Earlier this year I visited Bangladesh. The trip I selected was ‘Best of Bangladesh’, an 18-day small group tour offered by Nijhoom Tours.
I readily admit that I went into the experience knowing very little about the country and I was constantly surprised by how much it had to offer tourists. Our itinerary took us to the 4 corners of the country and provided us with a comprehensive introduction to the history, geography cultures and wildlife found there.
The first leg of our tour took us from Dhaka, the capital, to western Bangladesh. Highlights included the centuries-old mosques near Bagerhat, a 3-day boat trip through the Sunderbans, the historical temples and palaces of Puthia, and the 8th century Buddhist monastery of Somapura Mahavihara near Paharpur.
After returning to Dhaka, we flew to Srimangal in the northeast to see the tea plantations and look for wildlife in the Lawachara National Park. During our visit to the park, we were fortunate to catch glimpses of the famous Hollock Gibbons. Back in Dhaka we spent a day visiting Sonargaon and the abandoned Hindu merchant city of Panam.
We then embarked on the final leg our tour, which took us to Rangamati and Banderban in the southeast. Here we got to visit tribal villages and see the Golden Temple, Nilachal. The return trip to Dhaka took us through the city of Chittagong, where we were able to observe ship-breaking activities. This was a unique experience.
One question that always seems to get asked concerns security. I can say without reservation that at no point on this trip did I feel threatened or in danger. All of the people with whom we came in contact were friendly and appeared genuinely pleased to see us. The only thing many of them wanted was to have their photos taken with us.
Raw Hasan, the owner of Nijhoom Tours, was helpful and easy to work with. Our guide Arafat was very knowledgeable and a good travelling companion. Also, the cost of the trip was quite reasonable. I have no hesitation in recommending the company.
For experienced travelers Bangladesh is definitely a destination worthy of consideration.
