Tanguar Haor consists of 51 swamps located between Dhormopasha and Tahirpur Upazilas under the Sunamganj district of greater Sylhet. Spread over an area of about 100 sq-km, this river basin is the second largest freshwater wetland in Bangladesh. Tourists often flock to Tanguar Haor to see the mountains of Meghalaya in the distance, the clear water coming down from the springs, the chirping of innumerable birds, and the amazing beauty of the Koroch-Hijol forest. Let’s have the details about the Tanguar Haor trip.
The specialty of Tanguar Haor
To enjoy the magical beauty of Tanguar Haor, many tourists spent days on boats. This experience sets the Tanguar Haor tour apart from all other tours.
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More than thirty springs descending from the Meghalaya hills made this Mother Fishery, which contains 200 species of aquatic animals, including 200 species of fish. Hijal Karach’s sight has given shelter to more than two hundred species of plants including blue water lily, Helancha, Swarnolota.
In winter, about 250 species of migratory birds, such as the extinct Palaces eagle and the large Gray-Kingstork, fly from faraway Siberia. Among the local birds, you will see many different types of birds including Balihash, Ganchil, Egret, Stork. Tanguar Haor is a sanctuary for two birds called Leuchchamara and Berberiar Beel. Right in the middle of Tanguar Haor is the beautiful Bill Hatirgata, most of which dries up in winter.
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Tanguar Haor: The best time to visit
The monsoon is the best season to travel to Tanguar Haor. Because at this time all the swamps of the whole Tanguar Haor are filled with water full to the brim. The best time is from mid-July to the first week of September.
But if you would like to witness the wonderful birds, winter would be a perfect choice. In this case, from the end of December to the whole month of January is the right time. Although the water level in the Haor is very low at this time, there is still no lack of beauty.
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Dhaka to Tanguar Haor tour guide
To go to Tanguar Haor, you have to go to Sunamganj first. The distance from Dhaka to Sunamganj by road is about 269 kilometers. From Sayedabad and Mohakhali bus terminals in Dhaka, several AC and non-AC buses including Hanif, Ena, Shyamoli travel directly to Sunamganj. It takes about 6 hours and a half to reach Sunamganj by Non-AC bus with ticket fare 550 Tk.
Then you have to take a rickshaw from Sunamganj bus terminal to Shahebbazar Ghat. During monsoon, it is possible to reach Tangua in 2 hours by speed boat directly from Saheb Bari Ghat. The cost to go by speed boat is 7,500-8,000 Tk. However, it is possible to go between 2,500 Tk and 3,000 Tk by an engine boat. In that case, it will take about 5 hours to reach the destination.
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Accommodation for overnight stay
You can rent a room at a low price in a wooden house called Haor Bilash in Tekerhat adjacent to Haor. However, it is a bit difficult to get a room in the on-season. Apart from this, there is no accommodation in private management. However, in Sunamganj you can get a residential hotel for 500 to 2000 Tk.
If you are adventurous, there is an arrangement for you to stay overnight on the boat. In that case, the rent for a local engine-driven boat will be around 5000 Tk. And the modified engine-powered boats which have modern facilities will cost around 15000 to 16000 Tk on holidays. On other days you can get it for 1000 to12000 Tk. However, when renting a boat, don’t forget to make the necessary purchases in advance.
Local meals
If you come to visit Tanguar Haor on a long tour, you can have a feel of a picnic. In the midst of natural beauty, here is a different experience where you can cook and eat by yourself. Moreover, Tanguar Haor is also a favorite for stomach filling. Almost every time there is a variety of fish in the food arrangement.
For those who love to eat duck meat, there is an arrangement of duck meat in the Haor area. Having meals on the roof of the boat with enjoying the surroundings enhances the taste of the food many times over. You can get all the cooking ingredients from the nearest Tahirpur market.
However, if you think of it as a hassle, you can eat delicious food from more than one hotel in Tekerhat. Also, if you go on a one-day tour, you can easily get a three-course meal from a local restaurant. Food prices there are also relatively low.
Spots to roam around Tanguar Haor
Around Tanguar Haor you can see small swamp forests, Shaheed Siraj Lake (Niladri Lake), Barik Tila, Jadukata River, and Laoorer Garh.
Neeladri Lake is basically an abandoned limestone mine of limestone. The combination of the lake’s beautiful blue water, small and large hillocks has made it a place of unearthly beauty.
About 40 aborigines live in Barik Tila on the Bangladesh-India border. Jadukata river from the Khasia hills of Meghalaya flows by the side of Tila. The spell-binding view of the Jadukata river from the top of Barik Tila can disconnect the tourists from the tensions and stresses of the hectic city life. Barik Tila is an ideal place for camping. A magnificent view of the sunrise can be seen from here.
Laoorer Garh is a beautiful village on the banks of the Jadukata river. Laoorer Garh bears the history of the ancient Laoor kingdom. An additional enjoyment of this place is the custom called ‘Baruni bath’ and a fair at the pilgrimage monastery. This occasion takes place 13 days after the full moon of the Hindu community. What is more? Shah Arefin’s fair started on the same day and lasted for 3 days. During these fairs, millions of visitors come from different places across the country.
Takeaways
If you are careful about some things during the Tanguar Haor trip, you can avoid any untoward incidents. If you do not know how to swim, always carry a life jacket. Be sure to bargain well before buying or renting anything. Finally, don’t do anything that pollutes the environment and harms the ecosystem of the Haor. Happy traveling!
Source: United News of Bangladesh