About 268 km from Dhaka by road and 30 minutes by air is Chittagong, the second
largest city of Bangladesh and a busy sea-port. The green hill forests and the sea
beaches have made Chittagong a good spot for the holiday-makers. Chittagong was
described by the famous Chinese traveller Yuan Chuang (7th century AD) as a sleeping
beawty emerging from the mist and water and has been given the nickname "PORTO GRANDE"
by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers.
Tomb of Sultan Bayezid Bostami Situated on a hillock in Nasirabad, about
6 km away from the heart of Chittagong town, this shrine attracts a large number
of visitors and pilgrims. At its base, lies a large tank with several hundred tortoises.
Tradition says that these animals are the descendants of the evil spirits (genii)
who were cast in this shape because they incurred the wrath of the great saint who
visited this place about 1,100 years ago.
World War II Cemetery In a well preserved semetery at a quiet and picturesque
place within the city buried in eternal peace over 700 soldiers from Britain, Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, India, Burma, East & west Africa, Netherlands and Japan who
laid down their lives on the Burma front during the World War II .
Court Building Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a panoramic
bird's eye view of Chittagong City.
Foy's Lake In the picturesque settings of Pahartali, near the heart of Chittagong
City, lies a beautiful lake amidst some beautiful hills much above the sea level.
With a small zoo and a park in the neighboring area, this lake is actually a fjord,
which attracts hundreds of visitors everyday. A boat ride in the fjord is really
unforgettable.
Ethnological Museum Situated at Agrabad Commercial Area, this interesting
museum has displays on the lifestyles and cultures of the tribal people of Bangladesh.
Court Building Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a panoramic
bird's eye view of Chittagong City.
Chittagong Hill Tracts The Chittagong Hill Tracts are inhabited by a number
of distinctive tribes such as the Chakmas,the Marmas, the Tripuras, the Bhomongs,
the Kukis, the Chaks and the Tanchangyas. They are friendly and hospitable to visitors
and are well known for their love of colorful dresses, dance and music.
Rangamati Rangamati, the focal point of Chittagong Hill Tracts, is connected
with Chittagong by a 77-km metalled road. The township is located on the west bank
of the Kaptai Lake, the largest 'manmade' lake, spreading over 680 sq km crystal-clear
water flanked by hills and ever green forests Rangamati is a favorite holiday resort
because of its beautiful landscape, flora and fauna and also for souvenirs like
homespun textiles, bamboo handbags, flower vases, silver jewellry etc. For the tourists
the attractions of Rangamati are many : visiting the tribal life, angling, speedboat
cruising, water-skiing, hiking or merely enjoying the nature as it is.
Bandarban 92 km from Chittagong by metalled road, Bandarban is another district
head-quarter of the Hill Tracts. Bandarban is the home-town of the, Bhomong Chief.
Bandarban is also the home of the hiurangs and Chaks who are famous for their simple
and primitive culture and life style.
Cox's Bazar About 152 km away from Chittagong by road and twenty minutes
by air is Cox's Bazar, beach lovers' paradise with the longest (120 km) stretch
of sea-beach in the world, sloping gently into the blue water of the Bay of Bengal.
The wide beach is endowed with silvery-golden sand. The sea is good for bathing
and swimming as it is free from sharks. Cox's Bazar and nearby Ramu have many pagodas
and Buddhist temples containing images of the Lord Buddha in gold, bronze and other
metals inlaid with precious stones. A visit to the nearby islands of Sonadia, Moheshkhali
and the coral island St. Martin is also rewarding. Himchhari, only 18 km from Cox's
Bazar, a chain of green hills covered by deep reserve forests, serve as picturesque
background to the beach. A jeep drive towards Himchhary on the beach between the
hills and the sea is extremely enjoyable.
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