March 28, 2025
DHAKA – Eid comes with smiles, happiness, and many plans on how to celebrate the special day. Many tend to make the best use of the festive holidays and travel across the country. Most places, however, are crowded during this time as everyone has the same idea and you cannot blame them. Here’s an idea! Why don’t you pick a spot that is spectacular all the same without all the hustle and bustle of the overflowing crowd? Here are 4 options you could try this Eid season to ditch the crowd.
China Clay Hill, Netrokona
Known as “China Matir Pahar”, it is a geologically interesting spot located at Bijoypur, Durgapur in Netrokona District. Situated in the Northern part of the country, this spectacular place stands near the Meghalayan border and, therefore, will allow you a glimpse of distant hills.
The hills are not very high but will give you that taste of adventure and once you are on top, there’s that beautiful view that one only gets from a height. There are several lakes nearby namely, the Blue Water Lake along the Hill whose water can only be described as a “peaceful shade of blue”. It is uplifting, picturesque and, dare I say, really makes you wonder about the hidden beauty of nature that we even do not know exists!
This place can be a great outing during Eid since the crowd here is little to nothing compared to other tourist spots. It can be a day trip and one can return home by the time the sun sets.
From Dhaka, buses and trains are both available and trains will certainly be cheaper.
Manpura Island, Bhola
Perhaps, you are craving nature’s touch and think that a few hours on the sea beach will do the trick. Or, how about a walk through a mangrove forest? Cox’s Bazar or Sundarbans are way too crowded and a little tranquillity is what you seek. So, why not Manpura Island? Yes, the same Manpura from the movie we all know of.
The island is isolated from the mainland but it is part of Bhola District. With the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Meghna River on the other three, one can imagine how naturally appealing this place can be. There’s a deer sanctuary, a mangrove forest, a sea beach and much more to explore.
Being an isolated island, water vessels are your only option to go to the island. There are several launches from Dhaka Sadarghat. One can take the route via Barishal or Bhola as well.
Niladri Lake, Sunamganj
Sunamganj district has quite a few spots worth your interest and even if you are on a tight schedule, you can still make it work. You can make Niladri Lake your main objective and visit other points of interest on your way. Niladri Lake, also known as Shaheed Siraj Lake, sits in Tekerghat village, Tahirpur Upazila.
With Tanguar Haor being not too far away, visitors often count it as a singular trip while visiting both locations. Small, beautiful stones scattered at a corner, the sight of the hills of Meghalaya visible at a distance is truly breath-taking.
And getting here is not too difficult either. One can board a bus headed for Sunamganj from Dhaka and after that, it is just a matter of an autorickshaw ride that will take you to the lake.
Boga Lake and Sangu River, Bandarban
Located in the hilly district of Bandarban, both Boga Lake and Sangu River are spectacles of nature that bless us with not just their view but the serenity they bring to the mind. Sangu is arguably the most beautiful river in the country that curves through the lush hilly vegetation. A boat ride on the tranquil crystal-clear water will make you feel like you are piercing the surface at light sp
Boga Lake, on the other hand, is a nature’s whim that stands at a height of 1,246 feet from sea level. With verdant hills surrounding it, Boga Lake comes with its dragon mythology to match the breath-taking view of it. The stories seem straight out of an adventure novel and the fact that you have to get there by a vehicle called ‘Chander Gari’ only adds to it.
One can stay at Boga Lake as there are cottages here. Boat rides should be on your to-do list and BBQ might just be the thing to match the celebratory mood. As the cherry on top, if you have the time and can manage it physically, you can also attempt a trek to Keokradong.
Key points to remember —
Some of the spots can be physically demanding and long hours on the road might be a challenge for many. It is recommended that you pack accordingly, and keep essentials with you at all times. Try to hire a guide or someone local on your tour as it will make things so much easier for you. Look up on Google and YouTube about what to expect on your tour and how to prepare for them. You will also get a detailed instruction about how to get there and a rough idea about the expenses.
Last but not least, try to have fun. Do not try to cramp too many places in a single day since it will wear you out and ruin the fun and you will end up feeling a lot worse the next morning. Travelling is supposed to be fun and try to keep it that way.