Bandarban (বান্দরবান): travel guide

The crown jewel of the Chittagong Hill Tracts featuring misty peaks, indigenous culture, and dramatic cascades.

Bandarban is in Bandarban district, Chattogram division, Bangladesh. Compare bus, train and air fares to Bandarban and see the route on a map.

Things to do in Bandarban

  • Rajvihar (Royal Vihar) (রাজবিহার): Buddhist temple at Jadipara in Bandarban town. Religious, free entry
  • Sangu River boat ride: Boat rides on the Sangu (Shangu) river, named among the main attractions of Bandarban district. River, free entry
  • Boga Lake (বগালেক): Natural freshwater lake about 1,246 ft above sea level in Ruma upazila, ringed by bamboo-covered hills with a Bawm village beside it; geologists still debate how it formed. Lake, free entry, best time: November to February
  • Chimbuk Hill (চিম্বুক পাহাড়): Hill about 2,500 ft high on the Bandarban-Thanchi road, run as a district-administration tourist spot, with views over the hills and cloud in the monsoon. Viewpoint, entry about 20 BDT, best time: Sunny day
  • Shoilo Propat (শৈলপ্রপাত): Roadside rock-plate waterfall at Milanchhari on the road from Bandarban town towards Chimbuk and Thanchi, where water slides over sloping stone slabs into a shallow pool. Waterfall, free entry, best time: June to September (strongest flow)
  • Nilachal (নীলাচল): District-administration tourism complex on a hilltop at Tigerpara, about 1,600 ft high, with viewpoints over the whole of Bandarban town. Viewpoint, free entry
  • Buddha Dhatu Jadi (Golden Temple) (বুদ্ধ ধাতু জাদি): Described as the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, about 10 km from Bandarban centre; visitors should dress modestly (no shorts) and remove shoes. Religious, free entry, best time: Afternoon
  • Meghla Tourism Complex (মেঘলা পর্যটন কমপ্লেক্স): Picnic spot with an artificial lake, hanging bridges and a mini zoo, close to town. Park, free entry
  • Nilgiri Hill Resort Viewpoint (নীলগিরি): Army-run hilltop tourist centre about 2,200 ft above sea level on the Bandarban-Thanchi road, known for views over the clouds; visitors register at an army checkpoint on the way. Viewpoint, entry about 100 BDT, best time: September to February (Monsoon & Winter for sea of clouds)
  • Keokradong (কেওক্রাডং): Peak of about 986 m in Ruma upazila, one of the cloudiest places in Bangladesh, with an army shelter and signboard at the summit; a classic trek beyond Boga Lake. Mountain, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Rama Zadi (Ram Jadi) Temple (রাম জাদি): Hilltop Buddhist pagoda about 108 ft tall, surrounded by 27 smaller pagodas, built over about twelve years from 2005 and now a popular sight near Bandarban town. Religious, free entry, best time: Afternoon, October to March
  • Prantik Lake (প্রান্তিক লেক): Man-made lake formed by damming a local stream at Haludia in Suwalak union, Bandarban Sadar, surrounded by forested hills; used for picnics and boating. Lake, free entry, best time: October to March

Where to stay in Bandarban

  • Hill Crown Hotel & Resort (MidRange), about From ৳3,300/night. 17 rooms with mountain views, restaurant and 24-hour front desk
  • Sairu Hill Resort (Resort), about ৳13,000 - ৳25,000/night. Infinity pool with 360-degree panoramic mountain cloud view
  • Six View Hill Resort (Resort), about From ৳6,100/night. Five mountain-view rooms with free breakfast
  • Hotel Hill View (MidRange), about Check with hotel for current rates. Town-centre hotel near the bus station with 24-hour front desk
  • Hotel Plaza Bandarban (Budget), about ৳1,600 - ৳4,300/night. Budget town-centre hotel with restaurant and 24-hour front desk
  • Hotel Aranna Residential (Budget), about ৳2,400 - ৳2,500/night. Among the cheapest listed options in town
  • Venus Resort Bandarban (Resort), about ৳9,100 - ৳10,600/night. Hilltop cottages beside artificial lakes at Meghla, with restaurant
  • Holiday Inn Resort Bandarban (Resort), about From ৳4,100/night. Lakeside cottages next to Meghla (local resort, not the IHG chain)

Travel advice for Bandarban

  • Tribal Cuisine: Bamboo Chicken & Mundi: Bamboo chicken, chicken cooked inside green bamboo over a fire, is a speciality of the hill tracts. Ask at local eateries in Bandarban; availability varies.
  • Register at the Thanchi check post: The Thanchi upazila portal asks visitors to write their name and address at the Thanchi check post and to book the return boat in advance; the bus from Thanchi runs only until about 1 pm.
  • Foreign visitors need prior permission: Since 7 January 2015 foreign nationals must apply to the Home Ministry about a month before visiting the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts, including Bandarban. Check the current rule before you travel.
  • Dress modestly at the Golden Temple: At Buddha Dhatu Jadi, avoid shorts and take off shoes before entering the temple area.
  • Chimbuk Hill is reached by jeep: Chimbuk Hill is about 26 km from Bandarban on a zigzag road usually done by hired jeep; go on a clear day for views.
  • Foreign visitors need arranged permission: Bangladeshi citizens can visit the main listed spots without Deputy Commissioner permission, but foreigners face restrictions; one operator arranges permission at booking. Confirm with the district administration.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

JatraSathi is a free Bangladesh trip planner in English and Bangla. Prices are estimates; check before you travel.