Rangamati is a small and beautiful town located amongst the green hills, lakes and rivers of the Chittagong Hill. It is for this very reason that is is a prime Bangladesh hill destination. It is known as the Lake City of Bangladesh as it is located on the bank of the beautiful Kaptai Lake. It is the administrative headquarter of the Rangamati Hill District, the largest district of Bangladesh and located some 77 kilometres away from Chittagong. For a long time Rangamati has been a prime Bangladesh tourist destination for its location, scenic beauty, colourful tribal people, tribal homespun textiles, ivory jewellery and many such attractions.
The rich natural resources, diverse flora and fauna makes Rangamati, a Bangladesh Eco-Tourism destination. The road leading to Rangamati circles and winds through hilly terrains covered with lush green forests and creates a memorable experience for years to come. A stay here provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of various tribes living in this region. The ethnic tribes of Rangamati are the Chakma, Marma, Tonchongya, Tripura, Murong, Bome, Khumi, Kheyang, Chak, Pankhoa, and Lusai. The mix of different races, cultures, religions and customs creates an interesting community in Rangamati. It is said that if a tourist skips Rangamati he / she will miss a colourful slice of Bangladesh.
Tourist spots in Rangamati:
• Kaptai Lake
• Tribal Museum
• Shuvolong Falls
• Kaptai National Park
• Hanging Bridge
• Rajban Bihar Pagoda
• Peda Ting Ting
Kaptai Lake:
This large man-made lake Bangladesh spanning over an area of approximately 11000 sq. km, was created as a reservoir when the Kaptai dam was built during the 1960s. The lake was created by flooding valleys and plain lands between numerous hills. This created a picturesque view as forested hills and plateaus rose from beneath the water. The government run tourism corporation and private operators offer Kaptai Lake Cruise Tours, which is worth every penny. Other scenic spots are also accessible through the waterways.
Tribal Museum:
The tribal museum is located near the entry point to the city. Established in 1978, it is run by the Tribal Cultural Institute. Traditional Ornaments, Costumes, Potteries, Musical instruments, Armaments, paintings, photographs, old manuscripts, statues and ancient coins of various tribes are on display in this museum. It is open from Saturday to Thursday – excluding public holidays.
Shuvolong Falls:
Shuvolong is a place in Borokol sub-district, located about 25 kms away from Rangamati. There are few waterfalls in Shuvolong area with the largest one falling from as high as 300 feet. In the last few years, this place has turned into a tourist destination due to its beautiful waterfalls and the nearby market. Shuvolong is easily accessible by speed boat or motor boats from Rangamati.
Kaptai National Park:
This forest reserve is located in the Karnafuly and Kaptai range. According to the government statistics about 50,000 people visit the National Park every year. The park is known to provide some walking trails among the lush green forest. The animal species found in the Kaptai National park are deer, elephants, monkeys, fishing cats and birds. The Kaptai Forest Rest house, Kaptai Mukh Forest Rest House and several picnic spots are located here.
Hanging Bridge:
The Hanging Bridge across a portion of Kaptai lake adds to the beauty of the lake. In Bengali the name of the Hanging Bridge is
Bridge and this is also popular to its visitors. This bridge also leads to another hill over the canal close to the famous Parajatan motel. It’s said touring to Rangamati is incomplete without visiting the first hanging bridge of Bangladesh which stands 355 feet long and is considered to be a landmark icon of Bangladesh.
Rajban Bihar Pagoda:
An internationally known Buddhist Temple, where the spiritualist principal monk of Rajban Vihara, Shrimath Sadhana Nanda Mohasthabir
(Ban Vante) lives. Architectural design of this temple is the oldest one but it looks very nice. Anyone can enjoy this temple during the first visit.Peda Ting Ting:
Amongst the islands that can be visited by boat from Rangamati, is the Peda Ting Ting Island. It is a small island on the Kaptai Lake, few kilometres away from Rangamati. It is mostly known for its serenity. Peda Ting Ting Island is a very small and secluded island in the Rangamati Lake. There are a few tourist accommodation facilities here and a tiny restaurant run by the locals. It offers foods ranging from traditional to indigenous delicacies.
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