Cox's Bazar

Prepared by,

Emrana Perveen

Picture credit by google

Natural Darling Beauty of Cox’s Bazaar Sea Beach

Why Cox's Bazaar is the first attraction Tourist

Cox’s Bazaar Sea beach in Bangladesh is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. It is famous for its long natural sandy sea beach.

It stretches across 125 kilometres of unbroken sandy beach. The area is located south of Chattagram, the industrial port city of Bangladesh. Travelers in general know little that it is the longest “Natural Sand” beach in the world. Golden sand stretched for miles and miles, cliffs hanging, rushing sound of the waves, flamboyant pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, occasional conch shells, enjoyable seafood, this is the tourist capital of Bangladesh.

This shark free waters are heavenly sun-bathing and swimming. Local people have given the beach nicknames like “Palongkee” and “Panowa” meaning “little or yellow flower.” The warmth and hospitality of the common people will make you feel welcome here. Many of life’s enjoyable moments are attached to this place.

The history of this important district of Bangladesh started as early as the Mughal era. After leading by Mughals, it was ruled by Portuguese and then came under the control of the British. It was at that time when this district was named Cox Bazar Bangladesh after Captain Hiram Cox. He was an officer who worked for the British East India Company.

At first it has been a fishing village, meaning that the fish are plenty and include different varieties for centuries. Now the town serves as the main economic source for tourism Bangladesh. Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus all comprise the population of Cox Bazar. There are many tribal people living here with their distinct culture and lifestyle. In Bangladesh, This beach is one of the few major spots for aquaculture like an oyster, snail, and pearl. Other sources of generating revenue are salt production and farming at small-scale

How can you arrive there:

The transportation system of cox bazar is extremely fine. Government took good initiatives to make the Dhaka to Chattagram and Chattagram to Cox bazar more stunning and wide.

If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Bangladesh you may choose the Chair Coach to go to Chittagong First. It is better to rent a car which will drive you directly to the Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach at hassle free along with taking less time.

Those who want to reach the cox Bazar even swift they may ride on the Biman Bangladesh Airlines service from Dhaka to Chattagram. Then you will find the next rush to Cox Bazar from Chattagram to Sea Beach easy.

Interestingly, there is not a single day when you will not find people on Cox’s Bazar Sea beach admiring the natural beauty of sunrise or sunset. Peak season when it is most visited remains between October and March. It is the best time to fly because airlines are full and no delay in flight schedule. But you need to reserve the hotel rooms earlier because of the soaring price. But if you plan to travel during the monsoon and summer which is from May till September you may avoid the certainly crowded beach.

It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and beautiful hillside, this sandy beach is the main attraction of Cox’s Bazar sea beach. In the forests and on the hillsides, are varieties of tall trees, a huge number of migratory birds. Extremely rich and diverse, nearly 8000 in number, make up cox’s bazar flora and fauna. As you explore the waters, sea life creatures including jellyfish, starfish, numerous fish species in abundance can be found and also two different types of rare sea turtles.

Sunset or sunrise:

At the beach, you can relax in the warm golden sunshine while sipping refreshing coconut water. There are activities like swimming, deep water diving, surfing, boogie boarding and even jet skiing available to make your travel a very enjoyable one. If your kids are a bit older, do rent a jet ski and ride along with them. The driver will be with you the whole time. There are professional cameramen hovering around the beach if you want your picture taken with a sunset or sunrise setting. No need to worry, they will later deliver the shots taken to your address.

Laboni Beach

 Laboni Beach which is the main beach close to town, Himchhari which is famous for its waterfalls and Inani Beach which are preferred for sun tanning. 18 kilometres south of the beach area, Himchhari is a good place for picnic and shooting spot for movies. It is best to get a local guide if you do not want to miss out these sightseeing attractions definitely worth visiting.

Attraction:

·      Backdrop of lush green hills rising up on the east.

·      The sea stretching out endlessly to the west.

·      Unusual shaped rock and coral boulders scattered lavishly in the sea beach

·       Fringed with tall palm trees swaying gently in the breeze.

·      Seashells of different colors, shapes, and sizes are found along here.

·      Calm lagoon which is wonderful for the little ones to paddle in.

·      You will be an extremely therapeutic experience for getting on the rock & coral boulders with the waves washing up on the shore around

Him Chari:

Him Chari is one of the most attractive places for the visitors. Journey to Him Chari is also exciting because the road to Him Chari runs by the lovely green hills on one side and open blue sea on the other side. The scenery of the two side of the road pleased all.

Picture credit by google

Beautiful Waterfall:

The amazing waterfall of Him Chari is a very rare scene to enjoy. The waterfall from the green hill is relatively extraordinary to look at. However, in the winter it dwindles whereas in the rainy season it is really wonderful and full waterfall could be enjoyed.

The spot is ideal for picnic, shooting, relaxing and sunbathing. But whenever you have sunbathing locals can rush around you as Bangladeshis’ are not used to see women in swim costume. Here you get beautiful hilltop resort centre where you can stay for r

Sheikh Mujib Safari Park: 

You can also explore places like Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, the Buddhist monastery Aggmeda Khyang, and Ramu. Ramu is famous for a Buddhist village, a number of monasteries, hangs, and pagodas with gold, bronze other precious gem decorated images of Buddha. There is a 100 feet statue of Gautama Buddha at the Vimukti Bibeshan Bhabna Kendra temple which is the largest Buddha statue in the country. Anybody is free to visit and take pictures in the temple without buying any ticket. The place and its surrounding are very peaceful if you love to wander around.

Maheshkhali:

The beautiful scenery of Maheshkhali is an Island. Its tribal nation called Rakhine lives on this island who are famous for knitting and weaving clothes with natural color and hand-made loom.  There are ranges of hills on this island atop of which is the famous Adinath Temple dedicated to Shiva. It becomes very busy during the month of Falgoon when Hindu pilgrims gather for worship.

Sonadia Island: 

The northwest of sea-beach is the centre of dry fish, Sonadia Island. During the winter season, fishermen make temporary camps to catch and dry fishes. The western part of this nine square kilometre area of this crescent-shaped island is sandy and rich in an abundant variety of shells. In the northern part, beds of window pane oysters are found.

Teknaf:

There is a beautiful small town worth visiting 80 kilometres south of Cox’s Bazar on the Naf river bank facing Myanmar. In Teknaf, you can not only enjoy a ride on a boat or the Sampan but also get the opportunity to appreciate the Arakan and Magh people and their culture. These have already been established many resort in the area primarily to cater to the Bangladeshi as well as foreign guests.

Marine life centre:

 Marine life centre is a place where you can see fish biodiversity as well as the skeleton of different preserved sea creatures. The museum is situated at Marine Fisheries and Technology Centre of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh. Kids can enjoy this activity if they get bored of the sea and beach.

Accommodation for tourist:

Cox's Bazar, arguably the most popular tourist spot in Bangladesh, is visited by a large number of tourists from Britain, America, Korea, Japan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and many other countries each year. Though there is no record kept by the Bangladesh Porjatan Corporation (BPC) on how many people visit the beach annually, an AFP report says that during the winter there can be 10,000 available rooms in the beach area Accommodations near the beach range from expensive high-end resorts to more reasonable options. Many private hotels, BPC Motels and two "Five star" hotels are located on or near the beach.

Some 5 star hotel list and facilities:

Seagull Hotel:

There are 182 well-appointed guest rooms. Regular Rooms – 120, Deluxe Rooms – 41, Suite Rooms – 20, Presidential Suite – 01

Rangdhanu: 

Coffee-Shop serves multi-cuisine menu & excellent buffet breakfast specialized in Thai, Chinese & Continental Food.

Madhurima:

Pool side restaurant & sunken bar provides you a variety of liquors, snacks, barbeque, cold drinks, and pizza.

Services & Facilities:

Picture credit by google

• Central Air-conditioning System
• 24 Hours Room Service
• Travel Desk
• Coffee Shop-serving Multi-cuisine Menu
• Five Specialty Restaurants
• Lawn Tennis
• Swimming Pool
• Bar-well Stocked Choice of Liquors Available
• Doctor on Call
• Left Luggage Room
• Running Hot and Cold water
• Elevator- 3 Units
• Money Exchange
• Business Centre
• Rent – A – Car Service
• Shopping Arcade
• Valet Service
• Laundry Service
• Airport Transfers
• Gym
• Sauna
• Steam Bat

Accommodation Cost:

•   Regular – Sea View (Single Bed) BDT 2,590/=  
•  Regular – Sea View (Double Bed) BDT 3,190/= 
•  Regular – Hill View (Single Bed) BDT 2,420/= 
•  Regular – Hill View (Double Bed) BDT 2,970/   
•  Deluxe – Sea View (Single Bed) BDT 3,300/=     
•  Deluxe – Hill View (Single Bed) BDT 3,080/   
•  Deluxe – Hill View (Double Bed) BDT 3,630/=    
•  Suites BDT 7,700/=        
•  President Suite BDT 25,000 /=   
•  Above rates are subject to addition of 10% Service charge and 15% Vat

·     

By the side of the beach, there are a number of temporary shops which sell local crafts made of many necessary and hobby stuff.

Picture credit by google

Like as  

•      Oysters 
•     ornaments made of pearls   
•   colourful beads
•     Dry Fish,   
•   Burmese Gift Items,
•    sea- foods   and
•  Beach clothes etc.

There is a bigger Burmese market located few miles away from the beach area. Besides many fancy items, you can get Burmese cosmetics, Burmese Pickle, Burmese Nuts, Burmese Ladies Parts, Burmese Men’s local dresses at these shops. It will take about 25-30 BDT by rickshaw. Please make sure to exchange foreign currencies for local cash for hardly any shop will take credit cards. So, if you find anything, you like and want to buy it is better to carry ready cash with you.

 What can you get there to eat:

Foods:

·         Western, Thai, Chinese and continental food is available in major hotels and restaurants.

·         Local dishes are usually far better and more exotic.

·         Curries of many types around, cooked with proper spices and hot curry powders, including local Rezala, Korma, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, mutton, beef, Chicken, fish and prawns, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, shutli kabab, boti kabab, and a wide variety of fish curries should be tried. 

·         Rice in the form of pulao, biriani (with rice & mutton or chicken) and khichuri are available in any reasonable restaurant.

·         If you do not care for rice dishes will try plain parata, mughlai parata, or naan that go very well with different curries.

·         Seafood and sweet-water fish are also available.

·         Fish-lovers should not miss fresh bhetki, smoked hilsa, chingri (lobster/king prawns) malaikari, and Prawn dopyaza.

Drinks:

• Chai – the milky sweet tea (sometimes with zinger) available almost everywhere.
• Lassi – the refreshing yogurt drink give you different taste.
• Green coconut water is a fine, pure, safe, tasty and refreshing drink.
• International soft drinks, like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, 7-up, Sun Crest and RC cola are also available.
• Hard drinks are available in selected big hotels and restaurants.

Dessert:

• Misti Dhoi – Sweetened yogurt.
• Halua – Common dessert wide ranging from egg halua to carrot, shoji or almond, pistachio, wheat cream, nuts and many more.
• Sandesh – Milk based dessert.
• Zorda – Sweetened rice with nuts.
• Firni – Rice flour cooked in milk, sugar and flavouring.
• Rasgolla & Kalojam – Popular milk based desserts. Made with sugar, flour and ghee.
• Rosmalai – Round sweets floating in thick milk.
• Pitha – Blanket term for cakes or pastries with specific varieties like takti

***** Note: On Friday’s drinking in public area is not recommended for foreigners *****