Bangladesh’s only extensive hilly area lies in the south-eastern part of the country where Sajek is located. Sajek Valley is currently one of the popular destinations for travellers in our country. The amazing view of the mountains and the cotton-like cloud will melt your heart. A trip to Sajek Valley will offer you many mesmerizing tourist attractions, sky touching mountains with dense forest and the dramatic clouds will make your trip a heavenly experience.
There are few basic questions that might arise in your mind if you plan a trip to Sajek like:
- How to reach Sajek?
- Perfect time to visit Sajek Valley.
- Attractive places in Sajek.
- Accommodation and restaurants.
How to reach Sajek? Dhaka to Khagrachari (Sajek)
Sajek is situated in Rangamati District but if you are planning to travel from Dhaka then the easiest and convenient route will be through Khagrachori district. To reach Khagrachari from Dhaka you need to travel by road. You can select your mode of transportation as per your preference. You can travel by bus which provides many options of AC and Non-AC busses like Hanif, Saudia Paribahan, Shyamoli, Shanti Paribahan, S. Alam, Eagle, BRTC, Saint Martin, Relax Paribahan and etc. or you can take your private transportation as well. A piece of advice if you plan to visit during the holidays, please make sure to get your tickets a little ahead of time.
Khagrachari to Sajek
The distance from Khagrachari to Sajek is around 70 kilometres which will take you around two hours to reach. To travel from Khagrachori to Sajek you need to reserve a Jeep/ Chander gari as the maze-like hilly roads are very wavy. Most importantly you need an expert chauffeur for the ride otherwise it will be really difficult and risky to travel.
From Khagrachori your next stoppage will be Dighinala, which is around 23 kilometres away from the town. There you will need to submit all your personal information to the army checkpoint, as they keep records of the tourists due to security reasons. Not only that, you have to make sure to reach there before 5 pm as nobody is allowed to enter Sajek after that.
There you will move forward with army escort which is available only twice a day. So if you miss that by any chance, you’ll have to wait until the next day. You can also visit Hazagarh Jhorna if you have time when you reach Dighinala.On the way from Dighinala to Sajek, you will cross Bagaihat, Machalong Bazar and Ruilui bazar. The rows of hills and green skyline will make you forget all the tiredness of the road.
Perfect time to visit Sajek Valley
Sajek Valley has its beauty to reveal in all seasons. Every season brings out a new colour of nature whose beauty is incomparable. During winter days you can enjoy the chilly weather with a magical view but if you want to enjoy between the dancing clouds then the rainy season is the perfect time for you. During rainy seasons you can enjoy the waterfalls as well as during summer they are mostly dry.
Attractive places in Sajek
The dreamy view is one of the main attraction in Sajek. The beautiful rows of mountains and valleys are hidden under the bed of clouds will win your heart. This wonderful place has three types of nature. It gets really hot at times during the day but cools down as the sunsets. During the rainy season the place has its own beauty, it rains in one mountain and the other shines with a rainbow. It is truly a magical experience.
Konglak hill is a major attraction for tourists who are visiting Sajek. Konglak, the last village of Sajek Valley, is the area inhabited by the Lusai community. From the Konglak Hills, you can watch the originates of Karnafuli river, the Lusai Hills of India. If you want to trek through Ruului Para for two hours, you can enjoy the Kamalak fountain. This beautiful fountain is also known to many people as Padaam Toisha Jharna (waterfall) or Sikam Toisha Jharna (waterfall). To enjoy these waterfall you should visit during rainy season.
Sajek keeps revealing its beauty from dawn to dusk. One should never miss the sunrise or sunset if they visit Sajek. To witness this view the best place is the Helipad. Right after the sunset, the sky will start to sparkle as billions of stars are visible in the wide and clear sky. While returning from there you can look around and see the life of indigenous people.
The native people of Sajek valley are ethnic minorities. Among them Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Pankua, Lushai and Sagma are mentionable. Women seem to be more involved in economic activities here. Tea stalls, food joints and roadside marketplaces are dominated by women. People in general are gentle, welcoming and friendly. Picking fruits and vegetables early in the morning is a major trade there.
They are not fluent in Bengali but the young populations speak English confidently.
While returning from Sajek you should stop by in Khagrachori for a day or two. There you can visit the Horticulture Park, Alutila Guha (cave), Risang Jhorna (waterfall) and beautiful historical Buddhist temples. There are many plant nurseries as well where you will find a variety of flower fields, a good place for a photo session.
Accommodation and restaurants
There are more than 50 resorts and indigenous cottages to stay the night in Sajek. If you are planning for a trip, it is better if you pre-book earlier to get a quality room with an amazing view. Since this place is a tourist attraction, it stays occupied most of the times. The eco-friendly cottages will give you a unique experience. Mostly all the cottages assure a fairly beautiful view. There is a beautiful resort built by the Armies, to stay there you need permission and book through Army authorities. You can also stay in Sajek Resort, Runmoy Resort, Megh Machang, Jumghor Eco Resort, Meghpunji Resort and many more affordable cottages and resorts are available.
All the resorts have food arrangements, so if you inform them earlier, they will arrange for you accordingly. You can also try eating at the restaurants there, they serve really delicious meals. You can even try their local food cooked by the indigenous people. A must-try is their tea which are served in bamboo cups and the amazing Biryani cooked inside bamboo. The restaurants also offer amazing BBQ dinner which is finger-licking good as well. One should never miss a chance to try these once they visit Sajek.
Lastly one little tip for a hassle-free trip is, if you don’t plan your trip beforehand you might face difficulties. You might get overcharged while renting the vehicles and also while booking the resorts. So for a smoother and a fulfilled trip get the best deal from ShareTrip.
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Originally published at https://blog.sharetrip.net.
