Apparel : Tropical in summer and light woolen in winter.
Parjatan
facilities for Tourists in Chittagong
Motel Shaikat at Station Road is a good Motel for budget
tourists. It has 2 AC suites; 13 AC Twin Rooms; 13 non-AC Twin Rooms;
Shaikat Restaurant-60 seating, Tourist Information, Phones : 619514,
619845, 611046-8. Other hotels in town are Hotel Agrabad, Hotel Shahjahan,
Hotel Miskha, Hotel Safina & Hotel Hawaii.
Communication
& Transport:
Chittagong is
connected by road and rail with rest of the country. Air link is available
with Dhaka and Calcutta.
Car
Rental:
Rent-A-Car facilities are available for city sightseeing
and trips to Rangamati, Cox's Bazar, Sitakunda and other touristically
important places.
Hill
Districts
The
Hill Tracts is divided into three districts, namely Rangamati, Khagrachari
and Bandarban. From Chittagong a
77 km. road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you to
Rangamati, the headquarters of the Rangamati Hill District which is a
wonderful repository of scenic splendours with flora and fauna of varied
descriptions. It is also connected by water way from Kaptai.
The
Hills
The Hill Tract is divided into
four valleys surrounded by the Feni, Karnaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and
Matamuhuri rivers and their tributaries. The ranges or hills of the Hill
Tracts rise steeply thus looking far more impressive than what their
height would imply and extend in long narrow ridges. The highest peaks on
the northern side are Thangnang, Langliang and Khantiang while those on
the southern side are Ramu, Taung, Keekradang, Tahjindong (4632 ft,
highest in Bangladesh), Mowdok Mual, Rang Tlang and Mowdok Tlang.
Tribal
life
The
inhabitants of the Hill Tracts are mostly tribal. Life of the tribal
people is extremely fascinating. Majority of them are Buddhists and the
rest are Hindus, Christians and Animists. Despite the bondage of religion,
elements of primitiveness is strongly displayed in their rites, rituals
and everyday life. The tribal
families are matriarchal. The
women-folk are more hardworking than the males and they are the main
productive force.
The
tribal people are extremely self-reliant, they grow their own food, their
girls weave their own clothes
and generally speaking, they live a simple life. Each tribe
has its own dialect, distinctive dress and rites and rituals. The common
feature is their way of life which still speak of their main occupation.
Some of them take pride in hunting with bows and arrows. Tribal women are
very skilful in making
beautiful handicrafts. Tribal people are generally peace loving, honest
and hospitable. They usually greet a tourist with a smile.
The
Kapali
Lakes
Famous Kaptai Lake, the largest
"man-made" lake, spreading over 680 sq. km. of crystal-clean water flanked
by hills and evergreen forests lies in the Rangamati Hill District. The
lake was formed when the Karnaphuli river dam (153 feet high, 1800 feet
long crest) was built for the purpose of hydroelectric power project at
Kaptai. The old Rangamati town was submerged under lake water and a new
town had to be built later. The lake is full of fish and provides
facilities for cruising, swimming and skiing. There are also facilities
for angling and short trip by Sampan, local name for country boats.
The
Forests
The valleys of the Hill Tracts
are covered with thick planted forests. The vegetation in semi-evergreen
to tropical evergreen dominated by tall teak trees. The natural vegetation
can be seen best in the Rain-khyong valleys of the Bandarban district.
This district provides the country with valuable wood used for various
purposes, besides supplying wood and bamboo for the Karnaphuli Paper Mills
and the Rayon Mills situated at Chandraghona. Here a tourist may be lucky
to see how huge logs of wood are being carried to the plain by the tamed
elephants.
