Winter Travel

Humans are curious by nature and this knack for curiosity leads us to travel and discover new places, meet new people and of course, try out new cuisines. But our lifestyle these days  does not allow us to take off whenever our heart desires. So, we wait for holidays to arrive, so we can take a break from the mechanical life and go off to someplace where we have never been, or we return to a destination that had captured our heart before. 

Winter has started and everyone is on the lookout for a long or short trip with friends and family to take advantage of the cool, drier weather, while it lasts. Those who can afford to may go abroad for a fun-filled foray into new places and sights, but many will opt to explore what our country has to offer and settle for exploring the beauty of Bangladesh.
If you are really busy and have a day or two to spare for a break, there are a few resorts and spas that have opened up in Gazipur recently and make for an excellent getaway. Most of them are located near the Bhawal National Park and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park,  so you will get a healthy dose of nature not so far away from the everyday bustle of Dhaka city. 
The Bhawal Resort and Spa is one of the fairly new places that is open for business all year round and offers a host of activities for guests to enjoy. The location makes it easily accessible and for that reason, the place is booked completely most of the time. So if you are planning to go for a quick break, make sure to call two weeks ahead. 
About their facilities, Mahadi Talukder of the resort management team said: “Children up to 5 years of age can stay for free and from 5 to 10 years, we charge 50 percent of our regular rates. We will soon be introducing a game room for children. We have two swimming pools, one for ages 3-5 years old and another for 5 to 12-year-olds. Guests can use those for free. Breakfast is also free for children up to 5 years. You can have a relaxed stay at our resort or choose to be active and go hiking in the Bhawal National Park, have a picnic in the forest, swim in our huge swimming pool for adults or go cycling. We have villas with a private pool, so if you are looking for absolute serenity, ours is the place for you.”
Another resort that is up and running in the Gazipur area is the Rangamati Waterfront Resort, which is about 40 minutes away from Sheikh Mujib Safari Park. It is conveniently located at about 45 kilometres north of the city, and has round-the-clock security for added measure. The resort has a beautiful terraced, landscaped patio area with cascading fountains. The facility has an  amphitheatre for basketball games, as well as musical soirees. The management can also arrange barbeque parties for guests on request.
For active guests, the resort offers four fields, apart from a basketball court, where people can enjoy a game of cricket or football. A golf course is underway and billiards will be added soon to the list of activities. The place also has a hanging bridge and pathways all around for idle walks. 
If you are interested in exploring the natural beauty of Bangladesh in the winter time, Maksudur Rahman of Guide Tours suggests Bandarban, Srimongol, the Sundarbans and tranquil Saint Martin’s island. Guide Tours has been operating since 1989 and it offers an array of tours for both active and leisurely travellers. 
“Bandarban is ideal for adventure lovers and active travellers; there are trekking and hiking opportunities in the area. The Sangu River side trek takes you along hilly landscape along the river and you get to experience the wonder of the waterway and immerse yourself in nature. You can watch the sunset from Tiger Hill or visit Chimbuk peak. The Shoilopropath waterfall is also a popular spot for tourists, and you will find locals selling handlooms and other items in baskets near the attraction,” said Rahman. 
Another sight to behold when you are in Bandarban is the Buddha Dhatu Jadi, a Theravada Buddhist temple, popularly called the Bandarban Golden Temple. It is situated near Balaghata town. The temple is also famous for being the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in Bangladesh and it houses the second largest statue of Buddha in the country. Other popular places to explore are Nilgiri, Nilachal, Meghla, Prantik Lake, Boga Lake, Ali Kadam Cave and Rijhuk Waterfall in Ruma. You can also go for a cruise on a local boat on the Sangu River. If you are on a spiritual journey, you can check out the Quantum Meditation Centre in Lama. 
Rahman also informed The Weekend about their upcoming Sundarbans tour, from January 18-20. It is an open for all tour, which will start early in the morning from Jailkhana Ghat in Khulna where travellers will board a waiting boat. The trip to the south will then begin and after a few hours of cruising, the boat will stop at a forest station to complete formalities and pick up armed forest guards to stay onboard for safety. The next stop will be at Kotka forest station late in the afternoon, and there will be an overnight stay. 
“If time permits, your guide will offer some activities in the forest. Shortly after sunrise, we invite you to explore the narrow creeks on a wooden rowboat, which allows a closer look at the unique mangrove fauna and flora. We call this the ‘silent boat trip’. If you go by the rules, you will get to observe the diverse wildlife, and if you are really lucky, may be you will get a glimpse of the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger, but that has become rarer as days go by,” Rahman said.
 A variety of activities is part of this tour that includes an easy trek to a pristine beach facing the Bay of Bengal, or a hike through the mangroves. 
Srimongol in Sylhet is also a popular place to visit during winter, Rahman added. The Lawachhara National Park in Srimongol is one of the last forests left in Bangladesh. Whenever we think of taking a vacation, we tend to go to the seaside or the hills, but visiting a forest can be a new and refreshing experience, too. There is a Khasi punji or area located inside the forest. The Khasis are a matrilineal society where women inherit and run households. Their lifeline is betel leaf cultivation. They are also environment friendly individuals who take care of the forest and its bounty. 
There are three hiking trails inside  Lawachara Forest _ one of half-an-hour, one hour and three hours respectively. If you are lucky, you may get to see the hoolock gibbon, a rare species of primate that lives in the forest, as well as different species of monkeys, birds, butterflies and deer, such as barking deer. The forest is rich with different types of plants, trees and various species of orchids. It is said that a scene of the original ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ movie was shot on the rail track that passes through the forest.
Among other beautiful places to explore within the country, a few include Sajek, Rangamati, St Martin’s Island, Nijhum Dip and Kuakata. 
Winter is also a great time for bird watching in Bangladesh as it is situated on the cross path of two major migratory flyways. The wetlands or haors of Sylhet are sanctuaries for migratory birds. Closer to the city, Mirpur and Jahangirnagar University in Savar also offer nature reserves for migratory birds. The coastal areas, including the Sundarbans, are also significant breeding, resting and feeding grounds for a large variety of resident and migratory birds.
If you are into history and archeology, there are two places in Bangladesh that are enlisted as World Cultural Heritage sites _ the historic mosque city of Bagerhat and Paharpur Buddha Vihara in Rajshahi. Besides, the Kantajew or Kantanagar Temple, which was built by Maharaja Pran Nath in 1752, is a spectacular monument situated about 19 km north of Dinajpur town. Other historical sites and places to explore include Mahasthangarh in Bogra, Panam Nagar in Sonargaon, Shalban Vihar in Mainamati  of Comilla, and the ruins of Wari-Bateshwar in Belabo of Narsingdi. n

Photos: Courtesy, Internet

Winter Travel

Humans are curious by nature and this knack for curiosity leads us to travel and discover new places, meet new people and of course, try out new cuisines. But our lifestyle these days does not allow us to take off whenever our heart desires. So, we wait for holidays to arrive, so we can take a break from the mechanical life and go off to someplace where we have never been, or we return to a destination that had captured our heart before. Winter has started and everyone is on the lookout for a long or short trip with friends and family to take advantage of the cool, drier weather, while it lasts. Those who can afford to may go abroad for a fun-filled foray into new places and sights, but many will opt to explore what our country has to offer and settle for exploring the beauty of Bangladesh. If you are really busy and have a day or two to spare for a break, there are a few resorts and spas that have opened up in Gazipur recently and make for an excellent getaway. Most of them are located near the Bhawal National Park and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, so you will get a healthy dose of nature not so far away from the everyday bustle of Dhaka city. The Bhawal Resort and Spa is one of the fairly new places that is open for business all year round and offers a host of activities for guests to enjoy. The location makes it easily accessible and for that reason, the place is booked completely most of the time. So if you are planning to go for a quick break, make sure to call two weeks ahead. About their facilities, Mahadi Talukder of the resort management team said: Children up to 5 years of age can stay for free and from 5 to 10 years, we charge 50 percent of our regular rates. We will soon be introducing a game room for children. We have two swimming pools, one for ages 3-5 years old and another for 5 to 12-year-olds. Guests can use those for free. Breakfast is also free for children up to 5 years. You can have a relaxed stay at our resort or choose to be active and go hiking in the Bhawal National Park, have a picnic in the forest, swim in our huge swimming pool for adults or go cycling. We have villas with a private pool, so if you are looking for absolute serenity, ours is the place for you. Another resort that is up and running in the Gazipur area is the Rangamati Waterfront Resort, which is about 40 minutes away from Sheikh Mujib Safari Park. It is conveniently located at about 45 kilometres north of the city, and has round-the-clock security for added measure. The resort has a beautiful terraced, landscaped patio area with cascading fountains. The facility has an amphitheatre for basketball games, as well as musical soirees. The management can also arrange barbeque parties for guests on request. For active guests, the resort offers four fields, apart from a basketball court, where people can enjoy a game of cricket or football. A golf course is underway and billiards will be added soon to the list of activities. The place also has a hanging bridge and pathways all around for idle walks. If you are interested in exploring the natural beauty of Bangladesh in the winter time, Maksudur Rahman of Guide Tours suggests Bandarban, Srimongol, the Sundarbans and tranquil Saint Martins island. Guide Tours has been operating since 1989 and it offers an array of tours for both active and leisurely travellers. Bandarban is ideal for adventure lovers and active travellers; there are trekking and hiking opportunities in the area. The Sangu River side trek takes you along hilly landscape along the river and you get to experience the wonder of the waterway and immerse yourself in nature. You can watch the sunset from Tiger Hill or visit Chimbuk peak. The Shoilopropath waterfall is also a popular spot for tourists, and you will find locals selling handlooms and other items in baskets near the attraction, said Rahman. Another sight to behold when you are in Bandarban is the Buddha Dhatu Jadi, a Theravada Buddhist temple, popularly called the Bandarban Golden Temple. It is situated near Balaghata town. The temple is also famous for being the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in Bangladesh and it houses the second largest statue of Buddha in the country. Other popular places to explore are Nilgiri, Nilachal, Meghla, Prantik Lake, Boga Lake, Ali Kadam Cave and Rijhuk Waterfall in Ruma. You can also go for a cruise on a local boat on the Sangu River. If you are on a spiritual journey, you can check out the Quantum Meditation Centre in Lama. Rahman also informed The Weekend about their upcoming Sundarbans tour, from January 18-20. It is an open for all tour, which will start early in the morning from Jailkhana Ghat in Khulna where travellers will board a waiting boat. The trip to the south will then begin and after a few hours of cruising, the boat will stop at a forest station to complete formalities and pick up armed forest guards to stay onboard for safety. The next stop will be at Kotka forest station late in the afternoon, and there will be an overnight stay. If time permits, your guide will offer some activities in the forest. Shortly after sunrise, we invite you to explore the narrow creeks on a wooden rowboat, which allows a closer look at the unique mangrove fauna and flora. We call this the silent boat trip. If you go by the rules, you will get to observe the diverse wildlife, and if you are really lucky, may be you will get a glimpse of the mighty Royal Bengal Tiger, but that has become rarer as days go by, Rahman said. A variety of activities is part of this tour that includes an easy trek to a pristine beach facing the Bay of Bengal, or a hike through the mangroves. Srimongol in Sylhet is also a popular place to visit during winter, Rahman added. The Lawachhara National Park in Srimongol is one of the last forests left in Bangladesh. Whenever we think of taking a vacation, we tend to go to the seaside or the hills, but visiting a forest can be a new and refreshing experience, too. There is a Khasi punji or area located inside the forest. The Khasis are a matrilineal society where women inherit and run households. Their lifeline is betel leaf cultivation. They are also environment friendly individuals who take care of the forest and its bounty. There are three hiking trails inside Lawachara Forest _ one of half-an-hour, one hour and three hours respectively. If you are lucky, you may get to see the hoolock gibbon, a rare species of primate that lives in the forest, as well as different species of monkeys, birds, butterflies and deer, such as barking deer. The forest is rich with different types of plants, trees and various species of orchids. It is said that a scene of the original Around the World in 80 Days movie was shot on the rail track that passes through the forest. Among other beautiful places to explore within the country, a few include Sajek, Rangamati, St Martins Island, Nijhum Dip and Kuakata. Winter is also a great time for bird watching in Bangladesh as it is situated on the cross path of two major migratory flyways. The wetlands or haors of Sylhet are sanctuaries for migratory birds. Closer to the city, Mirpur and Jahangirnagar University in Savar also offer nature reserves for migratory birds. The coastal areas, including the Sundarbans, are also significant breeding, resting and feeding grounds for a large variety of resident and migratory birds. If you are into history and archeology, there are two places in Bangladesh that are enlisted as World Cultural Heritage sites _ the historic mosque city of Bagerhat and Paharpur Buddha Vihara in Rajshahi. Besides, the Kantajew or Kantanagar Temple, which was built by Maharaja Pran Nath in 1752, is a spectacular monument situated about 19 km north of Dinajpur town. Other historical sites and places to explore include Mahasthangarh in Bogra, Panam Nagar in Sonargaon, Shalban Vihar in Mainamati of Comilla, and the ruins of Wari-Bateshwar in Belabo of Narsingdi. n Photos: Courtesy, Internet