Birds of Baikka Beel
January 7, 2009
Nine kilometer towards Moulvibazar from Sri Mongol and you find a gas station. A small, little-used metal road runs to the left. Our car followed that path and in two minutes the landscape began to change. It looked like a vast wasteland. As far as eyes could stretch, there were hardly any signs of human habitation. The look and colour of the earth made it clear — this land remains under water for most of the year. The whitish big chunks of fine silted earth.
Into the waterfall - Rangamati
January 6, 2009
We sailed from Pablakhali of Rangamati early in the morning. It was a tiring five-day expedition to the hills of Rangamati and Khagrachhari. And now, it was time to return. We felt both tired and exhilarated at the same time. Dr Reza Khan, the famous wildlife expert, had taken us round the hills looking for birds and animals. It was a great lesson as we sat on the open veranda of the Pablakhali forest office and listened to owlets and nightjars and other birds.
Bumper year for Nepal tourism in 2008
January 3, 2009
Two years after the end of Nepal’s brutal civil war, more tourists than ever visited the Himalayan country in 2008, officials said on Friday. Tourism brings vital foreign currency into the young republic governed by former rebel Maoists who won elections last April with pledges to lift Nepal out of dire poverty. “With nearly 550,000 tourists in 2008, arrivals have increased by just over four percent compared to the previous year,” said Aditya Baral, Nepal Tourism Board spokesman, adding that 2007 set the previous record for the highest number of tourist arrivals.
Promoting tourism in Bangladesh
December 28, 2008
Tourism has experienced continuous growth and diversification to become one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors in the world over the past six decades. This is one of the today’s most crucial, dynamic and charismatic international industry sectors.
Travel Bangladesh : Chittagong Division
December 23, 2008
Chittagong Division is located at southern part of the country has an area of 33771 sq. km and a population of 23.99. It has 11 districts and 38 municipalities.
Chittagong is the biggest seaport and second largest town in Bangladesh situated near the Bay of Bengal. It is 264 km away east of Dhaka, famous for hill areas, natural beauty and for the seashore. Chittagong is also known of the town of Aulias (Muslim saints).
 [Fay's lake at Chittagong] |
Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang (7th century A.D) as “a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water” and given the title of “Porto Grande” by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers.
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Chittagong combines remains true to both the descriptions even today. It combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the shooting quiet of a charming hill town.
The Shahi Jama-e-Masjid and Qadam Mubarak Mosque are two of the most impressive buildings in the city. It is also worth visiting the Ethnological Museum in the Modern City, which has interesting displays on Bangladesh’s tribal peoples. There are good views and cooling breezes from Fairy Hill in the British City in the northwestern sector of the city.
Chittagong is the country’s chief port and is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh’s only steel mill and oil refinery are also located in Chittagong.
Source: discoverybangladesh.com
Welcome to Bangladesh
December 21, 2008
A land of unspoiled nature, rich cultural heritage and exotic beauty, Bangladesh is considered as one of the most potential country for eco-tourism among the South Asian countries. Her fertile land contains greater bio-diversity than that of many countries taken together. The unique composition of biological phenomenon with varied flora and fauna of this area has perhaps no match elsewhere in the world.
Into the waterfall
December 17, 2008
We sailed from Pablakhali of Rangamati early in the morning. It was a tiring five-day expedition to the hills of Rangamati and Khagrachhari. And now, it was time to return. We felt both tired and exhilarated at the same time. Dr Reza Khan, the famous wildlife expert, had taken us round the hills looking for birds and animals. It was a great lesson as we sat on the open veranda of the Pablakhali forest office and listened to owlets and nightjars and other birds. Khan listened and connected the calls to the birds.
Dhaka -The Capital of Bangladesh
December 14, 2008
:: Ahsan Manjil
Built in 1872 and standing on the river Buriganga, this stately building offers the visitors a feeling of the life-style of the Nawabs of Dhaka. Sometimes known as the Pink Palace, this building now houses a splendid museum.
Basically, it was the residence of the Nawabs. Nawab Abdul Gani renovated this building in the year 1872 and named it after his son Khaza Ahasanullah.
 [Ahsan Manjil] |
On the bank of river Buriganga in Dhaka the Pink majestic, Ahsan Manjil has been renovated and turned into a museum recently. It is an epitome of the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Todays renovated Ahsan Manjil a monument of immense historical beauty. |
It has 31 rooms with a huge dome atop which can be seen from miles around. It now has 23 galleries in 31 rooms displaying of traits, furniture and household articles and utensils used by the Nawab.
Open 9 am- 5 pm from Saturday to Wednesday and 3-5 pm on Friday. Thursday is close.
The fort of Aurangabad, popularly known as the Lalbagh Fort, was built in 1678 AD by the then Viceroy of Bengal Prince Mohammad Azam, son of the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. The fort has a three storied structure with slender minarets at the South Gate. It has many hidden passages and a mosque of massive structure. Outstanding among the monuments of the Lalbagh Fort are the Tomb of Pari Bibi (Fairy lady) and Audience room and Hummam Khana (bathing place) of Nawab Shaista Khan, now housing a museum.
The fort was the scene of bloody battle during the first war of independence (1857) when 260 spays stationed here backed by the people revolted against British forces. It is one of the great historical places of Mughal era. A small museum is there in this fort where you will find the clothes and weapons of the Mughols.
Lalbagh fort is in the old town of Dhaka at Lalbagh. It is open 10 am-5 pm Sunday to Friday & Saturday is closed.
The capital city Dhaka predominantly was a city of the Mughals. In hundred years of their vigorous rule successive Governors and princely Viceroys who ruled the province, adorned it with many noble monuments in the shape of magnificent places, mosques, tombs, fortifications and ‘Katras’ often surrounded with beautifully laid out gardens and pavilions. Among these, few have survived the ravages of time, aggressive tropical climate of the land and vandal hands of man.
 [Lalbagh Fort - Dhaka] |
But the finest specimen of this period is the Aurangabad Fort [commonly known as Lalbagh Fort], which indeed represents the unfulfilled dream of a Mughal Prince. It occupies the southwestern part of the old city, overlooking the Buriganga on whose northern bank it stands as a silent sentinel of the old city.
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Rectangular in plan, it encloses an area of 1082′ by 800′ and in addition to its graceful lofty gateways on southeast and northeast corners and a subsidiary small unpretentious gateway on north, it also contains within its fortified perimeter a number of splendid monuments, surrounded by attractive garden. These are a small 3-domed mosque, the mausoleum of Bibi Pari the reputed daughter of Nawab Shaista Khan and the Hammam and Audience Hall of the Governor. The main purpose of this fort was to provide a defensive enclosure of the palatial edifices of the interior and as such was a type of palace-fortress rather than a siege fort.
 [Shahid Minar] |
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Symbol of Bengali nationalism. This monument was built to commemorate the martyrs of the historic Language movement of 1952. Hundreds and thousands of people with floral wreaths and bouquet gather on 21 February every year to pay respect in a solemn atmosphere.
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Source: travel.discoverybangladesh.com
Tourist Spot - St. Martins Island
December 3, 2008
St. Martins Island is the most beautiful Coral Island where you will find live corals. Its only 30 km from Teknaf and you can go there by local motorboat, tourist boats, or sea truck.This small coral island about 10km (6mi) southwest of the southern tip of the mainland is a tropical clich, with beaches fringed with coconut palms and bountiful marine life. Theres nothing more strenuous to do here than soak up the rays, but its a clean and peaceful place without even a mosquito to disrupt your serenity.
Spellbinding Rangamati
November 27, 2008
The spellbinding natural beauty of Rangamati, in spite of having plenty of features to be a prime tourist destination, is losing out due to the absence of modern tourism facilities. In the last ten years, several small tourist spots have been set up under private initiative in the district and thus helped to increase the tourism facility in the hills to some extent.