Bichanakandi
Bichanakandi (also called ‘Bisnakandi’, in Bangla: বিছানাকান্দি) is one of the most attractive places to visit in Sylhet. Therefore, those who come to Sylhet for other purposes besides tourists, don’t forget to make a bisanakandi tour in spite of all the busyness. 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.
The number of tourists is increasing in this stone kingdom of Bichanakandi. When a traveler reaches Bichanakandi after a long journey with difficulties, seeing the heavenly beauty of Bichanakandi, he immediately forgets the fatigue of his journey. Here you will be mesmerized and amazed by stepping on the bed of water, came down from the Cherrapunji and Meghalaya hills. If you look towards India over Bichanakandi, you’ll see a series of high mountains. The green-clad hills seem to be leaning against each other.
Especially in the rainy season, this region captivates itself. Many layers of the Meghalaya hills on the Bangladesh-India border have come together from two sides at one point, in the middle of which a high waterfall is flowing down from the crevice of the hill. The real beauty of Bichanakandi to the tourists is its crystal clear water flowing over the rocks and the white clouds flying over the mountains. Bichanakandi has spread a magical web of natural beauty with mountains, rivers, waterfalls and rocks.
Bichanakandi can be visited at any time of the year. However, the rainy season is the ideal time to travel to Bichanakandi. Due to the strong flow of water around, the real beauty of Bichanakandi can be seen at this time. At other times of the year, stone lifting here causes temporary inconvenience to travel.
How to go to Bichanakandi
Wherever you are in the country, if you want to travel to Bichanakandi, you have to come to Sylhet first. Then from Sylhet you’ll go to Bichanakandi.
How to go to Sylhet from Dhaka
You can go to Sylhet by bus, train or plane from Dhaka. AC buses of Green Line, Shyamali, Saudia, S Alam and Ena Paribahan travel from Fakirapul, Saidabad and Mohakhali bus stations in Dhaka city. AC bus fares are usually between 800 to 1200 taka. Also, non-AC buses of Shyamali, Hanif, Unique, Ena Paribahan from Dhaka to Sylhet will cost 400 to 470 taka per person. Get all the information about the bus from Dhaka to Sylhet, including the name of the bus, the amount of fare and the phone number of the counter, here: Dhaka to Sylhet Bus: Ticket Price & Contacts.
To reach Sylhet by train from Dhaka you can choose Parabat Express, Jayantika Express, Upaban Express or Kalani Express train from Kamalapur or Airport Railway Station. The train will take six and a half to seven hours. Take a look at this article to know the details of train journey from Dhaka to Sylhet: Dhaka to Sylhet Train Schedule.
If you want to go to Sylhet in the shortest time from Dhaka, you can go by plane. Biman Bangladesh, Regent Air, United Air, Novo Air and US Bangla Air depart from Shahjalal International Airport to Sylhet every day. Ticket prices from Dhaka to Sylhet vary from 3200 taka to 7200 taka.
How to go to Sylhet from Chittagong
Sylhet can be reached by bus or train from Chittagong. If you want to go to Sylhet by train from Chittagong, you will get two intercity trains named Paharika Express and Udayan Express and a mail train called Jalalabad Express. To know more about the schedule of these trains and the amount of fare in Sittwe, please read: Chittagong to Sylhet Train Schedule with Ticket Price 2020.
Sylhet to Bichanakandi
To get to Bichanakandi, you have to take a local CNG autorickshaw from Amberkhana CNG station in Sylhet to Hadarpar at 140 to 160 taka per person. If you take a CNG reserve for the whole day, the rent will usually be around 1000-1500 taka. When you reach Hadarpar, you have to take a boat from the boat dock to Bichanakandi. Since Bichanakandi, Panthumai Jharna and Lakshanchhara are close tourist destinations, you can arrange a boat ride to visit all the places together and talk to the boatman accordingly. Boat rental can be 800-1500 taka, but be sure to talk to the boatman in advance about the rental. It can take up to 2500 taka in some cases to rent a big trawler. When there is less water in the river in winter and before the monsoon, you can walk from Hadarpar to Bichanakandi if you want. In the dry season, motorbikes ply on this road, renting 50-60 taka per person.
Make a good bargain for any vehicle rental. Because the fare may be more or less according to the travel season and the amount of tourists. If you have any problem, you can call Upazila Nirbahi Officer (01730-331036) or Upazila Parishad (01919-515960).
If you take a bath in the clear water of the bed, there is a washroom for changing clothes. There is a small fee for using the washroom.
Where to stay
It doesn’t take much time to get to and from Bichanakandi from Sylhet city. So you can choose the city of Sylhet for rest or overnight stay. You can stay at Hotel Hill Town, Gulshan, Dargah Gate, Surma, Kaikobad Hotel according to your need and ability. There are also many standard hotels and rest houses in the Lal Bazar (Bondor) area and on Dargah Road at low rents. In these hotels you will get different types of rooms between 400 to 1000 taka.
Where to Eat
There are some temporary food hotels in Bichanakandi. In those hotels, it will cost 120 to 150 taka to eat as many as rice and pulses you like with any single vegetable. Yet it’s wise to take some dry food and drinking water with you before start your Bichanakandi tour. You can taste Gani Mia’s ‘Vuna Khichurhi’ at Hadarpar Bazaar. Besides, there are different quality restaurants in Sylhet city, you’ll get everything you need there. Pansi, Panch Bhai or Palki restaurants in Zindabazar area of Sylhet may be best to eat local food at affordable prices.
Bichnakandi tour tips and precautions
- Travel in groups to reduce costs.
- If you want, you can travel to Ratargul and Bichanakandi in one day.
- Bargain well to rent boats and CNG.
- Be careful when going into the water in bed.
- In the rainy season, the power of a small stream of water is much higher, keep in mind that.
- In some places there is a deep ravine as a result of lifting stones, take advice before going down somewhere.
- Bichanakandi is a stone quarry, rocks all around, rocks under water too, so be extremely careful while walking.
- Please do not do anything that harms the environment and nature.
- Be humble with the locals.
- Return to Sylhet before evening.