Sylhet Division
Overview
Of the six divisions, the Sylhet Division is
actually one of the six that is better to visit during the rainy season
than it is during the dry (although the dry offers plenty for visitors
to enjoy as well). The main reason for this is that a crystal clear
blue water flows from the hills of nearby Meghalaya into the Sylhet
basin, which in turn becomes more like a gigantic ocean landscape.
During the dry season these become giant wetlands, an absolute heaven
for visiting migratory bird species from the north.
There is
also tea plantations littered throughout the hills of the area, making
two-wheeled explorations a real pleasure. These plantations are
concentrated mostly around Srimongol, which could be called
Bangladesh’s ‘Little Darjeeling’ (although not nearly as high up of
course). Finally, the region also possesses ethnic diversity not seen
elsewhere in Bangladesh. Groups of Khasi, Manipuri and Tripura live in
villages scattered throughout the division.
All in all, Sylhet
holds many of Bangladesh’s highlights and is an extremely picturesque
place to visit at almost any time of year. For those living in
Bangladesh it is also highly accessible by road or by rail, and
visiting here actually feels like a bit of a vacation inside
Bangladesh.
Highlights- Slowly exploring the tea plantations of Srimongol by two-wheeled transport: bicycle or motorcycle is best.
- Drinking tea before, during and after the two-wheeled explorations.
- Checking
out the pristine rivers flowing from the hills of Meghalaya, and for
those who are equipped with an India visa, hopping over the border to
Cherrapunjee, the self-proclaimed ‘wettest place on Earth.’
- Meeting some of Bangladesh’s indigenous cultures in beautiful but remote villages of the region.
- Exploring some of Bangladesh’s best preserved national parks: The Lawacharra National Park and the extremely hard to reach Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary.
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