With a picturesque hinterland of large hill-forests and lakes, Chittagong is a good vacation spot. It is the second largest city of Bangladesh and the biggest International seaport. Its green hills and forests, broad sandy beaches and fine cool climate always attract holidaymakers. It combines the hum of a restless seaport with the pleasure of a charming hill-town with its undulating topography. Chittagong is the main site for the establishment of heavy, medium and light industries. Bangladesh's only steel mill and oil refinery are also located here.
Chittagong is connected with Dhaka by rail, road, air and water. It is also connected with Cox's Bazar, Calcutta and Dubai by air.
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Shrine of Bayazid Bostami
This holy shrine attracts a large number of visitors and pilgrims. At its base there is a large pond with several hundred tortoises floating in the water.
Ethnological Museum
A unique treasure house of variety of tribal culture and heritage of Bangladesh and the world.
Court Building
Situated on the Fairy Hill, this building commands a magnificent bird's eye view of Chittagong city, particularly at night.
Sitakunda
About 40 km. from Chittagong. This is famous for the Chandranath Hindu Temple - one of the oldest temple in the subcontinent and the Buddhist Temple having a footprint of lord Buddha. The Hindus and Buddhists regard these places particularly the hilltops as very sacred. Shiva Chaturdashi festival is held every years in February when thousands pilgrims assemble for the celebration which lasts about ten days. There is a hot water spring 5/km. to the north of Sitakunda.
KAPTAI
A pleasant and picturesque drive of 64 km. from Chitagong brings you to huge expanse of emerald and blue water ringed with tropical forest. It is the famous man made Kaptai lake (680 sq. km) formed by damming the Kamaphuli river. Only 3 km. from Kaptai along Chittagong Road lies the ancient Chit Morong Buddist temple having beautiful Buddist statues. Other Places of interest in the Hill Tract districts include Chandraghone, Khagrachari and Bandarban all in picturesque surrounding.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chitagong Hill Tracts is divided into three districts, namelyÂ
Rangamati,
Khagrachari andÂ
Bandarban. This Hill Tracts is divided into four valleys surrounded by the Feni, Kamaphuli, Sangu (Sankhu) and Matamuhuri rivers and their tributaries. The ranges or hills of the Hill Tracts rise steeply thus looking far more impressive than what their height would imply and extend in long narrow ridges. The highest peaks on the northern side are Thangnang, Langliang and Khantiang while those on the southern side are Ramu, Taung, Keekradang (arround 4000 ft, highest in Bangladesh), Mowdok Mual, Rang Tlang and Mowdok Tlang. Most of the tourists are indigenous. Some foreigners also come for recreation. They are mostly from South Korea, United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Switzerland, United States of America, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Sri Lanka, Italy, Myanmar, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Russia, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and many others.
The valleys of the Hill Tracts are covered with thick-planted forests. The vegetation in semi-evergreen to tropical evergreen dominated by tall teak trees. The natural vegetation can be seen best in the Rain- khyong valleys of the Bandarban district. This district provides the country with valuable wood used for various purposes, besides supplying wood and bamboo for the Karnaphuli Paper Mills and the Rayon Mills situated at Chandraghona. Here a tourist may be lucky to see how huge logs of wood are being carried to the plain by the tamed elephants.
TRIBAL LIFE
The inhabitants of the Hill Tracts are mostly tribal. Life of the tribal people is extremely fascinating. Majorities of them are Buddhists and the rest are Hindus, Christians and Animists. Despite the bondage of religion, elements of primitiveness are strongly displayed in their rites, rituals and everyday life. The tribal families are matriarchal. The women-folk are more hardworking than the males and they are the main productive forces. The tribal people are extremely self-reliant, they grow their own food, their girls weave their own clothes and generally speaking, they live a simple life. Each tribe has its own dialect, distinctive dress and rites and rituals. The common feature is their way of life, which still speak of their main occupation. Some of them take pride in hunting with bows and arrows. Tribal women are very skilful in making beautiful handicrafts. Tribal people are generally peace (loving, honest and hospitable. They usually greet a tourist with a smile.
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