Bhola (ভোলা): travel guide

Bangladesh's largest river island district in the Bay of Bengal delta — famous for Char Kukri Mukri forest island with its unique spotted deer population.

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

Things to do in Bhola

  • Char Kukri Mukri (চর কুকরি মুকরি): Wildlife sanctuary of mangrove islands south of Char Fasson in the Meghna estuary, mostly submerged at high tide twice a day; spotted deer graze at dawn and migratory birds arrive in winter. A rest house exists for visitors. Nature, free entry, best time: Winter for migratory birds; dawn to see deer
  • Tarua Beach (Dhal Char) (তারুয়া সমুদ্র সৈকত): Beach and mangrove forest on Dhal Char, a union in the far south of Char Fasson upazila on the Bay of Bengal, good for sunrise and sunset; Dhal Char also has a coconut orchard on the beach, a fish-landing ghat and a rest house. Beach, free entry, best time: Sunrise or sunset
  • Swadhinata Jadughar (Liberation Museum), Banglabazar (স্বাধীনতা জাদুঘর): Three-floor museum at the Fatema Khanom complex covering the partition of Bengal, the Language Movement, the 1971 Liberation War with rare photos, and post-independence history. Museum, free entry
  • Monpura Island (মনপুরা): Island upazila in the Meghna estuary, best visited in winter for its grasslands with deer, coconut-lined roads, ponds and sunsets over the Meghna; camping is popular and simple government and private guesthouses are available. Island, free entry, best time: Winter (November-February)
  • Betua Proshanti Park (বেতুয়া প্রশান্তি পার্ক): Park beside Betua launch ghat on the Meghna in Char Fasson upazila. Park, free entry
  • Meghna-Shahbazpur Tourist Centre (Tulatuli) (মেঘনা শাহবাজপুর পর্যটন কেন্দ্র, তুলাতুলি): Riverside tourist spot on the Meghna about 8 km from Bhola town on Gazipur Road, with walkways and seating by the river; known for Meghna hilsa barbecue with khichuri. Park, free entry, best time: Afternoon to sunset
  • Nizam Hasina Foundation Mosque (নিজাম হাসিনা ফাউন্ডেশন মসজিদ): Modern pyramid-shaped mosque at Ukil Para in the centre of Bhola town, one of the town's best-known landmarks. Religious, free entry
  • Fatema Khanom Mosque (ফাতেমা খানম মসজিদ): Mosque on about one acre at Banglabazar, with one large central dome and four smaller domes, stone and tile decoration and room for about 2,500 worshippers; it stands next to the Swadhinata Jadughar. Religious, free entry
  • Jakob Tower (জ্যাকব টাওয়ার): 225 ft (69 m) watchtower on College Road in Char Fasson town, opened in January 2018 and run by Char Fasson Municipality; binoculars at the top give views over about 100 sq km including Char Kukri Mukri and the Bay of Bengal. Viewpoint, entry about 100 BDT, best time: Clear days; sunset

Where to stay in Bhola

  • Mahbuba Hotel (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Private hotel in Bhola Sadar; number is the manager's contact on the district portal.
  • Hotel Noor (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Private hotel in Bhola Sadar; number is the manager's contact on the district portal.
  • Afroz Hotel (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Private hotel in Bhola Sadar; number is the manager's contact on the district portal.
  • Hotel Bay Island Bhola (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Town hotel with free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.
  • Hotel Asia International Bhola (Budget), about Check with hotel for current rates. Town hotel with free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.
  • Crystal Inn (Budget), about ৳1,000 - ৳3,000/night. Hotel in Bhola town with its own restaurant.
  • The Papillon Hotel Bhola (Budget), about ৳1,000 - ৳3,000/night. Two-star town hotel with free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk; can be booked online.

Travel advice for Bhola

  • Reaching Char Kukri Mukri: Go by bus or CNG from Bhola to Char Fasson (launches from Dhaka Sadarghat also serve Char Fasson). From Char Fasson take a bus (about Tk 50) or auto-rickshaw (about Tk 60) to Dakshin Aicha, then about Tk 20 to the ghat, and a speedboat (about Tk 150) or trawler (about Tk 80) to Char Kukri Mukri.
  • Buffalo curd (Mohisher Doi) of Bhola: Thick, slightly sour curd made from buffalo milk and set for about 18-20 hours in pots, eaten plain or sweetened with sugar or molasses (sometimes with puffed rice). Bhola buffalo curd has been known across Bangladesh for around 200 years;
  • Tides cover Char Kukri Mukri: The sanctuary is mostly submerged twice a day at high tide; deer are seen grazing at dawn, so plan boat timing with the tide and an early start.
  • Getting to Monpura: A C-truck/ferry leaves Tajumuddin ghat for Monpura daily at 3 PM; launches from Dhaka and trawlers at various times also serve the island, and two launches run from Betua ghat in Char Fasson (about Tk 180 in 2023). Check the return time locally.
  • Dhaka to Bhola by launch: There is no direct bus or train from Dhaka; take a launch from Sadarghat (e.g. MV Crystal, Sreenagar 7, MV Gazi Salauddin). In Dec 2023 launches left Dhaka around 3 PM and reached Bhola's Ilisha Ghat around 7:30-8 PM; return launches left Ilisha Ghat at 8 AM, arriving 1-2 PM.
  • Sweets from Shankar Dutta's shop: A Daily Star travel guide to Bhola recommends the sweets of Shankar Dutta's shop alongside the local buffalo curd.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

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