From the road to Thanchi, a few kilometres out of town, the sound of Shoilo Propat reaches you before the water does. Bandarban sits on the Sangu River, and the river is the thread that ties most of a visit together: boat trips, hill roads, and the temples and peaks that rise on either side.
The town suits travellers who are happy to move slowly and take the hill roads as they come, mixing Buddhist temples and tribal villages with waterfalls, lakes and a boat ride. Distances here are short on paper but the terrain decides the pace, so plan a few anchor stops and leave room around them.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions that come up most often when planning a trip.
Top things to do in Bandarban
1. Buddha Dhatu Jadi
Buddha Dhatu Jadi, in Balaghata about 4 km from the town, is the largest Buddhist temple in Bangladesh and is locally known as 'Swarna Mandir'. This Theravada temple sits atop a 60-metre hill and is built completely in the style of South-East Asia, housing a sacred relic and the second largest statue of Buddha in Bangladesh.
It is one of the regular stops on the guided tour package offered by Bengal Tours & Guide Tours, so it pairs naturally with Meghla, Shoilo Propat, Raj Vihar and Ujanipara Vihar if you take that route.
2. Cruise on River Sangu
A boat trip down the River Sangu is one of the most admired activities here. You can go by sampan, a double-oared boat with a blunt aft and a flat bottom, or by a regular boat, and the trip can run from a one-hour outing with a stop for tea to a whole day cruise with stop-overs for food.
You will see people working on the river with bamboos. Note that the river is not very deep in the dry season, and your boat may get stuck in the soil under the river.
3. Shoilo Propat
Shoilo Propat is a waterfall at Milanchari, about 4 km from the town on the road to Thanchi, and the site is maintained by Bangladesh Parjatan, the national tourism promotion corporation.
The Parjatan Motel here is a substantial three-storey building on a high place, though room rents run a little high compared to other places. The waterfall is also one of the stops on the Bengal Tours & Guide Tours package.
4. Meghla
Meghla lies about 4 km from the town on the road to Keranihat and is maintained by the District Administration. The site 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, so the two can be combined in one outing. Meghla appears both on the Bengal Tours & Guide Tours package and on the irregular Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation tour.
5. Nilachal
Nilachal is a tourist site near Meghla, in Tigerpara, developed by the District Administration. It is reached on the irregular guided tour package run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, which covers Nilachal and Meghla.
These two are described as artificially created, government-owned tourist attractions, so set your expectations accordingly and treat Nilachal as a companion stop to Meghla rather than a destination on its own.
6. Raj Vihar
Raj Vihar, the royal monastery, is at Jadipara and is among the highly notable Buddhist temples in the town. Temples of this kind are known as kyang in the local tongue and vihars in the town.
It is included in the Bengal Tours & Guide Tours package, which makes it easy to see alongside Ujanipara Vihar and the other temple stops.
7. Ujanipara Vihar
The monastery at Ujanipara, known as Ujanipara Vihar, is a major place of interest in the town and sits alongside Raj Vihar among the notable vihars here.
Like Raj Vihar, it features on the Bengal Tours & Guide Tours itinerary, so the two monasteries are best visited together.
8. 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, both lie within a day's journey from the town.
Two tribal villages are included in the Bengal Tours & Guide Tours package, which also takes in Chimbuk Hill, so this is the simplest way to combine the peak with village visits.
9. Boga Lake
Boga Lake, also called Bagakain Lake or Baga Lake, is a lake surrounded by high hills with a small village just beside it, about 18 km from Ruma Sadar Upozilla. The water is a striking blue, and small tribal communities including the Bawm and Khumi live beside the lake.
Tourists make their way here every year, especially in the winter season. In the rainy season it is quite difficult to stroll beside the lake, and the road from Ruma to Boga Lake is still under construction.
10. Nilgiri and Thanchi
Nilgiri is one of the tallest peaks in Bangladesh and lies some 46 km from the town, with a resort at the top maintained by the Bangladesh Army. The resort has three furnished cottages and three tents with four beds each, plus a restaurant and a helipad.
Booking is done through an army officer, and foreign tourists will be restricted there. Check the current position before you build a day around it.
11. Hiking to Keokaradong or Tahjindong
A hike to either Keokaradong or Tahjindong, the two tallest peaks, is an exhilarating experience. The remotest tribes-people of Bangladesh, the Khumi and the Kuki, live on the sides of both peaks.
Boga Lake lies directly on the trek, while Raikhiang Lake lies only a little off the way, so a hike can be strung together with the lakes rather than treated as a separate outing.
12. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake
Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are further places of interest in the area, useful if you have already covered the main sites and want to add something to a longer stay.
The source material gives no further detail on any of the three, so treat them as add-ons to a flexible day rather than fixed stops.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Buddha Dhatu Jadi in Balaghata, then continue to Raj Vihar at Jadipara and Ujanipara Vihar while you are in town.
Afternoon: Head out on the road to Keranihat for Meghla and the nearby Nilachal site in Tigerpara, then take in Shoilo Propat at Milanchari on the road to Thanchi.
Evening: Finish with a boat trip on the River Sangu, choosing a short cruise with a stop for tea if the day has already been long.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to see several sites in one trip?
The only available regular guided tour package, offered by Bengal Tours & 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.
Can I visit Nilgiri?
Nilgiri has a resort at the top maintained by the Bangladesh Army, and booking is done through an army officer. Foreign tourists will be restricted there, so confirm your access before planning around it.
When is the best time to visit Boga Lake?
Tourists make their way to Boga Lake every year, especially in the winter season. In the rainy season it is quite difficult to stroll beside the lake, and the road from Ruma to Boga Lake is still under construction.
Is a boat trip on the Sangu River possible all year?
The river is not very deep in the dry season, and your boat may get stuck in the soil under the river. Trips range from a one-hour outing with a stop for tea to a whole day cruise with stop-overs for food.
Pick your anchor stops, check the hill-road conditions for the season, and start planning your days around the Sangu.