Keokradong
Keokradong is not only a hill but also one of the best places in Bangladesh to satisfy exploration craving of travel enthusiasts. At the same time it also one of the best destinations in Bangladesh for bike trips. Once it was known as the rooftop of Bangladesh. I mean Keokradong was once recognized as the highest peak in Bangladesh. But now, it has become one of the highest peaks in my country. Now it rank 5th (arguably), and its height is 3230+ feet above sea level. And the most interesting fact about the hill is it a private property. Bangladesh’s 5th highest mountain is privately owned by late Lal Moon Thon Hwang who is belong to Bam tribe. Now his family plays take care role of it. Anyway, everyone should explore it, after all it is the face of Bangladesh’s mountainous beauty. So everyone pack your bags, I’m preparing all the travel information there.
How it looks
Keokradong offers travel enthusiasts mountainous scenic beauty, the entire area around the hill is wrapped with deep green hills, dense forest, and rolling landscape, resembling a huge emerald carpet with beautiful embroidery of serpentine paths and meandering streams. And when the mist or floating clouds wrapped the Summit, giving it a mystical, dreamy look. Monsoon season is the prime adjective of the Keokradong, during the season, the greenery becomes even more vibrant and clouds becomes more active. Than nothing can compete with its mountainous unmatched beauty. The hill is just not only a hill but also a emotion of ours. If I am right Keokradong is among those first places in my country that taught us what is mountainous beauty, how to love mountains, and how to trek in mountains. But now travel enthusiasts no longer needed trekking to reach the summit of Keokradong. A brick cement paved road is there all the way to the keokradong, even at the top of it there is a building type resort. Our favorite mountain now changed a lot but one things is remain same as the past: its evergreen natural beauty.
pros and cons of development
In the past, only a few travel enthusiasts could explore Keokradong, now anyone can travel if they want. You can even visit with the youngest and oldest members of your family. This is the best outcome of the development that now literally anyone can visit the 5th highest mountain in country. At the same time the road open a new door for bike trip riders.
A paved road and paved house on a hill does not suit, after all the hill is natural, it is better to have a natural touch in it. Yes, from the hill now we can see very beautiful views of nature that’s all are soul soothing but now we can no longer get that wild taste. After coming by vehicle to Boga Lake, we went trekking with a guide from Boga Lake through the mountain jungle to Keokradong. At that time, it took 4-6 hours to trek from Boga Lake to Keokradong, we found 2-3 mountain waterfalls on the way. Spending the night in a jhum ghar, and many more wild adventures were there in this Keokradong summit. Now we can directly go to the hill by the road and at the summit area there are way much resorts. Those who explored Keokradong 5-8 years ago, now when they visit again, they will feel that many of the beauties of Keokradong have faded.
Now I pray that the Keokradong Hill will accept the road and all the development on it. May it merge with the hills in such a way that it looks like they were always part of the hills.
Location
Geographically, the mountain falls under Thanchi Upazila, Bandarban, but the road that leads the way to the mountain falls under Ruma Upazila. It is located about 28 kilometers away from Ruma. The road from Ruma to Keokradong through Boga Lake is awesomely beautiful and at the same time it is a terrible dangerous road. So I humbly request to bikers dude to ride safely and awarely to the road.
How to go
Bandarban → Y Junction → Tourist Assistance Center → Ruma → Boga Lake → Keokradong.
This is the road map tourists will be following to explore the hill. As the Bandarban has solid connectivity by road, so there will be no problem to reaching Bandarban.
As you guys know Bandarban is one of three hilly district and it always monitor by Bangladesh Army for ensure peace and safety. So in every check post or camp of Army, tourists have to verify their authenticity. To do that tourists have to bring their NID card or Birth certificate photocopies and submit them in each Army camp or check post.
After reaching Bandarban, tourists next destination is Ruma. There are two way for tourists to go Ruma. Either they can rent a tourists vehicle like Chander Gari, jeep, pickup etc all the way to Keokradong from Donnesh Chattar or tourists can take local bus to go Ruma.
Donnesh Chattar is a few miniute walk away form the bus stand and if decided to take local bus to go Ruma then take share auto to reach local bus station at 20 BDT each person. Local bus cost 110-120 BDT per person to reach Ruma. How tourists choose to go Ruma, they first have to stop at Y juction. It is an Army check post where tourists have to submit their NID card copies to get the permission to continue their journey. By the way, Y juction is 45-55 minute away from Bandarban city By vehicle.
After crossing the Y juntion vehicles takes another 45-55 minute to reach Tourist Assistance Center, Ruma. From Tourist Assistance Center every tourists have to buy a form at 50 BDT. Fill the form and make a few copies, at least five. One submit at the Tourist Assistance Center and continue journey. This form is like a permission letter for you journey to the Keokradong.
After another hour from Tourist Assistance Center, tourist will reach Ruma. In Ruma, there is a Tourist Registration Office in Ruma Bazar from where tourists have to take a guide to continue there journey. Guide is mandatory to going Boga Lake and Keokradong. To get guide tourists have to submit the form copy that they obtain from Tourist Assistance Center. A guide can up to lead a group of 12-14 person, per day guide charge is 800 BDT. Beside the guide rent tourists have to bear the food and accommodation cost of guide. Those travelers who come Ruma by local bus, they can also rent vehicles for their upcoming journey from Ruma Bazar.
With a guide tourist next destination is Boga Lake, on the way tourist will find a para called Munlai Para. It is tribal village that is known all over the Bangladesh as the most cleanest village in the entire country.
After passing Munlai Para, the tourists will travel for another 1 hour and reach Boga Lake. After submitting another copy of the form at the Boga Lake Army Camp and traveling in another 40-50 minutes by vehicles, the tourists will reach their final destination, Keokradong. At keokradong, there is an Army camp where tourists have to submit their last copy of form.
Food & Accommodation
For food tourists can rely on Bandarban city, Ruma, Munlai para, Boga Lake, Darjeeling Para, and Keokradong. Darjeeling Para is another beautiful tribal village that also known all over the country for beautiful surrounding and it is situated just before the Keokradong. Tourists shouldn’t have any problem finding good food on Keokradong trip.
For accommodation Boga lake and Keokradong is perfect for tourists. In these places, there are plenty of resorts and cottages. The good thing is that tourists can find a room to stay in on any budget. In my time, I managed to get a room for 300 BDT, but there were 10-12 other people in the room with me. But it didn’t bother me at all, on over I found some beautiful memories with them.
Budget
If you want to do Keokradong trip in solo, it will cost at least 9000-10000 BDT. I will give you an idea of the cost of the trip from Dhaka to Keokradong. By the way, at least two days need to explore the hill and its surrounding.
1. Dhaka-Bandarban-Dhaka → 1800-2000 BDT (non ac bus)
2. Bandarban-Ruma -Bandarban → 220-240 BDT (local bus)
3. Guide free and his food and accommodation cost per day → 1600+800 BDT
4. Ruma-Keokradong-Ruma → 2000-3000 BDT (bike)
5. per day living cost → 300 BDT
6. Food cost → 800-1000 BDT
7. Hidden cost → 500 BDT.
If you travel with group, than you can save up to 1500-2000 BDT and I always suggest my friends to explore Bandarban in a group.
Friends, the money may cost a little more, but if you have time and opportunity, definitely visit. Another thing, you have to travel if you have less money, if you have more money, you will not have time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Rental cost of Chander gari/jeep?
two nights-three days,18000-20000 BDT
One night-two days, 16000-17000 BDT
Day tour- 12000-14000 BDT
2. Perfect tour plan for Keokradong?
Two nights-three days are suitable for the trip to Keokradong, if a group of 10-12 people goes, it will cost 7000-8000 BDT. On the first day, you will go to Boga Lake, explore everything around there and spend the night at Boga Lake. On the second day, you will leave for Keokradong in the morning, explore the spot all day like the first day and spend the second night here. The next day, enjoy the early morning Keokradong and return to Bandarban, if you have time, explore the Bandarban city and after that take your return bus to come home to end the trip. When you have to spend money, why not travel well.
3. Best time to visit?
Just right after the monsoon season.
4. Is it safe for solo traveling?
Safe, but not recommended.
Let me know in the comments, If you find somethings useful in my blog that help you travel to one of the best places in Bandarban. It will fuel up me to write more content, I’ m waiting guys for your comments.
Keokradong was such a rewarding trek—challenging but worth it for the views and peaceful vibe. Loved passing through the villages and experiencing the local culture.
Keokradong was a nice place in Bangladesh i love this place 🖤🖤