SOUTH-EAST BEACHES

Overview

COX’S BAZAAR SEA BEACH – Cox’s bazaar has the longest unbroken sandy sea beach of the world, which is 120km long stretching from Kalatoli to the southern land point at Teknaff. Magnificent sunset from the beach and marine drive to Himchari are among prime activities in the beach. The sun is mild throughout the year that makes the beach ideal for sunbath without fear of being sun burnt. BURMESE MARKET – This market is located in the Cox’s Bazaar town. It is mainly manned by Rakhain people, who came from Burma (Myanmar). Different types of pickles and handloom made by different indigenous people are mostly sold in the market. ADINATH TEMPLE – Adinath Temple, located on the summit of Mainak Hill on Maheshkhali Island off the coast of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, is dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva, who is worshipped as Adinath. The temple is famous for the annual 13 days long fair held at the foot of Mainak Hill in the month of Phalgun as per the Bengali calendar. It will take an hour’s boat ride from Cox’s Bazaar. This 17th Century temple as a magnificent view of the Bak Khali River, and has a refreshing environment. Every year different tourists come from different part of the world to visit this temple. HIMCHHARI – Himchhari is a charming place with Sea in front of the hills, only 9km from the Cox’s Bazaar Town. The marine drive to Himchhari offers a superb experience for the nature lovers. There is a national park that has more than 50 species of trees and 250 species of birds. Climbing the hill of about 500 feet, one gets a wide view of the Bay of Bengal. ST. MARTIN’S ISLAND – St. Martin’s Island is the only Coral island of Bangladesh, located about 9km south to the Teknaf Beach. It is almost flat and is 3.6m above the mean sea level. The 9.66 km wide channel between the mainland and the island is much shallower than the open sea southwest of the island. The island is a little heaven for wildlife having 182 species of wildlife that includes 4 species of amphibians, 28 reptiles, 130 birds, and 20 mammals. Launches and country boats ply between the island and Teknaf regularly. CHHERA DWIP – Surrounding coral reef of the island gets cut off from its body during high tide and gets connected in low tide. Because of this nature of that extended island, it is called Chhera dwip (torn off Island). Visiting Chhera Dwip would be a memorable experience for those who are not familiar with the nature of sea. TEKNAFF GAME RESERVE – Located on the banks of the Naf River in the Teknaf Upazila. of Teknaf Game Reserve is one of five protected areas in Bangladesh where the Forest Department has put into place a co-management approach to eco-tourism under the banner of “Nishorgo – Bangladesh’s Protected Area Management Program”. It was established in 1983 and has an area of 1116115 hectare. A highlight of the Teknaf Game Reserve is the Kudum Cave, more commonly referred to as the “Bat Cave” – for obvious reasons. But the two species of bats, of which there a multitude, are not the only cave dwellers. Kudum Cave is also home to four species of snails, four species of fish dwelling in the underwater pools and three species of spiders, while birds in the area have been seen entering the cave to feed on the snails. As the only known remaining sand-mud cave in Bangladesh, conservationists are keen to preserve it as an eco-tourism attraction. From the hilltop of the game reserve, a tourist can enjoy the amazing scenic beauty of the river Naff, hill ranges of Mayammer and blue waves of the Bay of Bengal. The wild elephants, gibbon, hollock and other wild animals attract the tourists.