For those who like to explore a destination beyond the must-see highlights of Bangladesh’s hidden gems, Bangladesh offers rich pickings. Even the most famous sites in this waterlogged country are rarely crowded with tourists, and at outlying ruins, historic sites, and beauty spots, you may feel like you have the entire place to yourself.
By all means start your trip with the obvious crowd-pleasers – tiger trips in the Sundarbans, riding the Rocket paddleboats, touring tea plantations – but also consider the following hidden gems to get your adventure juices flowing.
Muktagacha Rajbari is one of the Bangladesh’s hidden gems
One of several rajbaris (family mansions of erstwhile feudal gentry) that are quietly crumbling into oblivion in towns and villages across Bangladesh, the Muktagacha Rajbari exemplifies what every ruin should be like. Splendid in decay, the main palace sits in the heart of a 10-acre estate, its grandiose exteriors adorned with massive Corinthian columns, high parapets and floral stucco work. There’s no fancy reconstruction or meticulous renovation going on here; instead, you just have a classic Ozymandian case of human endeavour being slowly reclaimed by the surrounding vegetation. The enthusiastic caretaker of the estate, who speaks a little English, brings the whole place to life in return for a small tip from the handful of tourists who make it this far.
Getting there: Take a bus from Mymensingh to Muktagacha, and then simply follow the signs leading to the rajbari from the main road. Passing locals will be quite happy to lead you down the right path if you happen to lose your way.
China Clay Hills
Journeying to this spot of tranquillity is really half the fun of the trip. Located close to the Indian border, on the other end of a delightful three-hour boat ride along the quiet Someshwari River, these ‘hills’ are a series of small but picturesque mounds that rise above the river system and surrounding farmlands, and enclose a serene lake with clear turquoise water. It’s a fabulous spot for a tree-shaded picnic and some nature photography, particularly in the late afternoon. On your way back, you could opt for a rickshaw ride and pass through a number of remote tribal villages along the way.
Getting there: Take a bus from Mymensingh to Birisiri, where you’ll need to stay the night. Your best overnighting options are the YMCA or the YWCA, both of which can arrange a boat for you. Otherwise, simply head out onto the main road and tell a rickshaw rider you want to go to ‘cheena matir pahar’.
Maheskhali Island
With its rustic atmosphere and collection of Hindu and Buddhist temples, the island of Maheskhali makes a wonderfully peaceful escape from the brashness of Cox’s Bazar’s resorts. Negotiate a long and rickety wooden jetty winding its way over marshlands to the boat dock, and then hop onto a nippy little speedboat ferrying locals across to the island. You’ll navigate past some scenic mangroves along the way, with your boat bobbing in the wash of other passing vessels. On the island you’ll get a chance to visit a few salt pans, rural markets and units for processing sundried fish, all of which contribute to the local economy.
Getting there: The journey from the jetty to Maheskhali takes about 30 minutes. Upon arriving at the island, you can hire an auto-rickshaw for about Tk500 to show you the sights over the next few hours.