As a nature lover, I always feel a thirst inside me for beauty, thrill and enchantment. And there are so many natural beauties in Bangladesh that I have to explore. That is why I have decided to visit every tourist spot in the country, whenever I get the time. This time, my target was Sajek in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

One day in early December, I was thinking about how to spend my weekend. I had heard the name of Sajek Valley many times from my friends and relatives. Those who have visited the place seemed to have the same thing to say: You will not be bored over there. It is a very picturesque place, especially in the morning and evening. You will love it.

As I like to travel in areas that have hills, green forests, blue sea and other sites of natural beauty, I finally decided to go to Sajek.

I had also been told that not long ago, the valley was a risky place for visitors due to security concerns and only a few adventurous travellers dared to go there. But now, the situation has changed. The Bangladesh Army and border guards have established camps there, which is reassuring to visitors.  

Now, let me tell you about Sajek Valley and my day out there.

Sajek is a remote hilly area in Rangamati district, but you have to go there through Khagrachhari district. It is located about 67 km northeast of Khagrachhari town, while it is 95 km northwest of Rangamati city. The valley gets its name from the Sajek River, which originates from the Karnafuli River. The river works as a border between Bangladesh and India’s Mizoram state, which lies about 8km east of Sajek.

Sajek is a wonderful tourist spot and the army has built a new road through the hills to reach the place. The valley, famous for its natural beauty, is surrounded by verdant hills, dense forests and grasslands with hilly tracks. Many small rivers or streams flow in the hills, among which Kachalong and Machalong are notable.

I began my journey on November 30 from Dhaka, taking the night train to Chittagong. The next day, one of my local colleagues accompanied me to Sajek. After nearly three hours, we reached Khagrachhari from Chittagong by public bus.

From Khagrachhari, we had to hire a jeep along with other tourists. We started our journey around 1:30 pm, with 10 people crammed in the vehicle. Most of the other passengers were university students from Dhaka. On the way to Sajek, you can visit Hazachhara Falls, located between Khagrachhari town and Dighinala.

The journey to Sajek Valley is a thrilling one _ a three-hour drive along a steep, hilly road that zigzags to the destination. The trip usually starts at 10am from Dighinala, with army escorts accompanying tourists for added security. On the way to the valley, we had to cross the Mayni range and Mayni River.

On arriving at Sajek, you cannot help but exclaim: “Wow! What a lovely place.” The green hills can make you forget everything for a while. No wonder the place is known as ‘hill queen’ for its natural beauty.

But before travelling there, be alert about malaria. Though I did not meet any mosquitoes, better be prepared with insect-repellent creams or lotions.  

Also known as the ‘roof of Rangamati’, Sajek is about 2,000 ft (610m) from sea level. The main attractions of the scenic spot are enjoying sunrise or sunset, watching the clouds or rain, and visiting local communities. The main ethnic groups living in the valley are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Pankua, Lushai and Sagma.

There is a place near Sajek, called Kanglak which is famous for its orange orchards. Trekking to Kanglak is another interesting activity. But on the way, visitors must take permission from the local army camp. The soldiers there are very helpful and cooperative. Another thing, most mobile networks are not available there, except Teletalk.

I enjoyed a perfect vacation in the clouds.

From an ever-changing weather, which shifts in minutes from blazing sunshine to spells of heavy clouds that obscure the lovely view, Sajek Valley is simply mesmerising.

Photos: Writer.