Rangamati:( রাঙামাটি )
Rangamati is a popular town in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.
Get in
You can come to Rangamati by bus from Chittagong
there is one direct bus Paharica starts from Chittagong at 8:00 AM to
8:00 PM and from Rangamati at 8:00 AM to 8:50 PM in every one hour
interval and takes around 3 hours. The Paharica Bus fare is 100tk (As of
Oct 2011) and you can get the tickets from Muradpur, Oxygen Mor. There
are lots of Local Bus towards Rangamati from the same Oxegen but those
buses stops at any point where there is passenger which overloads the
bus all-times and takes 4~5 hours journey. There are a few direct buses
from the capital Dhaka. These buses are not airconditioned. There are
some local buses from the nearby districts.
You can also drive into Rangamati from Chittagong.
Foreigners are required to register while entering Rangamati.
Get around
The only transport within the town is three wheeler taxis (Green
CNGs). You can either reserve the taxi or travel based on shared basis.
You can always find taxis on your destination and fare is 30tk~100tk
based on distance if you reserve it. On a shared taxi the fare is 12
tk~30 tk based on distance.
is the Administrative Headquarter of Rangamati Hill District in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The town is located at 22°37'60N 92°12'0E and has an altitude of 14 metres (49 feet).
It's a travel destination of Bangladesh which is known as "Lake City".
From
Chittagong a 77 km road amidst green fields and winding hills leads to
Rangamati; which is a wonderful repository of scenic splendours with
flora and fauna of varied descriptions. The township is located on the
western bank of the Kaptai lake.
Rangamati is a favourite holiday destination because of its beautiful
landscape, scenic beauty, lake, colourful indigenus groups (Chakma, Marma
etc), its flora and fauna, indigenous museum, hanging bridge, homespun
textile products, ivory jewellery and the indigenous men and women who
fashion them. For tourists, the attractions of Rangamati are numerous.
Indigenous life, fishing, speed boat cruising, hiking, bathing or merely
enjoying nature as it is.
Notable landmarks:
Hanging Bridge: Hanging Bridge(Jhulonto Bridge in
Bengali)is the landmark icon of Rangamati. It's a popular tourist spot
and a must go destination. Gagra waterfall is one of the greates
combination of nature . Kaptai Lake : Kaptai lake is a wonderful
spot for boating and cruising. Parjatan and private tour operators offer
a number of cruises by mechanical boats. One can go to various scenic
spots in Shuvalong, Barkal, Longadu, Mainimukh and other areas by boat
from Rangamati.
Indigenous Museum : The only Indigenous
Cultural Museum in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region was established at
Rangamati town in 1978 and run by the Tribal Cultural Institute. It
preserves valuable objects and articles of different tribes depicting
their socio-economic, cultural and historical tradition. These include
typical indigenous dresses, ornaments, arms and ammunitions, coins,
statues made of wood, bronze and other metals, musical instruments,
ivory products, handicrafts, paintings on tribal life etc.
Open: Saturday- Thursday, 10.00 a.m.- 4.00 p.m. Closed: Friday & Public Holidys. Admission is free.
Food And Sleep
- Hotel Sufia International. Contact @ 01819-318665/0351-62145 (Tk 850-2000).
- Hotel Green Castle, ☎ 0351-71214, 01819-939930.
- Parjaton Motel, ☎ 880-351-63126, 61046.
- Banarupa Tourist's Inn, +8801731660477, +8801552541518,
Bandarban
Bandarban Hill District is the most remote and least populated district in Bangladesh.
The lure of the tallest peaks of Bangladesh, treks through virgin
forests and chance to meet more than 15 tribes of the region up close is
growing both among Bangladeshis and tourists from other countries.
Since the insurgency ceased in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
(a cluster that includes all three hill districts of Bangladesh) it has
opened up for tourists more than a decade back, though some of the
western tourist guides may still describe the area as a major security
risk.
Understand
It is governed by a Hill Council under the Bangladesh government,
headed by the King of Mong Circle. The current monarch, His Highness
King Aung Shue Prue Chowdhury, is the 15th to sit on the throne. The
front hall (Raj Durbar) of the Royal Palace is open to visitors,
provided that appropriate behavior is maintained. Interestingly the 13th
Royal Family claims the current Family to be usurpers to the throne.
Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Chramma are major religions along with many pagan faiths.
The best place for information are the Press Club (phone: +880
(0) 361 62549), the Tribal Cultural Institute (phone: +880 (0) 361
62424), the office of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the government
owned tourism company and the office of Guide Tours, the largest
privately owned tourism company, at Hill Side Resort.
Orientation
Bandarban, a 4,479 km² wide area with a population of 292,900 (2003
est.) inside Bangladesh is bordered by Cox's Bazaar, Chittagong,
Rangamati and Khagrachari. On the other side of the 129 kilometre
international border lies Myanmar provinces of Chin and Arakan.
Bandarban has only one town that approaches anything near a city -
the Bandarban town. The rest of the area is divided into 7 upazilas,
which are in turn divided into varying numbers of unions. Each union is a
cluster of paras and villages.
- Bandarban Sadar: Bandarban Sadar, Rajvila, Kuhalong, Sualok, Tankabati
- Thanchi: Thanchi, Bolipara, Remakree, Tindu
- Lama: Lama, Aziznagar, Fashiakhali, Gozalia, Rupasipara, Soroi,
- Nikhongchhari: Nikhongchhari, Baishari, Dochari, Ghumdhum
- Alikadam: Alikadam, Choykhong
- Rowangchhari: Rowangchhari, Alekhong, Noapatang, Taracha
- Ruma: Ruma. Galengga, Pyndu, Remakree Pranksha
Landscape
The three highest peak of Bangladesh - Tahjindong (1280 meters, also
known as bijoy), Mowdok Mual (1052 meters), and Keokradong (883 metres) -
are located in Bandarban district, as well as Raikhiang Lake, the
highest lake in Bangladesh. Chimbuk peak and Boga Lake are two more
highly noted features of the district. Though most Bangladesh sources
cite Keokradong as the highest peak in the country, but Tazing Dong
(sometimes spelled as Tahjingdong, and also known as Bijoy) lying
further east is recognized both by government and expert sources as a
taller peak. Measurements taken by English adventurer Ginge Fullen shows
that an officially unnamed peak near the Myanmar border (locally known
as Mowdok Mual) is the highest point in Bangladesh.Recently a team from
Nature Adventure Club took part in an expedition in the mowdok range and
agreed with the ginge fullens statement. They got the hight of this
peak as 3488 feet with gps accuracy of 3 meter. The unnamed summit is
known as 'Saka Haphong' to the local Tripura tribes.
The following is a list of mountain ranges in the area and the tallest peaks of each range:
- Muranja (also known as Meranja) range (Basitaung, 664m)
- Wayla range (most of this range is in Myanmar)
- Chimbook range (Tindu, 898m)
- Batimain range (Batitaung, 526m)
- Politai range (Keokradang, 884m; Ramiu Taung 921m)
- Saichal-Mowdok range (Bilaisari, 669m; Mowdok Mual 1,003m)
- Saichal range (Waibung 808m; Rang Tlang, 958m; Mowdok Tlang, 905m)
- Wailatong and Tambang ranges
The River Sangu (also known as Sangpo or Shankha), the only river
born inside Bangladesh territory, runs through Bandarban. The other
rivers in the district are Matamuhuri and Bakkhali. Parts of Kaptai
Lake, the biggest lake in, Bangladesh fall under the area.
History
In the early days of 15th century, Arakanese kingdom expended its
territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal. After the victory of
Arakan on Burma's Pegu kingdom in 1599 AD, the Arakanese king Mong Raja
Gree appointed a Prince of Pegu as the governor of newly established
Bohmong Htaung (Circle) by giving the title of "Bohmong" Raja. That area
was mostly populated by the Arakanese descendants and ruled by the
Burmese (Myanmar) noble descendants who started to call themselves in
Arakanese language as Marma. Marma is an archaic Arakanese pronunciation
for Myanmar. As the population of the Bohmong Htaung were of Arakanese
descandants, these Myanmar-desendants Bohmong chiefs (Rajas) of the
ruling class took the titles in Arakanese and speak a dialect of the
Arakanese language.
Bandarban Hill District was once called Bohmong Htaung since the
Arakanese rule. Once Bohmong Htaung was ruled by Bohmong Rajas who were
the subordinates to the Arakanese kings. Ancestors of the present
Bohmong dynasty were the successor of the Pegu King of Burma under the
Arakan's rule in Chittagong. In 1614, King Mong Kha Maung, the king of
Arakan appointed Maung Saw Pru as Governor of Chittagong who in 1620
repulsed the Portuguese invasion with great valour. As a consequence,
Arakanese king, Mong Kha Maung adorned Maung Saw Pru with a title of
Bohmong meaning Great General. After the death of Maung Saw Pru two
successors retained Bohmong title. During the time of Bohmong Hari Gneo
in 1710, Arakanese King Canda Wizaya recaptured Chittagong from the
Mughals. Bohmong Hari Gneo helped King Canda Wizaya in recapturing
Chittagong and as a mark of gratitude the later conferred on Bohmong
Hari Gneo the grand title of Bohmong Gree which means great Commander in
Chief.
During the British Raj, it was declared as the Bohmong circle
with limited autonomy. The Mizokaba or the Mizo uprise in the mid 19th
century was major catalyst for re-settlemet of the tribes in the area.
During World War II the area saw the presence of a formidable British
military presence that came to stand against a Japanese invasion. The
tribes of these hills held the reputation of unyielding rebellion
throughout history. When India, Pakistan and Mynamar went independent
from the Raj, the leaders of the tribes people decided unsuccessfully to
become a part of Mynamar, then known as Burma. During the Bangladesh
Liberation War of 1971 to gain independence from Pakistan, the leaders
again sought unsuccessfully to remain a part of Pakistan.
In the late 1970s, a policy of forced settlement of Bengalis into
hills was pursued, which later gave rise to much violence against the
hill people and the insurgency led by Shanti Bahini, the military wing
of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti. There have been an attempt
to create divide among tribal cultural lines between the Chakmas, who
led Shantibanhini, and the Mrus, by creating an anti-Shantibanhini
militia out of them. Now, after the peace treaty, Bandarban stands as a
locally governed ethnic region together with the two other hill
districts. Representation of numerous tribes of the district in the Hill
Council now stands as a thorn of dispute here.
People
There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the district
besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma, the Arakanese descendants
and Arakanese (Rakhine), who are also know as Magh, Mru (also known as
Mro or Murong), Bawm, Khyang, Tripuri (also known as Tipra or Tipperah),
Mizo (also known as Lushei), Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma and Tenchungya,
who are closely related, Reang (also known as Riyang), Uchoi (also known
as Usui) and Pankho.
The Mru, also known as Murong, who are famous for their music and dance. The Mru in major numbers have converted to Khrama (or Crama),
the youngest religion in Bangladesh that prohibits much of their old
ways. They are assumed to be the original inhabitants of Bandarban. The
Bawm are another major tribe here. Now converted almost totally to
Christianity they have taken full advantage of the church to become the
most educated people in the district. The Marma are Arakanese
descendants of Myanmar by origin and Buddhists by religion, and are the
second largest tribe in the hill districts of Bangladesh. The Khumi
live in the remotest parts of the district, and the group is thought to
include yet unexplored/ unclassified tribes.
These ethnic groups are again divided in hundreds of clans and
sects, principally dominated by four religious threads - Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism and a number of pagan faiths. All these clans and
groups are clustered into two major ethnic families, namely the hill
people and the valley people. Since the Kaptai dam flooded the valley
creating to Kaptai lake, the valley people have started to live on hill
tops along the hill people.
Bengali settlers, coming in with the forced settlements in 1979,
and Rohingya settlers, coming in across the Myanmar border since the
junta came to power in Yangon in 1992, now has become two major ethnic
groups outside minorities. But, there are a number of Bengali families
who claim to have settled earlier than some of the tribes.in there live
many Barua also.
Festivals
- Raj Punnyah: It is ceremonial rite of paying tribute and taxes (khazna) to the king of Bohmang circle, happening in mid February since 1885. The three day festival at the royal palace features the king meeting his subjects in full regalia, accompanied by a ceremonial guard, and receiving tributes.
- Sangrai: The biggest festival of the Marma tribesmen, akin to Boisabi of the Tripuris and Biju of the Chakmas. In mid-April, this celebration of the new year falls around the same time as Bengali Naba Barsha and Assamese Bihu. Apart frm the songs and dances Sangrai is marked by the water festival and magic charm competitions. Water festival is a game of splashing water from two sides of a marked arena by unmarried boys and girls on each other. It is said that splashing water is a way of declaring a love interest. Non-Marma people can't usually take part in the game.
Talk
Bangla (official); Marma, Bawm and Mru (local)
Get in
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.
See
- 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 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.
- Nil Giri and Thanchi. Nilgiri is one of the tallest peaks and beautiful place in Bangladesh and lies some 46 km from the town. there is beautiful resort in the top of the mountain maintain by the Bangladesh Army. Booking to be done through army officer. There are three well furnished cottages ranging from Tk.4000-7000. There are also three tents having 4 beds each@2000 per tent. Foreign tourist will be restricted there. there is restaurant, helipad,
- Other Places. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more places of interest.
- Boga Lake (1200 ft), ☎ 12222. A beautiful lake surrounded by high hills and a small village just beside the lake. Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. It is also known as Bagakain Lake or Baga Lake. Boga lake is 18 kilometer away from Ruma Sadar Upozilla in Bandarban. The area of this lake is about 15 acres. It is about 3000 feet above sea level. The color of water of this lake is blue and very nice. There are many mythological stories behind the creation of this lake. There are many tourists make their way to Boga lake every year, specially in the winter season. Small tribe community like Bawm, Khumi have localities besides the Boga lake. In the rainy season, it is quite difficult to stroll beside the boga lake. The road from Ruma to Boga lake is still under construction. There waiting lots of pleasure and delight for you at Boga lake. You will definitely be amazed looking at the big rocks lying in and out of the Boga lake. You can have a camp fire beside the lake, that will be unbelievable and mind-blowing memory in your life.
Do
- Cruise on River Sangu. One highly admired activity here is a boat trip in a sampan (a double oared boat with a blunt aft and a flat bottom) or a regular boat down the River Sangu. The trip can vary from a 1-hour trip, including a stop-over to take tea, to a whole day cruise including stop-overs to have food.You will find people working on river with bamboos. The river is not very deep in the dry season. Many times your boat might get stuck with the soil under the river.
- Take a Guided Tour. The only available regular guided tour package, offered by Guide Tours, takes tourists through Buddha Dhatu Jadi, Meghla, Shoilo Propat, Raj Vihar and Ujanipara Vihar, two tribal villages, Chimbuk Hill and a couple of more sites. An irregular guided tour package by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation takes tourisst to Nilachal and Meghla, the artificially created government owned "tourist attractions" generally shunned by serious travelers.
Hiking
A hike to either Keokaradong (883 m) or Tahjindong (967 m), the two
tallest peak is an exhilarating experience. On the side of both the
peaks reside the remotest tribes-people of Bangladesh - the Khumi and
the Kuki. Boga Lake, one of the two highest lakes in Bangladesh lie
directly on the trek, while the other one, the Raikhiang Lake lies only a
little off the way.
Buy
There is an abundance of Brumese, Thai and Chinese trinkets, textile
and other stuff in the town. But, the best buy is definitely the
products of local handloom - cloth fabric, shawls, blankets and more -
as well as products of bamboo, cane and wood - buskets, flutes, hats,
mask and more. Prices are amazingly low, and textile qualities are
amazingly high. The designs are refreshingly exotic and extremely
geometric. Only the textile from Myanmar (called Burma here) have floral
or fire patterns, and are made by machine looms.
Markets
- Master Shopping Complex and Burmese Market: Full of Thai, Chinese & Burmese products. This market is always busy with throngs of buyers, sellers and onlookers. Marma shopkeepers, mostly women, are easy to deal with with, and ma provide with information on the place and the people.
- Bonolota Textile and Rangamati Textile: These shops at the Traffic Mor sells handloom products from Rangamati, another area of the Hill Tratcs, here. Since the Chakma people are very different from the Marma, Bawm and Mru people of Bandarban, the products may bring a fresh break.
- The BSCIC Shop: Various handloom and cottage products. It is the sales center for the cottage industry development project of Bangladesh government.
- Shoilo Propat: Shawls, blankets and buskets made by the Bawm people are sold by them by the side of the waterfall.
- Farukpara: Flutes, hats, pitchers and other stuff made by the Bawm people are sold in little shop crammed full with exotic and wonderful products. Bargaining while sipping on a cup of tea is a wonderful activity here.
- Marmabazaar: All the local food and textile products, as well as wet grocery vendors selling fresh hill produces. Look for Nappi, a local delicacy, to take home here. But, don't forget to pack it tight when carrying. This market bustles with activity in the earl morning, with tribes-people coming down the hills to sell vegetables of every color, as well as roots, tubers, fruits, berries and nuts.
Dress
Both the Bandarban Bazaar and the Marma Bazaar sell, hawk and peddle
an incredible number of floral-patterned Burmese cloths that are used to
make dresses in Marma style. A thicket of tailoring shops line the
streets of both markets to cater to buyers of these cloths. It is a fun
activity for women to buy cloth and take it to a tailoring shop. Custom
fit Thami (sarong) and Angi (Blouse) are tailored in a day.
Eat
This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink: | |
Budget | Under $1 |
Mid-range | $1-3 |
Splurge | Over $3 |
Budget
There are good restaurants in Bandarban Bazaar where local cuisine
can be sampled, which is mostly too hot for unaccustomed palates.
Mid-range
The best places to eat are Khaoa Daoa (a Muslim restaurant, meaning they serve beef) and Adarsha Bhaatghar (a Hindu restaurant, meaning they don't serve beef).
Splurge
Chinese or Continental food, though available and expensive by local
standards, is of poor quality here. Check with Ree Song Song in the town
or Kyank Ching at Parzatan Motel Megla.
Local delicacies
Culinary borrowings
Cuisine of at least four different tribes - Marma, Chakma, Bawm and Mro can be sampled. A few of the more common ones:
|
The local tribespeople consider almost everything that walks, flies
or swims as food, so with a little luck it is possible to sample dog
meat, and even dried snakes or deer meat (both are protected species in
Bangladesh). Nappi, a semi-dried fish-paste with powerful flavor,
is one of the top delicacies. Most of the hotels in Bandarban do not
have any restaurant attached.
Drink
Though there are no designated bars or pubs, alcoholic drinks are
widely available due to the culture of the tribes-people. A local rice
wine called Arraa is a potent drink. It is often flavored with stone-apples, pineapples and elachi. It is best drunk with coconut juice. Ching Rey
is a beer made from the first brew of Arraa. Tea is a fairly common
drink in the daytime, and available at plentiful hot tea shops. Tea here
is well-cooked and served with thin milk and salt instead of sugar.
There is no formal nightlife here. But, if you stay outside the
town, it may be possible to sit at a gathering of tribal village fold
for a little music and lot of drinking.
Sleep
With a little luck, it is possible to stay at one of the numerous
government rest houses, especially in quiet seasons. The most notable is
the District Circuit House, followed by Hill Top Rest House, maintained
by the District Administration, and the Forest Department rest House.
Department of Roads and Highways have two rest houses of fair standards -
one near Chimbuk, the other near the circuit house. But, these can not
be booked in advance, unless the traveler is on government business or a
government guest or employee.
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
Budget | Under $2 |
Mid-range | $2-5 |
Splurge | Over $5 |
Budget
In Bandarban Town itself there are numerous inexpensive hotels, all
of which are at Bandarban Bazaar, the market district of the town. The
most prominent are:
- Bilkis Hotel, At the traffic ''Mor'' junction., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62061. checkout: Negotiable. Very cheap, with a fine view of River Sangu. Tk 30-80.
- Jamal Boarding, Between the pouroshabha (municipality) and the Press Club., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62431. checkout: 12PM. Mostly preferred by mainstream Bengali Muslims who come for business or work here. Tk 50-100.
- Prue Abashika, Near the ''pouroshabha'' (municipality) at Bandrban Bazaar., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62257. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by the Royal Family, preferred by the indigenous people. Tk 50-100.
Mid-range
- Hotel Authiti, Marmabazaar., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62535. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by the Press Club. Strategically located at town center, on top of the Press Club, and has a magnificent view of river Sangu. Tk 120-400.
- Hotel Green Hill, In the Press Club building at traffic ''Mor'' junction., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62574. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by the Press Club. Strategically located at town center, on top of the Press Club, and has a magnificent view of river Sangu. Tk 150-350.
- Hotel Hill Bird, Bandarban Bazaar., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62431. checkout: 12PM. The oldest in the category, with a rent-a-car station at hand. Tk 150-350.
- Hotel Royal, At Marmabazaar., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62431. checkout: 12PM. Newly made, and supposedly the best in the category. Flanked by a the only "Chinese" restaurant in town. Tk 150-350.
- Paharikia Guest House, after G.P.O (Chimbuk Road) at Hafez Ghona., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62565. checkout: 12PM. Preferred by the indigenous people and long staying guests. Tk 250-300.
- Purabi Hotel, Between traffic ''Mor'' junction and Ruma Bus Station., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62531. checkout: 12PM. Recently updated and improved. Tk 150-350.
Splurge
- Hill Side Resort, Milonchari., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62414, +880 (0)1199275691. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by the Guide Tours. The best place to stay in Bandarban on top of Shoilo Propat. Maintained by Guide Tours this resort has a majestic view of Sangu River and features a cottage layout, Dhaka office Darpan Complex, 1st floor, Plot 2, Gulshan 2, Dhaka, +88029886983,+88029862205, +8801711696337. Tk 2000-2600.
- Holiday Inn, Near Meghla., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62896. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by District Administration. Not to be confused with the famous hotel chain. Tk 1000-1600 (negotiable).
- Hotel Four Star, Near DC office, VIP road., ☎ +880 (0) 361 62466, +880 (0) 1553421089. checkout: 12PM. Maintained by Mr. Manik Choudhury. Tk 450-1500.
Stay healthy
Drinking water often comes from hillside streams. Therefore, insist upon water from tube wells, or carry your own supply of water bottles or water purification tablets. Halotab is the popular local brand of purification tablets. Bandarban pharmacies may not have any in stock, so it is advisable to purchase some in Dhaka or Chittagong beforehand.Emergency Services
- Bandaban District Hospital Phone: +880 (0) 361 62544
- Matree Sadan and Shishu Kalyan Kendra Phone: +880 (0) 361 62591
- Bandarban Police Station
- Bandarban Cantonment Phone (exchange): +880 (0) 361 62266/62284/62285/62290
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