A city with breathtaking natural beauty is Sylhet. This historical region, located in Bangladesh's northeast, is abundant in fisheries, minerals, and forests, as well as in other forms of natural beauty. In addition to its natural beauty, Sylhet has a distinguished past. The many tribes that inhabit Sylhet speak different languages and have different cultures. When visiting Sylhet, tourists shouldn't miss the tea gardens, Jaflong, Ratargul Jalaban, Hakaluki Haor, Lalakhal, Bholaganj, Bichanakandi, Tamabil, hills, and waterfalls. Hence, we have prepared our travel guide with the top 10 best places to visit in Sylhet with your family and friends. So dive deep and discover more of your next destination in Sylhet.
How to go to Sylhet?
The majority of people often go from Sylhet to Dhaka. Between Dhaka to Sylhet, there is about 250 KM. From Dhaka, it should take 5–6 hours to get there. However, it takes longer than that. The increased traffic is to blame for that.
However, plane travel to Sylhet will be the most excellent option if you have a short time for your trip or want to save time and energy to experience the best of Sylhet right away. From Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, it takes 50 to 60 minutes to go to Sylhet's Osmani International airport. A long road trip can be stressful, but flying might be a terrific option to save time and energy. Even after landing in Sylhet, you'll feel refreshed and energized!
Best Time to Visit Sylhet
The optimum time to visit Sylhet to see it in its most picturesque state must be considered before you begin planning your trip there. Our observations show that November through January is the busiest month for tourists to travel to Sylhet. The temperature often hovers between 23 and 25 degrees Celsius. This produces a relaxing ambience appropriate for domestic and foreign travellers. For this reason, most visitors to Sylhet at this time of year make advance plans. June through September will be perfect for you if you want to see Sylhet's splendour while it's raining. Usually, throughout certain seasons of the year, there will be a lot of rain, which wipes away the dust and makes nature appear to have regenerated.
Sylhet Tea Garden
Tea is traditionally grown in the region surrounding Sylhet. Tropical trees and terraced tea gardens are all throughout the lovely Surma Valley. The green carpet of tea gardens that cover the hill slopes can be seen for kilometres around Srimangal, which is considered the capital of Bangladesh's tea industry. Three of the largest tea gardens in the world in terms of size and production are among the more than 150 tea gardens in the region. The tea estates employ up to 300,000 people, more than 75% of whom are women. Since women perform better jobs and are paid less than men, employers prefer to hire them to pluck tea leaves.
A trip to the Sylhet tea plantation is a special one. The gardens are remnants of the British Raj era. The British established the plantations, and the manager still resides in homes made of white timber, just as they did back then. The service and way of life are mostly untouched, and the bungalows are situated on expansive lawns that are meticulously maintained. Alongside the Sylhet Tea Garden, the following 10 are the best places to visit in Sylhet for anyone.
1. Jaflong
Jaflong is popularly known as the natural world's daughter in Sylhet. It is located on the border of Bangladesh and the Indian state of Meghalaya, in the Gowainghat Upazila. To reach Jaflong from Sylhet city, you will need two hours of driving to cover a total distance of 56 kilometres. To be precise, the main attraction of Jaflong is not the natural stone resource but rather the ancient Dawki Hanging Bridge. It is a steep region with stunning scenery for tourists around the country. It is a serene, picturesque area at the base of Jointa hill. Additionally, the Pian River's bank adds to its attractiveness. You will be mesmerized by the Pian River's crystal clear water, the tranquil, serene setting, and the waterfall from Dauki Hill. In Jaflong, visitors can observe the way of life of the Tribe Khashia.
2. Bichanakandi
The village of Bisnakandi is located in the Guainghat Upazilla of the Rustompur Union. Here, numerous Khasi mountain layers from both sides converge into a single place. High fall flowing from above. Dark clouds that hug the mountain during the rainy season add to its attractiveness. A branch of the Piyain also runs underground in the direction of Bholaganj. Huge boulders are deposited and mined at Bisnakandi along the stream that originates from a high mountain. Similar to Jaflong, the majority of Bisnakandi is a quarry. The Rainy season is the perfect time for tourists to explore the stunning Bisnakandi, which combines the beauties of high mountains, sinuous rivers, gorgeous falls, and dancing clouds because there are no such annoyances.
3. Ratargul Swamp Forest
The only freshwater swamp forest in Bangladesh is Ratargul. The swamp forest only covers a surface area of two square kilometres now, despite once covering a large region of swampland. Ratargul is a deep forest home to many natural hijol and koroch trees and provides a haven for several birds, monkeys, snakes, and other reptile species. Three rivers are close to Ratargul. The Chenger Khal and the Kafna, which originate in the south and the east, respectively, unite near Ratargul and travel north towards Guainghat under the name Guain. The banks of all these rivers were once covered with a swamp forest. These rivers' water finds its way into the forest, engulfing it in 15 to 20 feet of water during the rainy season. Ratargul makes for a sight that may ease even the most indifferent of eyes, with the bottom half of the dense forest submerged and the top half visible with its myriad of shades falling on crystal-clear water beneath.
In the rainy season, early morning or early evening is the finest time to visit Ratargul Swamp Forest. At that time, one would be fascinated by the presence of the local fauna, which included various bird and monkey species. At the end of the monsoon, the water begins to recede and turn dirty. Additionally, you can walk through the forest in the winter. Besides, tourists can combine Ratargul with Lalakhal, Jaflong, Pangthumai, and Bisnakandhi on the same day.
4. Sada Pathor, Bholaganj
Another prime tourist attraction in Sylhet is Bholaganj Sada Pathor, situated just 33 kilometres away from Sylhet city. To be precise, it is the largest stone quarry in Sylhet. However, the Meghalayan clouds, hillside waterfalls, the sandy Dholai coastlines, and endless streams are the Sylhet tourist attractions that bring visitors to this location. Travellers who enjoy walking can travel from Bholagonj and through Bitthorgul, Doyar Bazaar, Mayar Bazaar, Uthma, Turong, Upur, and Bisnakandi before arriving there.
5. Madhabkunda Waterfall
The largest waterfall in Bangladesh, Madhabkunda, is located in Moulvibazar District's Barlekha Upazilla. The Kulaura-Shabajpur track is roughly five kilometres from Dakshinbagh Railway Station and 350 kilometres from Dhaka City. Madhabkunda, a waterfall that is around 200 feet (61 meters) high, has developed into one of Bangladesh's most popular tourist destinations. From all across the nation, a sizable number of visitors and picnicking groups come here every day for their enjoyment and recreation. The mental impact of a million tons of water falling from a height of 200 feet can be enormous. Numerous large, dark, and imposing stones, along with countless lush, leafy trees and the sound of lovely waterfalls, create an outstanding shape of care and feelings in Madhabkunda.
The waterfall's surroundings are simply breathtaking and enjoyable to view. Madhabkunda is the perfect tourist destination because it is tucked away in a range of lush, green mountains. Even though the winter months see the greatest visitors, the waterfall is always packed. Even the trip to Madhabkunda is interesting. The joy of your travel will be increased by the hills, the zigzag road through the hills, and the emerald splendour of the tea gardens that you may observe along the way.
6. Madhabpur Lake
Within the Madhabpur tea estate in the Kamalganj Upazila sits Madhabpur Lake, a natural water reservoir. Srimangal is 16 kilometres away. Unlike city life, the lake is surrounded by green tea gardens that give you a sense of peace. You can't help but jump into the lake and swim because the water is so clear. There are wide different varieties of aquatic plants, including water lilies in various shapes and hues. You may watch the sunset at this location, which is bordered by little hills covered in beautiful vegetation. It is the sole confirmed location for the great white-bellied heron in Bangladesh.
7. Lalakhal
Another popular tourist destination in Jaintapur Upazilla is Lalakhal, which is surrounded by hills, natural forests, tea gardens, and rivers beneath the Jainta Hill, which is a part of India's Meghalaya Ranges. The river Myntdu enters Lalakhal as the Saree after flowing from the Indian portion, and after passing Sarighat, it merges with the river Guaiyan. Due to the minerals in the water and the sandy riverbed, the colour of the water along a nearly 12-kilometre length of the river from Lalakhal to Sarighat remains translucent green in winter (as well as other seasons without rain). There is a "Lalakhal Tea Garden" on the Saree River's eastern bank. In Lalakhal, visitors can simultaneously witness a river with green water, a mountain range, and a tea garden.
8. Lawachara Rain Forest
The entrance to Lauachora National Garden is located on the Vanugach-Komalganj Road, about seven kilometres from Sreemongol town. It has an abundance of precipitation and is an evergreen rainforest. On a sunny day, the tall trees' broad branches and towering foliage provide a distinctive canopy for the woodland. One of Bangladesh's ten national gardens and seven safari parks is Lauachora. 1996 saw the establishment of a national garden on 1,250 hectares of the 2,740-hectare West Vanugach Reserve Forest.
Tourists can enter the forest after paying a specified amount of money. With the assistance of qualified guides, you can walk paths that last 30 minutes, an hour, or three hours. You may view a vast range of plants, orchids, insects, birds, and other animals. The hoolok gibbon and phayre's langur, two endangered species, a vast range of apes, cats, and snakes, including pythons, parrots, and magpies, and several other birds, live in this forest, despite its relatively small size.
9. Hum Hum Waterfall
In the Moulvibazar District's Razkandi Reserve Forest is where you'll find the Hum Hum Waterfall. 2009 saw its discovery. In reality, it's a location where you can get a true taste of adventure. The fall is between 135 and 160 feet high. If you are wondering when to visit, then the most significant time to visit this location is during the rainy season where you can experience the fall's unending beauty. Astonishingly, the majority of Bangladeshis are unaware of the decrease. You can travel from Dhaka to Sreemangal by bus or train. There are some hotels there. Kolabagan Bosti is the next action to take. You must rent a vehicle in order to travel to Kolabagan Residance.
The most crucial thing is that you need to leave early in the morning—around 5 or 6 am. Everyone should always have a knife, a torch, dry food, fresh water, saline, glucose, and rapid aid on them. There are many guides available today who can assist travellers in getting to Hum Hum. Take several bamboo poles from Kolabagan to use as support for the duration of your trek. The traveller must descend into a natural fountain (referred to as chhara or nala locally), where they must walk through water; after about 30 minutes of walking through this. This water's height will occasionally change from ankle to thigh level.
10. Hazrat Shahjala Mazar Sharif
Hazrat Shah Jalal was revered by followers of all religions (r). No matter their religion, people from all over the world visit The Shrine Of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) every year. A pond is close to Hazrat Shahjalal's (R) shrine. There are lots of gauzar fish in the pond. When Hazrat Shahjalal (R) arrived in Sylhet with 360 Auwalia, it is stated that he brought the gauzar fish. When visitors see these fish floating in the pond, they are ecstatic and feed them fish food. By the shrine of Shahjalal, there is a well.
According to legend, Hazrat Shahjalal (R) Nizamuddin Auliya (R) welcomed him with great love and gave him a pair of Surma-colored pigeons as a sign after learning about its spiritual potential. The Jalali Pigeon has become a well-known name for that pigeon. The cluster of shrines is the one that attracts visiting pigeons. A two-foot-wide room with grilled stars is located south of the shrine. Hazrat Shahjalal used it as a latrine (R). Public rumour has it that Hazrat Shahjalal (R) worshipped here for about 23 years. Visitors can view numerous objects used by Hazrat Shahjalal at mufti Nazimuddin Ahmad's home through the Dargah Madrassa Building on the left. These include swords, straws, dishes, bowls, and more (R). The main dargah sharif of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) is a holy place; keep an eye on the dargah's purity when you are there.
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