Jaflong

Jaflong is the most significant place for natural lovers in my country, which we address as the daughter of nature. The northeast part of the Sylhet division is nestled at the bottom of Meghalaya, but there are very few places in Sylhet where natural lovers and travel enthusiasts can have the taste of pure Meghalayan nature & is also very easy to go. This is where Jaflong stands out from all the other tourist spots in Sylhet. Meghalaya is a name of longing for us, and Jaflong either intensifies this longing or gives us a reason to visit Meghalaya. My desire to visit Meghalaya has also intensified after coming here.

How it looks

If you move towards the place, you will first see the colorful houses of the Indian city of Dawki, beautifully carved on the hill. Then, if you go down by winning more than 350 steps, you will see the Piyain River. The Piyain River is full of stones, it is full of water during the monsoon, but in the winter the river loses water and becomes narrow, resulting in its stone banks being exposed. Which is nice to see. If you continue along the banks of the Piyain River, you will come across a stone surface, this is where the tourists are most often seen. From here, if you look at this side of the Indian border, you will see a hanging bridge that connects two hills and the Piyain River flows below it and enters Bangladesh. And the hills are covered with dense rainforest. If you want to hide from the noise a little, take a boat and float down the Piyain River. There is a waterfall very close by, which is called Mayabi Jharna. It is completely dead in winter, but there is no other waterfall in Sylhet that is more beautiful than this in the monsoon. If you want to explore further, there are tea gardens and villages of the Khasia community.

A little history of Jaflong

For many years, Jaflong was a deserted forest land under the Khasia Jainta kings. The Khasia kings ruled here for generations. But in the 20th century, the Khasia Jainta kingdom came to an end with the abolition of the Zamindari system. The large region of Jaflong remained a lost land for many years after that. Later, traders started coming to Jaflong from different areas by river in search of stones and the stone trade started to expand. Due to this, Jaflong became known to the people again and became one of the most popular tourist places in Sylhet.

Location

Jaflong is located on the Bangladesh-India border at the foothills of the Khasi Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, 60 km from Sylhet city by road. It falls in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet.

How to go

From Dhaka, Sylhet is well-connected by road, railway, and air. And for the rest of the parts of my country by road is an ideal way to reach Sylhet if the train route is not available. For sylhet, the train is my all-time favorite transportation. From Sylhet tourists normally rent Microbuses, Cars, Legunas, and CNGs to go to Jaflong. All these vehicles are available for rent at Subhanighat, Osmani Shishu Uddan, Naiorpool Point, Ambarkhana, and outside Sylhet Railway Station. CNG is best for groups of 2 to 4 people, and if you want to explore the beauty of Jaflong alone, then local buses. Buses to Jaflong are available from Subhanighat in Sylhet.

Note: Solo travelers should know when the last return bus leaves from Jaflong to Sylhet.

Activities

1. please the soul: First, Soothe the wanderlust soul with breathtaking views of Jaflong. It is not part of Meghalaya but it upholds the same vibe of stunning greeny natural scenery which by seeing anyone’s soul will be pleased.

2. Roaming by boat: Rent a boat and roam the Piyain River, in my opinion, this is the best way to enjoy Jaflong. But there is one problem, the boatmen there charge a lot. So before renting a boat sharpen your bargaining skill.

3. Mayabi Waterfall: If you visit in the monsoon, don’t end the tour without exploring the Mayabi Waterfall.

4. Tea gardens and Khaisa village: If you want to stay here for longer, you can visit the nearby Khasia village and the tea and betel nut plantations cultivated by them.

Finally, you can end your Jaflong journey by taking a dip in the cool waters of the Piyain River.

The best time to visit

When there are no tourists, that is the best time. Be it winter or monsoon, Jaflong has become so popular with the people that there is always a crowd of people. Since Jaflong is near the Meghalaya Rainforest hilly area, its beauty is at its peak during the monsoon.

Annoying

The tourist spot seems to be filled with stalls from start to finish. The beauty of the whole place is getting spoiled here, I think this is a bit excessive.

Frequently asked questions

1. How much does CNG cost for a whole day in Sylhet?
It depends on where you go in Sylhet, but it would be foolish to pay more than 2000 taka for a day.

2. What is the cost of the bus ticket between Sylhet and Jaflong?
110-120 BDT

3. Can we have a picnic in Jaflong?
Of course, anyone can. Just make sure that you dump your waste in the right place. We Bengalis have learned to roam around nature but have not yet learned to love nature. Wherever we go, we dump garbage carelessly anywhere.

4. Do I travel alone?
Whether I travel alone or in a group, it doesn’t matter if I can travel.

Do travel, do travel, do travel, you see the world, your perspective changes, your mind becomes broad-minded, and your horizons expand.