রেমা-কালেঙ্গা রিজার্ভ ফরেস্ট

Rubber Forest is not just a forest to look over, it’s a popular place now a days for tracking, wondering, picnic center and so on. While exploring Mymensingh, there are some extra-ordinary places to pay a visit. Rubber forest/garden of Santoshpur in fulbaria Upazila is one of those. Fulbaria rubber forest and processing industries is one of the renowned places in this district. ORB Team recently visited that place while exploring the heritage of Mymensingh.

It belongs to an area of 106 acres which make this place look like a massive forest. Besides rubber garden there is a significant number of monkeys being found in a place inside the forest. Where you will also find a small forest office. Local people call this as Bandar office (বান্দর অফিস/বানর অফিস) which is very funny indeed. Nearby the office you may discover monkeys wondering around in a particular area with pride & dignity, as it seems like you just entered into their territory. It would be wise not exchanging any food with them, people may suggest you to buy them some peanuts. Once you buy for them, certainly they will be obedient for you and may follow your go.

Rubber Processing Zone:

One and half kilometer from Monkey zone, a traveler will find an industry of Rubber processing which is very near to the link road, connecting the forest with main road. It’s named after "Bangladesh Forest Development Corporation, Rubber processing factory". Here a traveler can observe the whole methods of rubber processing. However, if someone is interested to observe the methods from the very beginning of collecting raw rubber from the trees, then we would rather suggest to stay in nearby places of forest for one or two days. But, it would be so tough to stay nearby places beside the forest as there is no residential hotel or boarding to stay overnight.

Satkhira region is mainly famous for the Sundarbans. Sundarbans is most large single block of tidal mangrove forest in the world. It lies between the vast Bay of Bengal Ocean and rivers of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, it spreads across Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The waters of these rivers mix with the ocean water and so in this part of their flow the rivers are brackish or saline. Water covers the forest-islands twice a day during high tide.

It is considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The forest is mostly popular for incredible plants and wildlife. Trees having roots can breathe directly from the air. There are numerous species and it is mostly famous for Royal Bengal tiger. The forest safeguards people of north from cyclones and tsunami waves. Previously, the islanders were allowed to go into the forest to collect firewood, honey, crab and fish but now these activities have been banned by the governments of both Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Fatrar char is the nice tourist place near Kuakata beach. From Kuakata traveler may visit the Fatrar Chor. Fatrar Chor is the part of the Sundarban forest. Fatrar Char is also known as Fatrar Bon. As the Fatrar Char is the part of Sundarban so it is mangrove forest. Fatrar Bon is fairly big forest in Kuakata. There are many Timber trees available here. The tree of this forest in very hard and strong. And the wood of this trees are very long lasting and also costly. A wood business is started at that place and these woods are supplied in all over the country.

At first traveler have to rent an engine boat near the beach. It may take about an hour boat journey from Kuakata sea beach. After the thrilling journey traveler will reach at Fatrar chor or Fatrar bon. There is a nice canal in that place and forest beside the canal. Now traveler should enter at the forest after taking the permission from forest camp. There are many wild birds, some monkey, some rabbit, deer and some other animal found at that jungle.

Tucked into the northeast corner of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary is home to elephants and a wide variety of other animals. The sanctuary is the finest hill forest remaining in Bangladesh and it also an important wetland site.

The Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary in Bangladesh is located in the Rangamati District in the Chittagong division. It was established in 1983 so the wildlife and vegetation in the sanctuary is quite settled and well-developed. It is not a very big wildlife sanctuary, as it only covers 420.87 square kilometers, however that does not mean it has nothing to offer. Quite to the contrary, this tiny little sanctuary is positively teaming with life! Some of the animals you can expect to see here include capped langur, hoolock, Asian elephant, rhesus macaque, gibbon, tiger, otters, wild boars, guar, Indian muntjac, Indian python and sambar. Bird lovers can look forward to seeing herons, egrets, little grebe, common coot, common moorhen, waterfowl, white-winged wood duck, Asian openbill stork and more. There are also small cats, dholes and dozens of other animals living in this fascinating wildlife sanctuary. Nature lovers will find that much of this diversity is owing to the regions great topographical diversity. The area is well watered and varies in altitude.

The best time to visit the Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary in Bangladesh is between November and May. Visitors can choose between bird safaris and jungle safaris and both are equally rewarding. Accommodation can be found in the immediate area by way of two rest houses. You will find that both Bangla and English is spoken here, so most people can find a way to communicate with the locals and tour guides. The nearest town is Rangamati which can be easily reached by road or rail. Most visitors will touch down at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong before taking the train to Rangamati en route to the Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary. Whatever way you choose to get there, make sure that you do end up visiting this great wildlife sanctuary!

Adventure: Jungle safari, Bird safari

Wild Life: Tiger, Gaur, Asian Elephant, Rhesus Macaque, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Dhole, Small Cats, Otters, Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac, and Sambar,Waterfowl, Little Grebe, Herons, Egrets, Common Moorhen, Common Coot, Asian Openbill Stork, and White-winged Wood Duck, Indian python

Location: At the northern end of Kaptai Lake in the south-eastern part of Kassalong Reserve Forest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, some 112 km from Rangamati Town. The western boundary is formed by the Kassalong River.

Area: 42,087 hectares

Outstanding Features:

* Wide variety of mammals, including elephants

* A refuge for birds

* Beautiful hilly terrain ranging from 100-300 m

Brief History: It was established as a game sanctuary in June 1962, later declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983.

Habita, Flora & Fauna: Three forest types can be distinguished in the sanctuary: tropical wet evergreen forest; tropical Semi-evergreen; and tropical moist deciduous forest. Among larger mammals, the most important is the population of Asian Elephant. Other mammals are Rhesus Macaque, Capped langur, hoolock Gibbon, Dhole, small cats, otters, wild Boar, and Sambar. There are also numerous bird species in the Sanctuary.