MALAMGHAT
An hour north of Cox’s Bazar on the Chittagong road is more of the same exemplary forest that is found south of cox’s Bazar.Bird-watching is also very good in this area. The village of Malamghat is well known for its excellent Baptist missionary hospital. It has a Guest House and Charge Tk 200 per person for non-missionaries. Arrangements should be made before arrival with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) office in Chittagong.
HIMACHARI BEACH
By reputation, Himachari is the nicest beach near Cox’s Bazar, though many travelers feel that it’s a bit overrated and not exceptionally beautiful. You’ll find a shack where tea, soft drink and some basic Bengali food are sold.Just before the beach are some low cliffs and gorges; this area is very quiet. Cattle and water buffalo appear at sunset, their bells tinkling on their way to the nearby village. There is a waterfall here, through not very impressive, which, sadly, are slowly being cut down.To get here, take a public bus from Cox’s Bazar to Himchari village to the beach. You can also take a jeep. You can also take a jeep. In Cox’s Bazar, jeeps leave from the shops on the southern end of the beach by the Panthanibas Youth Inn. The fare is Tk 100 but you might be able to bargain the price down to Tk 80, the fare for locals. If you have time you could walk back to Cox’s Bazar.
RAMU & LAMA
Ramu and Lama are noted for their Buddhist khyangs and are worth visting for that purpose. Ramu is a quitet village 14km east of Cox’s Bazar just off the Chittagong road, while Lama Bazar is roughly 50 km to the north-east in the Hill Tracts.In addition to its khyangs, Ramu, a subsidiary capital of the Arakan kingdom for nearly three centuries, is noted for a beautiful monastery containing images of Buddha in bronze, silver and gold inlaid with precious and semiprecious stones. Start at the far end of the street of Buddhist buildings at the lovely U Chistan Rakhina Temple, and work your way back towards the town centre.The interesting Burmese Bara Khang at Lama Bazar has the country’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha, and in its three buildings houses a number of relics- precious Buddhist images in silver and gold, set with gems.Buses to Ramu leave Cox’s Bazar from a stand a few blocks east of the bus stand on Sea Beach Rd. the trip takes about 30 minutes and costs about Tk 20.
SONADIA ISLAND
According to legend, centuries ago a ship laden with gold sunk here here during an attack by Portuguese pirates and island eventually formed, this tiny, 4.63 sq km iland is berely seven km and 10 minutes by speed boat from Cox’s Bazar. It was once a place renowned for growing pink pearls, but the economic benefits from more profitable commercial fishing has seen this tradition slowly.Sonadia, with a variety of mangroves, is noted for its bird life and, in particular, acts as a temporary sanctuary for migrating birds petrels, geese, curlews, snipe, shanks, lapwings, ducks and other waterfowl. The western side of the island is a beach, known for its intersting seashell. There is a small bazar here with seashell crafts. Quite a few visitors come here during the winter season for beach picnic and to hunt for pink pearls. Unfortunately, there are no public launches, so you’ll have to hire a boat at Kastura Ghat.
MAHESKHALI ISLAND
Some six km north-west of Cox’s Bazar, Maheskhali Island makes a plesant day trip. Its large, hilly and for a nice change lightly populated. Arriving a nice by ferry from Cox’s bazar, you must pass along an impressively long high jetty for about 500m until you reach the town of maheskhali. It’s a friendly Hindu community, and if there are any festivals underway you might be invited to stay and watch regardless, you’ll find rickshaws to take you wherever you want. Passing by the jetty into town, you’ll see a small hill in the north, only about a 15 minute rickshaw ride away. This holy spot is the principal tourist attraction, with a famous stupa on top. The climb takes only five or 10 minutes. From the top you can get a good view of most of the island.A little further north, along the cliff on the eastern side on the island, is the sole wooded area on the island. Somewhat hidden therein is Adinath, a Shiv Mandir dedicated to Siva. It’s a delightfully serene place set in beautifully garden, and the people are very friendly. It’s definitely serene place set in a beautiful garden, and the people are very friendly. It’s definitely worth the effort. If it’s the dry season and you have the time you might consider some hiking, there are paths along the top of the clifff that lines the eastern side of the island. Almost no one stays overnight on the island, which is perhaps a mistake as there are lots of paths to explore besides those along the cliff. Swimming is also an option, but the sandy beaches on the island’s western side are better for this.When you return to town, ask to be poinetd towards the small fishing settlement nearby, where you can watch the boat-building activity. During the dry season you can see fisher people, who set up temporary camps here, drying their catches. The area is famous for its large prawns. In inlets along the coast you’ll fisher people with their nets, hauling in the catch. Fishing for other species is supposed to be good, and during the festive season of Falgoon, a visit here can most interesting.
TEKNAF
This small town is on the southern tip of the narrow strip of land adjoining Myanmar, 92 km south of Cox’s Bazar. The Naaf River forms the Bangladesh-Myanmar border here, and a creek from the Naaf divides the town, separating the Flat and elevated portions. Most of the main road where the bus stops, a narrow street runs eastward downhill and across the creek. Over the bridge, a left turn leads up to the market place, where you’ll find lots of smuggled Burmese merchandise and a few food stalls.
ST MARTIN;S ISLAND
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St Martin;s Island
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Barely eight km south-west of Badarmokam and
48 km from Teeknaf, St Martin’s is the country’s only coral island and an
unspoilt paradise, with no vehicles, one single short road, genuinely friendly
people here are quite poor, however, begging isn’t a problem, so don’t create
one by giving sweets etc to kids.Amazingly, a cyclone hasn’t lashed the island
seriously, although in 1994 a strong storm uprooted most of the tall old trees
planed by the islanders some permit to visit, but expect some friendly attention
from the border guards. Named after a British provincial governor and
called Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island) by the locates, the dumbbell-shaped St
Martin’s has an area of only about eight sq km, which reduces to about five sq
km – and from one four island to four islands- during high tide. The main
island to the north, Uttar Para, gradually narrows several km southward, to a
point where the width is roughly 100m. Three smaller islands- Zinjira,
Galachira and Ciradia – are located just south of the main island. At low tide
they’re essentially one body of land and a narrow strip of land connects them
with the main island. Most of the island’s 5500 inhabitants live on
Uttar Para. The majorities are Muslims and live primarily off fishing, although
some plant rice and vegetables. During the peak fishing season, October to
April, fisher people from neighboring areas bring their catch to St Martin’s
island, where wholesale buyers with temporary stalls stand ready to purchase
their catch. It’s fascinating to see so many different types of fish drying in
the sun on endless bamboo racks along the beach. Much of the catch, however,
decomposes because the island lacks a fish processing plant.
