Brief
Bangladesh has very few lakes enlisted under populous tourist spot. Apart from the list, there are few lakes available around the country those can be a supreme destination for any traveler. Raikhong lake is the most prominent from that promising list. The elevation of the lake has around 1165 ft.
This lake is situated at the Rangamati district, not at Bandarban. But, for its location, you have to go there through the Bandarban. That will be the easiest way among all other available, because Rangamati offers communication throw water path only, and also the lake is at the last corner of Rangamati district. No matter how you are going, it’s recommended to pick an expert or guide with you.
Around the lake, you’ll find two villages, one is at the eastern bank of the lake, and other one is at western bank. Those villages are known as Pukur Para (পুকুর পারা). May be it’s because of having around the lake. Both the village denizens are Tripura, but religiously Christian. People from West side of the lake used to do uphill and downhill task to come at the lake, but at eastern side’s villagers can access the lake easily being so close of it, and having almost at flatland.
People also call this lake as Pukur Para (পুকুর পারা) lake. Also from few local people I have heard them pronouncing the lake’s name as Raichong (রাইচং). Not sure which one will be the correct one. No matter what they are saying, or what we are, the beauty of the lake is not going to decrease by that.
Local people used to catch fish from the lake. There is no prohibition about catching fish from that giant lake. Tilapia (তেলাপিয়া) is the first choice from those fishes to stick over the net of the fishermen. At the eastern corner of the lake, there is a tiny Jhiri (ঝিরি) generated from the lake water. Probably that was created to keep the level of the lake water under control. During the rainy season the abundant water from the lake used to pass through that channel and used to join with the Raikhong Canal.
Being many hills around the lake, and the mysterious behavior from the sky, you’ll find different colorful scene at the lake water. Remember, half of the lake water is being untouched by the human. People don’t used to go those portions normally. So you’ll find that area of the lake more beautiful than the proximity of the locality. There is a helipad available at the Pukur Para Army Camp. From that high land, you’ll probably get a picturesque aerial view of the lake.
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[0] => Array
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[name] => Kaptai Lake
[post_id] => 1231
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kaptai-lake/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Kaptai-Lake-8-300x201.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kaptai Lake is a beautiful blue man-made watery lake. The size of this Lake is approximately 11000 square kilometer, which was created as a reservoir when the Kaptai dam was built during the 1960. This amazing Lake was created by flooding valleys and plain lands between numerous hills all around the Lake. Kaptai has Bangladesh's only hydro-electric project. The Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River created for this purpose resulted in the Kaptai Lake. This created a charming view as forested hills and plateaus rise from beneath the beautiful Lake water.
A stretch of road connects the tourist spots of Rangamati and Kaptai. The road goes deep into the hill tracts and displays the natural beauty and wildlife of the district Rangamati. The government of Bangladesh run Tourism Corporation and many private operators offer Kaptai Lake Cruise Tours, which is worth of it. Other scenic spots are also accessible through the waterways. Cruising on the Kaptai Lake is an enjoyable way of observing the landscape as many great picnic spots, natural landmarks and historic monuments are accessible only by boats.
)
[1] => Array
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[name] => Balia Dighi
[post_id] => 3609
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/balia-dighi/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Balia-Dighi-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => Raja Ballal Sen excavated the Balia Dighi. Many say that since it is a sandy dighi so it is known as Balia Dighi. It is located on south of Kotowali gate. Its volume is 39.8 acre.
)
[2] => Array
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[name] => {:en}Baikka Beel Sanctuary{:}{:bn}বাইক্কা বিল অভয়ারণ্য{:}
[post_id] => 3987
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/baikka-beel-sanctuary/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Baikka-Beel-Sanctuary-Hail-Haor1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Baikka Beel Sanctuary is to protect and restore aquatic biodiversity (particularly fish and birds) in Hail Haor. A secondary aim is through the visitor facilities to enhance enjoyment of the site and understanding of nature, the value of wetlands and need for their conservation. The sanctuary and its facilities are a model that can encourage replication of similar sanctuaries elsewhere in the country. Baikka Beel is a 100 ha wetland sanctuary located in Hail Haor a large wetland seasonally extending from 3,000-12,000 ha in north-east Bangladesh.
Baikka Beel comprises of open water with emergent vegetation (mostly lotus), and a fringe of native swamp forest planted in 5-8 years ago. Originally it was protected to conserve and restore fish and it supports about 90 species of fish, but populations of wintering water birds rapidly increased.
So far 141 bird species have been recorded in the sanctuary. Up to 9 Pallas’s Fish Eagles winter, Large flocks of ducks including up to 4,500 Fulvous Whistling-duck occur in winter, Great Spotted Eagle is regular, and good numbers and diversity of shorebirds, marshland warblers and other birds occur.
Mammals are few but include Fishing Cat. A visitor tower with several permanent interpretive displays was opened in early 2007. This is the only such facility in the country and this is the only substantial community managed wetland sanctuary in the country.
It is planned to construct a visitor centre and other facilities in 2010 with funds left over from the earlier MACH project. Visitor number have not been recorded as reliably as would be ideal, but are in the low thousands per year and include student groups, diverse government officials, and a wide range of foreign visitors.
{:}{:bn}
হাইল হাওড়ের জীব বৈচিত্র্য (মূলত পাখি ও মাছ) রক্ষা করাই হল বাইক্কা বিল অভয়ারণ্যর মূল উদ্দেশ্য। এছাড়া এখানে আগত একজন পর্যটক যেন এই স্থানটি উপভোগ করার পাশাপাশি প্রকৃতিকে কাছে থেকে বুঝতে পারেন এবং জলাভুমি সংরক্ষণের গুরুত্ব বুঝতে পারেন সেটিও এই অভয়ারণ্যর আরেকটি উদ্দেশ্য। এখানকার অভয়ারণ্য ও সেটিকে ঘিরে তৈরি হওয়া সুযোগ সুবিধাসমূহ দেশের অন্যান্য স্থানেও আরও অভয়ারণ্য গড়ে তোলার ক্ষেত্রে রোল মডেল হতে পারে।
বাংলাদেশের উত্তর-পূর্বে হাইল হাওড়ে প্রায় ১০০ হেক্টর জলাভুমির ওপর অবস্থিত এই অভয়ারণ্যটি কোন কোন মৌসুমে ৩০০০ হেক্টর থেকে ১২০০০ হেক্টর পর্যন্ত বিস্তৃত হয়। বইক্কা বিলে রয়েছে মূলত শাপলা ফুল এবং প্রায় পাঁচ থেকে আট বছর পূর্বে রোপণ করা জলজ গাছ। এই বিলে প্রায় ৯০ প্রজাতির মাছ বাস করে। তবে এখানে শীতকালে আগত অতিথি পাখিদের সংখ্যাও দিন দিন বেড়ে চলেছে।
এ পর্যন্ত এই অভয়ারণ্যতে প্রায় ১৪১ প্রজাতির পাখিদের দেখা মিলেছে। এগুলোর মধ্যে রয়েছে প্রায় ৯ প্রজাতির ফিশ ঈগল উইন্টার, প্রায় ৪৫০০ ফুল্ভাস হুইসটলিং হাঁস সহ শীতকালে আগত হাঁসদের বিশাল বহর। এছাড়া এখানে নিয়মিত গ্রেট স্পটেড ঈগল সহ বিভিন্ন ধরনের পাখিদের দেখা মেলে। এখানে স্তন্যপায়ী প্রাণীদের দেখা কম মিললেও মেছোবাঘের দেখা পাওয়া যায়।
২০০৭ সালের শুরুতে এখানে স্থায়ী ভিত্তিতে উদাহরন ভিত্তিক ব্যাখ্যাসহ একটি পর্যবেক্ষণ টাওয়ার চালু করা হয়। এটিই দেশের একমাত্র জলাভূমি যেখানে এ রকম সুবিধা প্রদান করার পাশাপাশি অভয়ারণ্যর মাধ্যমে প্রাণী জগতকে নিরাপদ করা হয়েছে। এমএসিএইচ প্রকল্প থেকে বেঁচে যাওয়া অর্থ দিয়ে ২০১০ সালে অন্যান্য সুযোগ সুবিধাসহ এখানে একটি ভিজিটর সেন্টার গড়ে তোলার পরিকল্পনা করা হয়। এখানে আগত দর্শনার্থীদের সংখ্যা সংরক্ষণ করা না হলেও প্রতি বছর এ সংখ্যা হাজার ছাড়িয়ে যায়। এখানে আগত দর্শনার্থীদের মধ্যে রয়েছেন ছাত্র, সরকারি চাকুরে, বিদেশী পর্যটকসহ নানা বয়সের নানা শ্রেণীপেশার মানুষ।
{:}
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Shukhbashpur Dighi
[post_id] => 8933
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shukhbashpur-dighi/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sukhobashpur-1-300x169.jpg
[post_content] => Shukhbashpur Dighi (সুখবাসপুর দিঘী), nearly hundred years old Lake situated at Hatimara, Rampal Union Parishad of Munshiganj Sadar. Almost all around the year it is filled with water. It is a rectangular shaped lake which is surrounded by different types of green trees. Its natural beauty, gentle breeze, calm and quiet environment attracts people to spend their leisure time at the edge of this dighi. Above all, its oldness and different types of myth also make people visit this place.
)
)