Frosty Forest – Rema Kalinga, Episode -2

Now we could hear birds waking up, breaking the muted silence — voices we could barely recognize. Then we heard the red jungle fowls crowing. Yesterday evening we also heard their voices, we were again hearing them today. A fowl was cooing somewhere very near. We left the trail and softly stepped into the forest. It was easy to walk without making a noise because the fallen leaves were now dew-sodden. Visibility was low because of the dense undergrowth. The fowl was now very near. We squinted our eyes and slowed down. Then we saw it — a bright blob of red, golden and deep green. The bird saw us at the same instant and flapped its wings like pistons. It took it a few seconds to rise above the bush and vanish away.We pushed deeper into the forest and meandered round the thick bushes. Wood-spiders had woven huge early morning cobwebs. The big spiders were sprawled in the middle and several times we got entangled in the webs.

More Read:  http://thedailystar.net/holiday/2008/01/02/holiday.htm

Month long folk festival begins in Sonargaon

 

Bangladesh Folk Art and Craft Foundation has arranged a folk-art and craft festival at its premises in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. The festival started yesterday and will continue till February 19. Everyday 4pm-9pm there will be cultural program of deshi bauls, dramma, folk Jari-shari song, 292 stalls have been installed at the premise. And, more people from various location will bring the heritage products which is almost forgotten in new age.

 

Source: The Bhorer Kagoj

Sundarban tourism overcomes Sidr shocks

Tourist arrivals have gained momentum in Sundarban forest, Kuakata beach and archeological sites in the southern districts after a lull due to November 15 cyclone Sidr that ravaged the south coast.
Tourism industry people, who were worried about business prospects after the disaster that took its heavy toll on Sundarban at the beginning of the tourism season, said they were now happy with the turnout of travelers.
Tour operators are busy handling travellers to the region’s major tourist attractions including the world’s largest mangrove forest, badly damaged by cyclone Sidr.
Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh president Hasan Mansur said initially they thought they would suffer huge loss this season, but now they could overcome the situation as the number of travelers was increasing.
‘We had to curtail our tour plans only for December, but we are now doing business and almost 80 per cent tour plans have been achieved.’
Damages caused by Sidr to infrastructures like jetties and observation towers are creating some problems, but tourists are enthusiastic enough to ignore all those, Hasan said.
The world heritage site of Sundarban receives about 3,000 visitors, both local and foreign, during the peak season, from November to March, every year.
The tour operator’s association president said the government restricted felling of trees and fishing in the damaged area of Sundarban, but there is no bar on movement of visitors.
Faridul Haque, head of Tour Planners and former president of TOAB, said that they were expecting that Sundarban would be ready for full-scale tourism before the next season.
Sundarban tours are now mainly limited to Harbaria and Hiron points, and operators are avoiding Kotka and Kochikhali points where cyclone devastations were the worst.
Farid said they were operating tours also to archeological sites like Shat Gambuj Mosque, Khan Jahan Ali shrine and Noy Gambuj Mosque in Bagerhat, Mahasthangar in Bogra, Putia Rajbari and Varendra Museum in Rajshahi, Kantaji Temple in Dinajpur and Paharpur Buddha Vihara.
Some tour operators for Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martins Island said they were having huge rush.
They expected more tourists there as many local visitors, still haunted by memories of Sidr devastation, might avoid Sundarban and opt for Cox’s Bazar and St Martin’s Island.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corportaion’s tour division manager Jalal Mohammad Akbar said they were encouraging private tour operators to promote Sundarban tourism.
Tour operators said that leading positions of Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban in an online selection poll of seven natural wonders were a very positive signal for tourism business in Bangladesh. More foreign tourists will turn to Bangladesh if the two sites finally win the polls, they hoped.
Hasan Mansur said, ‘We will launch a campaign for more votes for Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban so that the sites finally have places on the list of seven wonders.’
Faridul Haque said huge infrastructure development and logistic supports would be needed to ensure global tourists’ comfort if Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban win the poll.

Source: Newage

Khagrachhari: A little attention can make it a prime tourism spot

Picturesque hill district of Khagrachhari, despite having plenty of natural features to be a prime tourist destination, is losing out due to absence of cellular communication and modern tourism facilities. Harmonious existence of culturally diverse ethnic groups along with its breathtaking landscape showcasing several artificial and natural lakes, scenic valleys and natural waterfalls, Khagrachhari, with a little more infrastructural development, can stand out and turn into a favourite choice of tourists from home and abroad. Khagrachhari is laid out on 2,600 square kilometres of rugged terrain where six lakh inhabitants from different tribes of Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Santals, Pankho and Rakhine live peacefully with Bangalee settlers.
The locations that draw most visitors are tourist spots and Parjatan motel at Ramgor upazila, Alutilla Parjatan spot and Buddhist temple, Reechang natural waterfall, Debotar Pukur, Panchhari Aranya Kutir, Dighinala suspension bridge, Krishi Gabeshana institute, and the snaky and curved Chenghi and Mainee rivers. The Alutilla Parjatan spot attracts most visitors as it is only 15 to 20 minutes away from Khagrachhari town. The Alutilla Buddhist temple, a mysterious cave and several majestic waterfalls are also located here. The fascinating view of the town and the River Chenghi from hilltops can mesmerise any visitor.

Reechang natural waterfall, the largest waterfall in Khagrachhari, is located in the dense tropical rain forest of Alutilla.

Another popular attraction, Debotar Pukur or the pond of gods, is situated about a thousand feet above the sea level on top of a hill. The level of water in this pond remains the same all year round and visitors are allowed to go for a dip in it.

Khagrachhari has a number of government and private rest houses, motels, hotels and guesthouses that are rented out at very reasonable rates.

Several transport companies are currently operating comfortable bus services to and from Khagrachhari and the travel is expected to get more comfortable after the completion of the ongoing road expansion work in the area, said sources.

Narrow roads and unavailability of cellular phone network and quality restaurants meeting hygiene standards are the three drawbacks that hold back most tourists, especially from overseas, from making a trip to Khagrachhari, the sources added.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, manager of Khagrachhari Parjatan Motel, said the most difficult hurdle tourists face in the district is the unavailability of cellular communication network. Their patrons, mostly business owners, do not want to be in Khagrachhari as they fear of incurring financial losses due to being unable to take care of their business over their cellphones, he added.

Asked to comment on the security situation in the district, Tareq Ahmed, assistant superintendent of police in Khagrachhari, said security measures taken for both local and foreign tourists are adequate. He however stressed on the need for further development of infrastructures to ensure enhanced security.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on December 13 told journalists that the government would undertake special projects and establish an ecotourism facility in Khagrachhari to promote tourism in the area.

Bangladesh a possible unbeatable eco-tourists destination

As a destination for eco-tourism, Bangladesh is truly hard to beat. A country in South Asia with an area of 144,470 square kilometers, Bangladesh definitely offers a lot to see, enjoy and do. Bangladesh means a ‘country where Bangli is spoken’ [ancient name is 'Banga']‘ Bangla is our language; Desh means ‘country’. Ancient name is ‘Bangla’. Students gave life in 1952 to establish the right to Bangla language. Indepence in 1971 cost a lot of blood. Sharing land boundary with and Myanmar, Bangladesh is one of the most beautiful country in South Asia with tremendous economic potentials. Its tropical beach resorts on the Bay of Bengal should be paradise for the sun vacationers. But the main attraction of Bangladesh should be its opportunities for eco-tourism with its a variety of animals, birds, forests, hills and hillocks and aquatic life. The splendour of its six seasons presents a diverse eco-system. The world’s longest natural beach at Cox’s Bazaar, the nearby jungles and forests with their rich variety of flora and fauna, the Chittagong Hill Tracts’ cloud forests so named because the moisture of the mists linger on the tree leaves and fascinate tourists. A cable car network to be set up at Bandarban would enable tourists observe the plant and animal life from the treetop level. For the more adventurous, there are places built for the tourists to get the experience of moving from tree to tree using a network of rope attachments. Dry forests in some parts of Chittagong, seasons’ variation every two months, an abundance of canals and rivers can be attraction for tourists. Besides many species of birds, there is a Bangladesh’s exotic wildlife that includes the majestic Bengal tigers, monkeys, jaguars, bats, deer and reptiles. For nature tours no place can match the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest as has rightly been identified by World Heritage Site.

Sea turtles and oysters come to certain beaches to nest, attracting, without fail, many nature lovers. The wildlife rich aquatic life of the Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh’s rivers remain added attractions. The Saint Martins offer excellent scuba diving opportunities, quite different from the Caribbean waters.

Tea and Mangoes are some of the main exports for Bangladesh. For tea lovers, this is the place to taste the best of liquoring teas in the world. A bit strong, the liquoring teas are of course known for their colour too. Tour across the valleys of Sylhet and its numerous tea plantations could be quite a thrilling experience. Tourists would think twice before leaving the miles of fascinating mangoplantations of Rajshahi in the north-west without tasting the delicious fruits, of course in the season of mellow fruit-fullness.

The historic capital city of Dhaka is known for its nice ancient architecture. It is also known as a city of mosques. A tourist can go for trips to the various hill stations, historic places and beaches using Dhaka as the base. Chittagong, the port city known for its low hills is full of gereeneries. It is closer to the resorts like Cox’s Bazar. The roads of Bangladesh are more or less good.

There is so much to see and do in Bangladesh that many visitors return to see what they missed before. The country is becoming popular as an eco-destination in South Asia.

Source: Financial Express. Author:Mohammad Shahidul Islam

Rema Kalinga for lonely trail

A beautiful unknown destination, situated at the north-east of Bangladesh. Rema Kalinga is one hour journey from Srimongol (Sylhet). The place is at a small hill circled by untamed forest. There is a small bungalow at Rema Kalinga, a neat small hut powered by a solar panel, a sprawling courtyard in front.

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For sight viewing tourist might have to explore the surrounded forest. A beautiful lake will be on sight, on tourists trail. Bio-diversity of this forest can be enjoyed during the tour.

For More Read this story of a visitor: http://thedailystar.net/holiday/2008/01/01/holiday.htm, Written By: Inam Ahmed