Sylhet
Somewhere on the edge of the plain there are mountains, rivers flowing down. White clouds are playing on the top of the hills. Sunlight falls on the fountain water and sparkles. Haor is not too far. Birds are flying touching the water of marshes. There are Hijal forest, green tea gardens, swamp forest, wetlands, stone weald and a lot of beautiful and attractive places to visit in Sylhet. Such a magnificent beauty of nature can only be seen in Sylhet. Just as nature has hidden valuable resources under the soil of the region, she has also bloomed her beauty above the ground. This is why Sylhet is called a tourist city. Nature’s generosity has made Sylhet rich in tourism potential. Sylhet is reminiscent of the great saint Hazrat Shahjalal, Hazrat Shahporan, Sri Chaitanya and numerous pir-aulia and religious figures. There are numerous archaeological sites, including Janta Rajbarhi, Megalithic stones, which carry ancient history of Sylhet as well as Bangladesh. Sylhet is also a key source of traditional Bengali songs. Radharaman, Hasan Raja, Shitalong Shah, Shah Abdul Karim and many Bauls were born in this area. They have been enriching the collection of Bangla songs. There is also a diversity of ethnicities in Sylhet. Diversity of different groups, including Bengali, Manipuri, Khasia, Pangan and tea-labor tribes made Sylhet unique. Surprised by the beauty of Sylhet, world-poet Rabindranath Tagore called it ‘Sreebhumi’, a land of beauty. And recently, renowned Indian filmmaker Gautam Ghosh commented on seeing Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj: Tangua is the most beautiful place in the world I have seen. Who knew this information even a few days ago, the only swamp forest in the country is located in Ratargul in Sylhet? Some news media came out about the beauty of the forest. Since then, the forest has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Sylhet. Every day, hundreds of tourists, both domestic and foreign, are crowded here.
Lovachora is one of the most attractive places to visit in Sylhet. The Lovachora Tourist area is made up of a river of crystal clear water, a huge tea garden, rows of greenery on both sides of the road, a natural lake and fountain, a century-old hanging bridge, the tomb of Miraping Shah, antiquities of Mughal kings and queens, an ancient Dighi and a stone quarry. In the northeastern border area of Bangladesh, several clear water rivers have flowed through the Meghalaya and Khasia-Jainta hills. The river Lova is one of them. The source of Lova and Surma rivers is the same. Here the intense love of the blue sky with the mountains, with the floating clouds and the clear water of the river fills the minds of the visitors.
Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) was a famous Sufi saint of the subcontinent. His Dargah and memorial place is the most visited place in Sylhet. Shahjalal is called ‘Walikul Shiromani’, means the best of all Sufis. He is believed to have come to Sylhet region of present-day Bangladesh in 1303 AD to spread the peaceful teachings of Islam. It was through him that Islam spread in Sylhet region.
Bichanakandi is one of the most attractive places to visit in Sylhet. It is located at Rustampur union of Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district. Bichanakandi is a stone quarry, like other two famous stone quarries of Bholaganj and Jaflong in Sylhet. There are rocks and stones scattered here and there in Bichanakandi. It looks as if someone has spread a bed of stones. Water is rushing over the white cool stone bed into the Piyain River.
Utma Chora is a wonderful tourist destination near Bholaganj Zero Point, on the northern border of Sylhet in Bangladesh. This secluded intersection of hills and rivers has recently begun to attract more tourists. Most of those who visit Bholaganj Shada Pathor also visit Utma Chora.
