Tourism Bangladesh
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Bandarban

Bandarban sits in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh's only truly mountainous region — layered hills, cloud-level viewpoints, and communities of the Marma, Mro, Bawm, Tripura, and other indigenous peoples who call these hills home.

Getting there

There's no direct flight to Bandarban. From Dhaka:

  • Fly to Chattogram (Shah Amanat International Airport), then a bus or private car to Bandarban town, roughly 3–4 hours by road.
  • Direct bus from Dhaka, typically 8–10 hours depending on traffic and route. Operators include Shyamoli, Dolphin, S. Alam, and Saint Martin Transport.
  • There's no direct train to Bandarban — you'd take a train to Chattogram and continue by road from there.

Best time to visit

Winter (November through February) gives the clearest views and the most comfortable hiking conditions. Monsoon (June–September) makes the waterfalls dramatically fuller, but trails get muddy and roads to the more remote areas can be affected by landslide risk — a trade-off worth knowing before you plan a monsoon trip.

What to see

  • Nilgiri — about 47 km from Bandarban town, one of the highest viewpoints in the district, known for sunrise and sunset views above the cloud line. A government-run resort here allows overnight stays.
  • Boga Lake (also called Bagakain Lake) — a natural lake roughly 1,200 meters above sea level near Ruma, reached by a combination of road, hiking, and sometimes boat.
  • Nafakhum Waterfall — one of the largest waterfalls in Bangladesh, fed by the Remakri River near Thanchi. Getting there involves a boat ride followed by a forest trek.
  • Chimbuk Hill — a hill viewpoint along the road toward Nilgiri and Thanchi, a common stop on the way further into the hills.
  • Buddha Dhatu Jadi (the Golden Temple) — one of the largest Buddhist temples in Bangladesh, right in Bandarban town.

Practical notes

Foreign visitors need permission from the Deputy Commissioner's office to travel to certain areas of the district, particularly the more remote zones toward Ruma, Thanchi, and Nafakhum — apply a few days ahead of your trip rather than on arrival. Army checkpoints are common throughout the hill tracts, so carry your passport or ID at all times. For visa and entry requirements and general safety guidance, see Practical Info.

Bandarban features in several of our sample itineraries — see Itineraries for full multi-day routes. More photos of the region are in the Photo Gallery.