By
bus
There are three ways to get to
Bandarban. The easiest is a direct bus ride from Dhaka
which takes 6 hours. The few services available are Dolphin at Kalabagan,
Unique service, Shyamoli Paribahan at Gabtali, Asad gate, Fakirerpul, Kamlapur,
Saydabad and S Alam at Kamalapur. On the high tourist season it is advisable to
buy tickets in advance.
There are a few services available
that offer a bus ride from Chittagong which takes 2
hours (the most available is Purbani at Bahaddarhaat). To reach Chittagong from
Dhaka there are three options - taking a flight (Bangladesh Biman or GMG
airline), a bus ride (Sohag is undoubtedly the best service, available at
Kalabagan and Mahakhali) or a train ride from Kamalapur (Turna Nishitha,
Mahanagar Godhuli and Subarna).
From Cox's Bazar, it is a 3-hour busride (the most
available is Purbani at Laaldighi). To reach Cox's Bazaar from Dhaka it is
possible take either a 10-hour bus ride (Sohag is the best) or a flight
(Bangladesh Biman or GMG airlines). From Chittagong it is 4-hour bus ride
(apart from Dolphin, Purbani is the most available).
Purbani Bus Srvice,
Phone:01820412800 (Chittagong), 0361-62508 (Bandarban)
It is possible to get to Bandarban
directly from Rangamati by way of Chandraghona, but the
perilous route is not advisable at all.
By
car
Car
rented from Chittagong, readily available from Bangladesh Enterprise (phone:
+880 (0) 31 670512) at Chandgao, Al-Amin Enterprise (phone: +880 (0) 31 720600)
or Alam Enterprise (phone: +880 (0) 31 714566) at Hazi Para in Agrabad,
Bismilla Fashion (phone: +880 (0) 31 612749) at Reazuddin Bazar or Samara
Fashions (phone: +880 (0) 31 615925) at Azimir Super Market at Monim Road,
would take anyone to Bandarban. Though it is possible to rent a car at Dhaka to
go all the way to Bandarban, it is not advisable in any way. Plainland drivers
are generally lousy in the hills and they don't know the locality at all. It
would be prudent to hire a driver who comes from Bandarban.
Get around
Inside
the town, which can be easily covered on feet, the most available mode of
transport in the rickshaw. For places out of town there are three-wheeler taxis
near the Traffic Mor (circle or intersection), four-wheel drive vehicles
for hire near Hotel Green Hill, and a rent-a-car station near Hotel Hill Bird.
There also are the regular public transit system of ancient four-wheel-drive
vehicles, known locally as Chander Gari (meaning the Moon Car) available
Ruma and Rowangchhari Bus Stations, as well as near the Sonali Bank. Major road
routes are Chimbuk-Ruma, Bandarban-Rowangchhari-Ruma, Aziznagar-Gojalia-Lama,
Khanhat-Dhopachhari-Bandarban,
Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi-Alikadam-Baishari-Dhundhum, and
Chimbuk-Tangkabati-Baro Aoulia. It is also possible to travel by native boats
by the river Sangu, from either the Bazaar Ghat or the Kyaw Ching Ghat.
- Buddha Dhatu Jadi. The largest Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, located in Balaghata, 4 km from the town, is one excellent place to visit locally known as 'Swarna Mandir'. This Theravada Buddhist temple. set atop a 60 meter hill, is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and houses a sacred relic and the second largest statue of Buddha in Bangladesh.
- Shoilo Propat, Meghla and Nilachal. The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchari, 4 km from the town on the road to Thanchi, is also excellent site maintained by Bangladesh Buddha Dhatu Jadi.Parjatan, the national tourism promotion corporation.The Parjatan Motel is not a small thing at all. It has a huge three-storey building on a high place. The room rent here a little high compared to other places The site maintained by the Distrcit Administraion is Meghla, 4 km from the town on the road to Keranihat, which features a mini-safari-park, a zoo, and a hanging bridge. The District Administration has also developed the Nilachal tourist site near Meghla, in Tigerpara
- Raj Vihar and Ujanipara Vihar.The numerous Buddhist temples, known as kyang in local toungue, and vihars in the town include the highly notable the Rajvihar (royal Monastery) at Jadipara. The monastery at Ujanipara, known as Ujanipara Vihar, is also a major place of interest.
- Chimbuk Hill and Tribal Villages. Chimbuk is one of the tallest peaks in Bangladesh and lies some 14 km from the town. Bawm villages around Chimbuk and Mru villages a little further off are also lie within a day's journey from the town.
