Travel in
Bandarban
Bandarban history is very old history. In the early days of 15th century,
Arakanese kingdom expended its territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal.
After the victory of Arakan on Burma's Pegu kingdom in 1599 AD, the Arakanese
king Mong Raja Gree appointed a Prince of Pegu as the governor of newly
established Bohmong Htaung (Circle) by giving the title of "Bohmong"
Raja. That area was mostly populated by the Arakanese descendants and ruled by
the Burmese (Myanmar) noble descendants who started to call themselves in
Arakanese language as Marma. Marma is an archaic Arakanese pronunciation for
Myanmar. As the population of the Bohmong Htaung were of Arakanese descandants,
these Myanmar-desendants Bohmong chiefs (Rajas) of the ruling class took the
titles in Arakanese and speak a dialect of the Arakanese language.
Bandarban Hill District was once called Bohmong Htaung since the Arakanese
rule. Once Bohmong Htaung was ruled by Bohmong Rajas who were the subordinates
to the Arakanese kings. Ancestors of the present Bohmong dynasty were the
successor of the Pegu King of Burma under the Arakan's rule in Chittagong. In
1614, King Mong Kha Maung, the king of Arakan appointed Maung Saw Pru as
Governor of Chittagong who in 1620 repulsed the Portuguese invasion with great
valour. As a consequence, Arakanese king, Mong Kha Maung adorned Maung Saw Pru
with a title of Bohmong meaning Great General. After the death of Maung Saw Pru
two successors retained Bohmong title. During the time of Bohmong Hari Gneo in
1710, Arakanese King Canda Wizaya recaptured Chittagong from the Mughals.
Bohmong Hari Gneo helped King Canda Wizaya in recapturing Chittagong and as a
mark of gratitude the later conferred on Bohmong Hari Gneo the grand title of
Bohmong Gree which means great Commander in Chief.
During the British Raj, it was declared as the Bohmong circle with limited
autonomy. The Mizokaba or the Mizo uprise in the mid 19th century was major
catalyst for re-settlemet of the tribes in the area. During World War II the
area saw the presence of a formidable British military presence that came to
stand against a Japanese invasion. The tribes of these hills held the
reputation of unyielding rebellion throughout history. When India, Pakistan and
Mynamar went independent from the Raj, the leaders of the tribes people decided
unsuccessfully to become a part of Mynamar, then known as Burma. During the
Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 to gain independence from Pakistan, the
leaders again sought unsuccessfully to remain a part of Pakistan.
In the late 1970s, a policy of forced settlement of Bengalis into hills was
pursued, which later gave rise to much violence against the hill people and the
insurgency led by Shanti Bahini, the military wing of Parbatya Chattagram Jana
Sanghati Samiti. There have been an attempt to create divide among tribal
cultural lines between the Chakmas, who led Shantibanhini, and the Mrus, by
creating an anti-Shantibanhini militia out of them. Now, after the peace
treaty, Bandarban stands as a locally governed ethnic region together with the
two other hill districts. Representation of numerous tribes of the district in
the Hill Council now stands as a thorn of dispute here.
People
There are more than fifteen ethnic
minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma,
the Arakanese descendants and Arakanese (Rakhine), who are also know as Magh,
Mru (also known as Mro or Murong), Bawm, Khyang, Tripuri (also known as Tipra
or Tipperah), Mizo (also known as Lushei), Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma and
Tenchungya, who are closely related, Reang (also known as Riyang), Uchoi (also
known as Usui) and Pankho.
The Mru, also known as Murong, who
are famous for their music and dance. The Mru in major numbers have converted
to Khrama (or Crama), the youngest religion in Bangladesh that
prohibits much of their old ways. They are assumed to be the original
inhabitants of Bandarban. The Bawm are another major tribe here. Now converted
almost totally to Christianity they have taken full advantage of the church to
become the most educated people in the district. The Marma are Arakanese
descendants of Myanmar by origin and Buddhists by religion, and are the second
largest tribe in the hill districts of Bangladesh. The Khumi live in the
remotest parts of the district, and the group is thought to include yet
unexplored/ unclassified tribes.
These ethnic groups are again
divided in hundreds of clans and sects, principally dominated by four religious
threads - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and a number of pagan faiths. All
these clans and groups are clustered into two major ethnic families, namely the
hill people and the valley people. Since the Kaptai dam flooded the valley
creating to Kaptai lake, the valley people have started to live on hill tops along
the hill people.
Bengali settlers, coming in with the
forced settlements in 1979, and Rohingya settlers, coming in across the Myanmar
border since the junta came to power in Yangon in 1992, now has become two
major ethnic groups outside minorities. But, there are a number of Bengali
families who claim to have settled earlier than some of the tribes.in there
live many Barua also.
Festivals
- Raj Punnyah:
It is ceremonial rite of paying tribute and taxes (khazna) to the king
of Bohmang circle, happening in mid February since 1885. The three day
festival at the royal palace features the king meeting his subjects in
full regalia, accompanied by a ceremonial guard, and receiving tributes.
- Sangrai:
The biggest festival of the Marma tribesmen, akin to Boisabi of the
Tripuris and Biju of the Chakmas. In mid-April, this celebration of the
new year falls around the same time as Bengali Naba Barsha and Assamese
Bihu. Apart frm the songs and dances Sangrai is marked by the water festival
and magic charm competitions. Water festival is a game of splashing water
from two sides of a marked arena by unmarried boys and girls on each
other. It is said that splashing water is a way of declaring a love
interest. Non-Marma people can't usually take part in the game.
Transport
By bus
There are three ways to get to Bandarban. The easiest is a direct bus ride
from
Dhaka which takes
6 hours. The few services available are Dolphin at Kalabagan, Unique service,
Shyamoli Paribahan at Gabtali, Asad gate, Fakirerpul, Kamlapur, Saydabad and S
Alam at Kamalapur. On the high tourist season it is advisable to buy tickets in
advance.
There are a few services available that offer a bus ride from
Chittagong
which takes 2 hours (the most available is Purbani at Bahaddarhaat). To reach
Chittagong from Dhaka there are three options - taking a flight (Bangladesh
Biman, United Airways, Regent Air, or Novo Air), a bus ride (Sohag is
undoubtedly the best service, available at Kalabagan and Mahakhali) or a train
ride from Kamalapur (
Turna Nishitha, Mahanagar Godhuli and Subarna).
From
Cox's
Bazar, it is a 3-hour busride (the most available is Purbani at Laaldighi).
To reach Cox's Bazaar from Dhaka it is possible take either a 10-hour bus ride
(Sohag is the best) or a flight (Bangladesh Biman or GMG airlines). From
Chittagong it is 4-hour bus ride (apart from Dolphin, Purbani is the most
available).
Purbani Bus Srvice, Phone:01820412800 (Chittagong),
0361-62508 (Bandarban)
It is possible to get to Bandarban directly from
Rangamati by way
of Chandraghona, but the perilous route is not advisable at all.
By car
Car rented from Chittagong, readily available from Bangladesh Enterprise
(phone: +880 (0) 31 670512) at
Chandgao, Al-Amin Enterprise (phone: +880 (0) 31 720600) or Alam
Enterprise (phone: +880 (0) 31 714566) at Hazi
Para in Agrabad, Bismilla Fashion (phone: +880 (0) 31 612749) at
Reazuddin Bazar or Samara Fashions (phone: +880 (0) 31 615925) at
Azimir Super Market at Monim Road, would take anyone to Bandarban. Though it is
possible to rent a car at Dhaka to go all the way to Bandarban, it is not
advisable in any way. Plainland drivers are generally lousy in the hills and
they don't know the locality at all. It would be prudent to hire a driver who
comes from Bandarban.
Get
around
Inside the town, which can be easily covered on feet, the most available
mode of transport in the rickshaw. For places out of town there are
three-wheeler taxis near the Traffic
Mor (circle or intersection),
four-wheel drive vehicles for hire near Hotel Green Hill, and a rent-a-car
station near Hotel Hill Bird. There also are the regular public transit system
of ancient four-wheel-drive vehicles, known locally as
Chander Gari
(meaning the Moon Car) available Ruma and Rowangchhari Bus Stations, as well as
near the Sonali Bank. Major road routes are Chimbuk-Ruma,
Bandarban-Rowangchhari-Ruma, Aziznagar-Gojalia-Lama,
Khanhat-Dhopachhari-Bandarban,
Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi-Alikadam-Baishari-Dhundhum, and Chimbuk-Tangkabati-Baro
Aoulia. It is also possible to travel by native boats by the river Sangu, from
either the Bazaar Ghat or the Kyaw Ching Ghat.
See
Buddha Dhatu Jadi
- Buddha
Dhatu Jadi. The largest Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, located in
Balaghata, 4 km from the town, is one excellent place to visit locally
known as 'Swarna Mandir'. This Theravada Buddhist temple. set atop a 60
meter hill, is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and houses
a sacred relic and the second largest statue of Buddha in Bangladesh.
- Shoilo
Propat, Meghla and Nilachal. The waterfall named Shoilo
Propat at Milanchari, 4 km from the town on the road to Thanchi, is also
excellent site maintained by Bangladesh Parjatan, the national tourism
promotion corporation.The Parjatan Motel is not a small thing at all. It
has a huge three-storey building on a high place. The room rent here a
little high compared to other places The site maintained by the Distrcit
Administraion is Meghla, 4 km from the town on the road to Keranihat,
which features a mini-safari-park, a zoo, and a hanging bridge. The
District Administration has also developed the Nilachal tourist site near
Meghla, in Tigerpara
- Raj
Vihar and Ujanipara Vihar.The numerous Buddhist temples, known
as kyang in local toungue, and vihars in the town include the
highly notable the Rajvihar (royal Monastery) at Jadipara. The monastery
at Ujanipara, known as Ujanipara Vihar, is also a major place of interest.
- Chimbuk
Hill and Tribal Villages. Chimbuk is one of the tallest peaks
in Bangladesh and lies some 14 km from the town. Bawm villages around
Chimbuk and Mru villages a little further off are also lie within a day's
journey from the town.
Meghla
- Nil
Giri and Thanchi. Nilgiri is one of the tallest peaks and
beautiful place in Bangladesh and lies some 46 km from the town. there is
beautiful resort in the top of the mountain maintain by the Bangladesh
Army. Booking to be done through army officer. There are three well
furnished cottages ranging from Tk.4000-7000. There are also three tents
having 4 beds each@2000 per tent. Foreign tourist will be restricted
there. there is restaurant, helipad,
- Other
Places. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more
places of interest.
Shoilo Propat
- Boga Lake (12000
ft) A beautiful
lake surrounded by high hills and a small village just beside the lake.
Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. It is also
known as Bagakain Lake or Baga Lake. Boga lake is 18 kilometer away from
Ruma Sadar Upozilla in Bandarban. The area of this lake is about 15 acres.
It is about 3000 feet above sea level. The color of water of this lake is
blue and very nice. There are many mythological stories behind the
creation of this lake. There are many tourists make their way to Boga lake
every year, specially in the winter season. Small tribe community like
Bawm, Khumi have localities besides the Boga lake. In the rainy season, it
is quite difficult to stroll beside the boga lake. The road from Ruma to
Boga lake is still under construction. There waiting lots of pleasure and
delight for you at Boga lake. You will definitely be amazed looking at the
big rocks lying in and out of the Boga lake. You can have a camp fire
beside the lake, that will be unbelievable and mind-blowing memory in your
life
