Ratargul swamp forest
Sylhet has been always outshine with its unique natural places. And today, I’m going to introduce all of you to one of the most unique place in Sylhet. Ratargul Swamp Forest, it’s a combination of forest and water body which is very thrilling to explore. You will feel pride when you get to know that earth has only 23 freshwater swamp forest and Ratargul swamp forest is one of them. Even in Indian subcontinent, there are just two freshwater swamp forest. Do you realize how lucky we are to have a freshwater swamp forest on our land? So, all of us should appreciate it and explore it. If you haven’t been able to visit it yet, then no problem I will be your travel assistance. Here in this blog, I wrote everything relate to the swamp forest that will assist you to travel here.
How it looks
We bengalis found the Ratargul Swamp Forest is a little bit similar to the great Amazon Rainforest. From then, we like to introduce it as the Amazon of Bangladesh. The amazon of Bangladesh occupy an area of 3325.1 acres, all of which are filled with wonders and wonders. Stepping into the Ratargul Swamp Forerst feel like discovering a new hidden world untouched by time. In some places trees cover the whole sky, in some places trees are ghosty shape, and in some places tree appear cave-canyon type. Water in the forest also play major role for it’s looks, some places the water reflect the green leaves, in some places water take the golden hue of the sun, and in other the water color is muddy. There is no doubt that you will have an exciting journey in the swamp forest.
Significance of the Ratargul Swamp Forest
504 acres among 3325.1 acres of Ratargul swamp forest is wildlife sanctuary and it was declared by the Government of Bangladesh in 1983. As the swamp forest is a wonder of world so its ecosystem and biodiversity is a wonder too. You can bet on my words, because I’m a student of zoology. Then it is a saviour of Sylhet. It can neutralized the flood by acting as a natural water reservoir. And since 2010 it become a tourist attraction of Sylhet. I mean the Ratargul Swamp Forest got the proper recognization as tourist attraction in 2010. And today’s time, the swamp forest become one of the finest tourist places Sylhet have.
Location
The Amazon of Bangladesh is situated 22 kilometers northwest of Sylhet city on the banks of the Goain River. And in bookish language, it is in the Goainghat Upazila of Sylhet division.
How to go
You get it that to explore the swamp forest, you have to here in Sylhet. And reaching Sylhet is very easy, one can go by plane, bus, and train. I suggest to take bus over plane and train. I don’t feel plane is necessary to travel within the country and trains takes quite long time to reach Sylhet which ruins excitement of traveling.
Congrats for arriving safely in Sylhet. Now you need a local vehicle to go therer, so proceed to Ambarkhana Point, Naiorpool Point, Osmani Shishu Uddan, and Subhanighat in Sylhet to rent travel vehicle. From these places, anyone can hire travel transportation for almost every travel attractions in Sylhet. As a travel vehicle CNG and private car are good options. CNG ( Three wheeler vehicle) take 1200-1400 BDT and private car take 2000-2200 BDT for a day. Ratargul Swamp Forest explorations does not take much time, so tourists like to explore the swamp forest along with other tourist attraction of Sylhet like Jaflong, Sada Pathor, Lala Khal, and Khadimnagar National Park. So, usually tourists hire vehicle for a day.
If one just focused on exploring the swamp forest, then take a CNG and went to Motor Ghat or Chowranghi Ghat. The round fare of the CNG will be cost 500-700 BDT. Now from the ghat you will need a boat to enter the forest, a boat there cost 750 BDT and can take 8 person. Tourists have to pay the entry fee along with boat renting fee, per person 58 BDT.
Precautions
Always to be careful when your boat enter the swamp forest, Especially from the hanging tree trunks. Many people have been injured here in the past due to carelessness. Also, there may be snakes in these hanging trunks, so it is better to be a little careful. And guys explore it as explorer, don’t make unwanted noise, silent will set the tone and perfect to enjoy swamp forest wonders. I would like to request all of you to take care of the swamp forest as the world has just 23 in total. Eventually it will help our tourism industry. As it is a wonder, so it only attract native tourists but also foreign tourists too.
Best time to visit
Rainy season or immediately after the rainy season. First of all, the full forest submerged under water which make possible to boat to enter the deep parts. And secondly rainy season make the forest vibrant, and if you want to see the swamp forest, you should see it when it is filled with water, that’s how you will discover the true beauty of the swamp forest.
Food & stay
Around the swamp forest, I found no good restaurants. All I found out some little stalls where can have some snacks. It’s really good that there are no good food restaurants around, we Bengalis are not good people, we can do many things for our own interests. I have seen many tourist places in Bangladesh, where their beauty has been completely ruined by food stalls and restaurants. By the way, To have stomach full meal, you should depend on the Sylhet city. There you will have plenty of options for foods, after all a meal that doesn’t just fill the stomach, but also warms the heart and feeds the soul. Ratargul Swamp Forest is just 40-50 minutes away from Sylhet city by vehicle, so I estimate you can bear your hunger for this little time.
Staying won’t be consider if you focus to visit only the swamp forest because anyone can explore it and return home within a day trip. It does not make any sense, you come all the way to Sylhet just to visit the swamp forest. You will obviously explore Lala khal, jaflong, tamabil, sada pathor, Bichnakandi, and more tourist places in Sylhet. For do that you have to stay a few days to sylhet and for good hotel you might also depend on the Sylhet city, specially Dargah Gate area of Hazrat Shahjalal Rah Mazar Sharif. There are numberous hotels situated both side of the road from low budget to high budget type. Grand Emarah, Hotel Musafir, Hotel Holy In, Rutbah International, Hotel Al-AQSA, Hotel Nilardi and Bottom hill place hotel are some good hotels which standard AC room price is 1500-2000 BDT per day.
Road map of 2 day trip in Sylhet
Day 1
At 11 pm, you will take the bus and leave for Sylhet city with your group. After reaching Sylhet city around 6-7 am, check in at the hotel, freshen up, have breakfast and leave for Ratargul Swam Forest at 8 am. After reaching at approximately 9 am, explore Ratargul and leave for Bholaganj Sada Pathar at 11.00 am. You will arrive at Bholaganj Sada Pathar around 1:30 pm, have lunch at 2:00 pm, and take a bath there. Then rest for some time and leave Bholaganj for the tea garden at approximately 4 pm. After reaching the tea garden (Malinichhara Tea Garden) at 5.30 pm, visit the tea garden until 6.30 pm, have afternoon breakfast in the tea garden. After visiting the tea garden at 7 pm, leave for the hotel. Then, you can freshen up at the hotel and have barbecue for dinner, but you have to inform the hotel authorities in advance for this. At approximately 10 pm, you will have food, and everyone will fall asleep by 12 am.
Day 2
Wake up at 7:00 am, freshen up, have breakfast and leave for Lala khal at 9 am, in this case, you will check out of the hotel at once. You will reach Lala khal at approximately 10 am, visit there until 11:30 am and return, you will like Lala khal in the morning. We will leave for Jaflong after visiting Lalakhal. You will reach Jaflong at approximately 12.30 pm, take a bath there and then have lunch. At approximately 4 pm, you will leave for DB Haor from Jaflong. After watching the sunset at DB Haor, you will leave for Sylhet city. After finishing dinner in Sylhet city, you will get broad to the bus for return home.
Budget
A group of four or five people can follow this trip plan and have a good experience of Sylhet division, it will cost 4000-5000 BDT per person. The budget may seem a bit high, there is nothing to be done, travel expenses in Bangladesh is already high and if you want to visit Sylhet comfortably, you will have to spend this amount of money.
Frequently asked questions
1. How much time do visitors get to explore the swamp forest by boat?
Normally visitors get 1-1.5 hour to explore.
2. Is Ratargul Swamp Forest good for birdwatching?
Yes, so don’t forget to bring binocular.
Life is full of unfulfilled wishes and surprise blessings!