The wonders of Cox's Bazar beach
Friday, 12 September 2008
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
COX'S BAZAR, a tiny emerald land of sparkling, shimmering white sand stretching on for miles together has always cast a hypnotic charm on the travellers at any time of the year. And this beautiful paradise on earth is located on the southern coast of Bangladesh.
The tourist season in Cox's Bazar begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. Cox's Bazar receives the full blast of the Bangladeshi monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms around May and by end of June. This scribe, along with his family, went on a four-day pleasure trip to Cox's Bazar in the second week of July and had a whale of a time out there enjoying the fair weather brought about by occasional rainfall. We found out that during the monsoon, Cox's Bazar probably looks most beautiful, with green vegetation sprouting all around.
If you have not visited Cox's Bazar during the rains, you would be amazed to find the transformation monsoon brings to the place. Usually humming with tourists, Cox's Bazar during the monsoons is a loner's paradise. Just you and the lush green tamarisk trees swaying in the coastal monsoon breeze with the rains splattering around you. The greyish hue all around, the cool green cover over the Northern Ghats casts a charm, which relaxes you, reconnects you with your inner self. You can either spend the monsoons walking on the beaches while it drizzles or sit in the lounge overlooking the sea sipping your favourite drink with delicious seafood.
The beach is the main attraction of the town. Larger hotels provide exclusive beachside area with accessories for the hotel guests. Visitors in other hotels visit the Laboni beach which is the area of the beach closest to the town. Other than the beach there are several places of interest near the town which can easily be visited from town centre.
Our visit to Aggmeda Khyang was mesmerizing. It is a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The main sanctuary is posted on a series of round timber columns. It has a prayer chamber and an assembly hall along with a repository of small bronze Buddha images and a number of old manuscripts.
About 10 km from Cox's Bazar, Ramu is a village with sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and home-made cigars. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. Unfortunately, we could not manage our time to stay long at this religious station.
We also stopped for a while at Dulhazra Safari Park which is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar road about 50 km from Cox's Bazar town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants which are native to the area. In the safari park, there are domesticated elephants which are available for a ride. Other animal attractions include lions, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, bears, Cheetah and lots of different types of birds and monkeys.
Hotels offer you discounts and very competitive rates during this season. You can avail the special packages to enjoy Cox's Bazar in the rains.
During our sojourn at Cox's Bazar, the rains did not play spoilsport, rather it kept the mercury down. On the first day, we undertook conducted tours to some of the beautiful beaches with their swaying tamarisk, whispering zephyrs, the surf, and the sun for which the tiny beach town is well-known.
The next day, we headed straight to Inani Beach; located 35 km south of Cox's Bazar. This white sandy beach is within Ukhia Thana. This beach is famous for its golden sand and clean shark free water which is ideal for sea bathing. We preferred to come down here for relaxing because it is free from the crowd of tourists that is usually seen at the Laboni beach.
If anyone wants to be away from the hustle-bustle found on main harbour of Cox's Bazar, then Himchari, located about 18 km south of Cox's Bazar along the sea beach is a nice place for the picnic. We found here a film shooting group. This picnic spot is famous for its waterfalls. The road to Himchari runs by the open sea on one side and hills on the other which makes the journey to Himchari very attractive. Its attraction is the Christmas tree.
The main town attached to Laboni Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cox's Bazar. The Burmese market spread across the beach and held every holiday is a major hit among tourists. You will find just about anything in Cox's Bazar- from head to toe or get yourself a haircut or feast on some delicious Cox's Bazarian seafood or take photographs with nature that changes according to day and night time or get a beautiful funky tattoo done on yourself.
The people of Cox's Bazar are very friendly and extremely happy-go-lucky. Cox's Bazarians are fond of the good things in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race. Siesta is an important part of life in Cox's Bazar. Though the people of Cox's Bazar belong to different faiths and from different cultural backgrounds, they have come together to create the easygoing Cox's Bazarian culture with its emphasis on good living.
(The writer is a Tourism worker. He can be contacted at Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com)
COX'S BAZAR, a tiny emerald land of sparkling, shimmering white sand stretching on for miles together has always cast a hypnotic charm on the travellers at any time of the year. And this beautiful paradise on earth is located on the southern coast of Bangladesh.
The tourist season in Cox's Bazar begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. Cox's Bazar receives the full blast of the Bangladeshi monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms around May and by end of June. This scribe, along with his family, went on a four-day pleasure trip to Cox's Bazar in the second week of July and had a whale of a time out there enjoying the fair weather brought about by occasional rainfall. We found out that during the monsoon, Cox's Bazar probably looks most beautiful, with green vegetation sprouting all around.
If you have not visited Cox's Bazar during the rains, you would be amazed to find the transformation monsoon brings to the place. Usually humming with tourists, Cox's Bazar during the monsoons is a loner's paradise. Just you and the lush green tamarisk trees swaying in the coastal monsoon breeze with the rains splattering around you. The greyish hue all around, the cool green cover over the Northern Ghats casts a charm, which relaxes you, reconnects you with your inner self. You can either spend the monsoons walking on the beaches while it drizzles or sit in the lounge overlooking the sea sipping your favourite drink with delicious seafood.
The beach is the main attraction of the town. Larger hotels provide exclusive beachside area with accessories for the hotel guests. Visitors in other hotels visit the Laboni beach which is the area of the beach closest to the town. Other than the beach there are several places of interest near the town which can easily be visited from town centre.
Our visit to Aggmeda Khyang was mesmerizing. It is a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The main sanctuary is posted on a series of round timber columns. It has a prayer chamber and an assembly hall along with a repository of small bronze Buddha images and a number of old manuscripts.
About 10 km from Cox's Bazar, Ramu is a village with sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and home-made cigars. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. Unfortunately, we could not manage our time to stay long at this religious station.
We also stopped for a while at Dulhazra Safari Park which is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar road about 50 km from Cox's Bazar town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants which are native to the area. In the safari park, there are domesticated elephants which are available for a ride. Other animal attractions include lions, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, bears, Cheetah and lots of different types of birds and monkeys.
Hotels offer you discounts and very competitive rates during this season. You can avail the special packages to enjoy Cox's Bazar in the rains.
During our sojourn at Cox's Bazar, the rains did not play spoilsport, rather it kept the mercury down. On the first day, we undertook conducted tours to some of the beautiful beaches with their swaying tamarisk, whispering zephyrs, the surf, and the sun for which the tiny beach town is well-known.
The next day, we headed straight to Inani Beach; located 35 km south of Cox's Bazar. This white sandy beach is within Ukhia Thana. This beach is famous for its golden sand and clean shark free water which is ideal for sea bathing. We preferred to come down here for relaxing because it is free from the crowd of tourists that is usually seen at the Laboni beach.
If anyone wants to be away from the hustle-bustle found on main harbour of Cox's Bazar, then Himchari, located about 18 km south of Cox's Bazar along the sea beach is a nice place for the picnic. We found here a film shooting group. This picnic spot is famous for its waterfalls. The road to Himchari runs by the open sea on one side and hills on the other which makes the journey to Himchari very attractive. Its attraction is the Christmas tree.
The main town attached to Laboni Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cox's Bazar. The Burmese market spread across the beach and held every holiday is a major hit among tourists. You will find just about anything in Cox's Bazar- from head to toe or get yourself a haircut or feast on some delicious Cox's Bazarian seafood or take photographs with nature that changes according to day and night time or get a beautiful funky tattoo done on yourself.
The people of Cox's Bazar are very friendly and extremely happy-go-lucky. Cox's Bazarians are fond of the good things in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race. Siesta is an important part of life in Cox's Bazar. Though the people of Cox's Bazar belong to different faiths and from different cultural backgrounds, they have come together to create the easygoing Cox's Bazarian culture with its emphasis on good living.
(The writer is a Tourism worker. He can be contacted at Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com)