Country roads to home: 5 most scenic roads in Bangladesh

#Travel

Talking about the beauty of the country is no easy feat, still we have tried to begin somewhere and our easiest bet were the roads that evoke a sense of beauty amongst those who love to call themselves travellers. There's no end to discussing the beauty of the country and that is probably why the quote — "it (Bengal) has a hundred gates open for entrance, but not one for departure."

Here's a list of 5 roads that are a must-visit by the explorer at heart.

Cox's Bazar to Teknaf via Inani Beach — The Marine Drive

With lush green hills (Himchari) on one side and the roaring sea on the other, this is a unique 80km drive that one must not miss in their lifetime. The experience is notched-up ten folds at least, on a moonlit night with the breath-taking beauty of the sparkling sands from the world's largest unbroken sea beach.

To further revel in the experience, one can stop at any point in-between and let their hair down to flutter with the wind. There are quite a few restaurants on the Marine Drive that can be taken as a pit-stop to refuel the body with scrumptious seafood delights. The gastronomical affair is a completely different take that needs a separate page on its own. Simply said, one must try out the local food to genuinely bond with the environment.

A final point to make the conclusion could be that the roads are well taken care of and secure, so any sort of trip, solo or with the extended family, is recommended. While the experiences might be different, they will be soul-fulfilling at all times.

Bandarban Sadar to Thanchi via Nilgiri

For the young at heart and those who ardently love the mountains, this one trip (approximately 74km long) will be both engaging and refreshing at the same time. The ride is best experienced on a four-wheel drive slightly on the larger side, maybe a Jeep or a Land Cruiser. There are many local public vehicles available aka Chander Gari to make the commute, but if privacy is required, then something of the former is suggested. The driver must be experienced and acclimatised to the environment.

The experience is thrilling, with roads snaking up the verdant magnificence. There's green on all sides of the mountains and the immensity of the dimension will make you respect nature once again. On the way up the mountains, there's also the additional experience of witnessing local villages completely untainted by the urban environment.

This drive up the mountains from Bandarban City can be taken to many peaks, including Sairu, Nilgiri, etc. But here, we discuss the Thanchi because it is the highest altitude in the entire country, almost 3500 feet above sea level. The Nilgiri peaks are equally enthralling, with clouds forming below like cotton candies.

Travelling by the road is usually restricted during the rainy season, but if one is lucky enough, they might witness waterfalls on their way up the lush green. Thanchi can be accessed via the Sangu River during the monsoon season, but that's a whole different story to decipher.   

Final point to be made here would be: There's a school of thought which trails the belief that sorrow and lost thoughts can be buried deep in the ocean and there's another that makes the same assumption with the mountains. Having been a passionate traveller and an aficionado of both the marvels of nature, I have grown to believe both are true. Because once you are hidden in a corner of the magnificence that are the mountains, there's not a single troubling thought in the world that could take over you or the moment.

Srimangal to Bhanugacha — the tea capital of Bangladesh

There is a reason why Sylhet, particularly Srimangal, is called 'the land of the two leaves and a bud.' Because all over in this region are tea estates and lush greenery brimming with the captivating fragrance of the new budding tea leaves.

This is a sight worth watching and if it means you can drive around on a long stretch of road, almost 18km long, beside a heritage park (the Lawachara National Park), a five–star resort (the Grand Sultan Resort) and discover unique offerings like the 7 coloured tea by the locals, there's no stopping from taking the road-trip and marking it as one of the most appealing.

One of the few highlights of the trip would be to take candid pictures next to the locals as they work, picking the perfect leaves to be processed later in the factories.

This is one trip that must be experienced first-hand, because of the rare acquaintance it provides. The tea gardens almost look akin to a fresh green carpet thrown over the hills — perfect, manicured, and captivating.

Mithamain to Austagram Road — The magnificence of the haors

The 48km long road was inaugurated amidst the pandemic in 2020. That adversity however did not stop travellers from taking the road-trip that connects three upazilas in Kishoreganj, namely Ashtagram-Mithamain-Itna on a stretch.

The freshly built road cuts through the vibrant waters of the Nikli Haor. During the monsoon season, there are waves and boats cruising on both the sides of the road. And in more dryer seasons (October to April), lush greenery surrounds the roads as far as the eyes can stretch.

On any given day, the skies are the brightest of blue, clad with tufts of sparse white clouds. On a clear and moonlit-starry night, the shooting stars' grab attention and demand that the lonely bard's passionate tunes be heard. (Kishoreganj region is famous for heritage music, like folk-songs, kirtan, pala gaan etc.)

There are basically two ways to enjoy the captivating beauty of the Nikli Haor, one is to take a boat ride, another is to drive past it on the Mithamain- Itna road. Whichever way you decide to take, the picturesque twilight is the same. The horizons get raging red, like the grand hibiscus.

Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway — The manifestation of the future

The 55km long Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway is the only national expressway and country's first international standard expressway. Its six-lanes have two service lanes and connects to two different sides of the mighty Padma (Jatrabari intersection to Mawa-35km) and (Panchar to Bhanga - 20km) after the Padma bridge is complete.

The roads are massive, clean and barely a two-hour ride from the capital. The journey is scenic both in the scorching sun or in the immersing rain. The experience is however different in each, and travel enthusiasts are encouraged to get both the familiarities.

There are restaurants at the base of the Padma Bridge, brimming with crisp-fried and aromatic Hilsa treats. A boat ride is offered below the bridge to experience the massiveness of the build.

A day-out long-drive to the location is a must for those wanting to experience the progress of the nation and also to spend some time in the ridge of the mighty Padma to appreciate its unruly waves and the bustle of the local community.

All in all, Bangladesh is one of the most scenic countries of the world, it caters to every kind of demand by travel enthusiasts; from pristine beaches to the high lush green mountains, from homely country-roads to the most-modern expressways.

And yes, the roads are the most simplistic way to get closer to our 'dreamland' — Bangladesh.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

Model: Abdullah Al Mahfuz

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha