Are you feeling stressed over the tensions of the hectic urban life? Why don’t you plan a vacation to spend some heavenly moments in Bakikka Beel – a place where birds are chirping, fishes are playing, and nature is offering limitless bounties to humankind. Baikka Beel is located about 1 sq-km away from the east side of Hail Haor, a large wetland spread over Moulvibazar, Sreemangal, and Bahubal Upazilas of Habiganj in Sylhet. On July 1, 2003, it was decided to preserve Baikka Beel as a fish sanctuary. The total area of Hail Haor is about 10 sq-km. It is also known as Lotapatar Haor to the locals due to its abundance of herbs and shrubs. Let’s get to know the details about this aesthetic aquatic landscape.
The specialty of Baikka Beel of Hail Haor
After originating from Bilaschhora upstream, Gopla River bifurcates into the Hail Haor and joins the upper reaches of the Meghna through the Bijna River downstream.
If you are a true haor lover then you must come to Hail Haor and Baikka Beel. Here you can watch some priceless moments with nature. The shepherds are returning home with their cows under the red sky in the red sunlight in the late afternoon. Fishermen are floating boats on the shore. A group of fishermen is walking on the way to the village market with fish baskets on their oars. The boundless flight of flocks of birds in the distant sky. The beauty of Haor has got a new dimension by the chirping of domestic and foreign birds. A wonderful twilight glow spreads all over the Haor.
During the monsoon, Baikka Beel and Hail Haor appear in a mesmerizing fresh cherubic beauty. Everywhere you look, there is only blue water in sight. You can’t escape the urge to have the thrilling experience of boating on the swamp. The rustic sight of thousands of fishermen fishing around the waking up swamp in the dawn is very captivating.
Surrounded by 14 swamps, this huge wetland is currently a habitat of about 77 species of fish. The number of exotic birds visiting here is increasing every year. Among the various species of local birds, the Kura bird is the main one.
A two-story observation tower has been constructed near the Beel to facilitate the visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the Beel and the lush green forest.
The best time to visit Baikka Beel of Hail Haor
Usually, the monsoon is the best time to visit the swamp area. But if you want to hear the chirping of thousands of different species of birds, you must go to Hail Haor and Baikka Beel between November and February.
Moreover, towards the end of winter, you will see the newly blossoming lotus there.
Dhaka to Baikka Beel of Hail Haor route
You can reach Sreemangal by taking a Sylhet-bound bus from Fakirapul or Saidabad bus terminal in Dhaka. The rent will be BDT 300 to 400. Apart from this, you can commute to Sreemangal by intercity train from Komolapur railway station where the fare is BDT 115 to 75.
Arriving at Sreemangal, you have to take the Boruna-Hazipur paved road through Kalapur Bazar on the Sreemangal-Moulvibazar road in order to reach Hazipur Bazar. This market is known as Ghater Bazaar to the locals. Local autorickshaw fare up to Baruna Bazar is BDT 50 per person.
If you want to come directly to Ghater Bazar, you have to reserve the autorickshaw. However, you can reach Hail Haor from Ghaterbazar by any local transport or on foot by crossing the 4 km long rural road full of natural beauty. You can also visit the entire Hail Haor and Baikka Bill with any guide from Hazipur Bazar.
After walking about 10 km through the Moulvibazar road, leaving the main road, the paved road on the left has gone to Baikka Bill. However, there are another two kilometers of the paved road after Boruna Bazar. After that, the road is raw which is suitable for traffic until it starts raining.
The entrance path to Baikka Beel is about 3KM on an unpaved road. So it would be wise to reserve a car from Sreemangal. Because no vehicles are available on the way back. CNG-autorickshaw will cost between BDT 800 and 1,000. The rent for a jeep or a microbus may charge BDT 1,500 to 2,500 for the whole day.
Where to stay during the Baikka Beel of Hail Haor trip
In the Haor area, the two-story huts owned by the swamp leaseholders are suitable for 4 to 5 tourists to stay in. However, the permission of the leaseholders must be taken.
If you want an adventurous tour, spend the night in a tent in the swamp area. Staying in a tent at night and bird watching can enthrall any adventuresome tourist.
As Srimangal is not too far away, you can spend the night in a good hotel. Depending on the quality, the rent of hotels and resorts varies from BDT 500 to 5,500.
Meals arrangement during the trip
If you want to camp, you have to take the necessary food items, like rice, pulse, etc with you as there is no good grocery shop around. You can cook in the open space using portable outdoor cookers.
You can convince the people of the swamp area and have meals by bearing the necessary expenses. The people are very friendly and you can have lunch by sharing their food.
Dry foods like biscuits and bread are also available in the Hazipur Bazar. There are no food shops around the swamp except for a couple of tea shops. So you better take food along with you.
Nearby places to visit
If you have more time to spare, you will be able to visit many beautiful places in one trip. Notable among these are Tea Garden, Lauyachhora National Park, Madhobpur Lake, Rubber Garden, Generation 71, Madhabkund falls, and Humhum Falls. And don’t forget to visit Hakaluki Haor, the largest freshwater wetland in the country, located very close by.
In a nutshell
There were 131 swamps in Hail Haor including Baikka Beel. But this Haor is now on the verge of extinction due to various reasons including mass fishing and filling up of land. Once there had been 98 species of fish in the habitat; but now 21 of those are completely extinct and 11 more species are about to extinct. Therefore, both government and private parties should come forward to take urgent steps to save Hail Haor and Baikka Beel.
Source: United News of Bangladesh