Situated in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh,
Sylhet is a prime attraction for all tourists. Laying between the Khasia and the
Jaintia hills on the north, and the Tripura hills on the south, Sylhet breaks
the monotony of the flatness of this land by a multitude of terraced tea
gardens, rolling countryside and the exotic flora and fauna. The Sylhet valley
is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named the Surma and the
Kushiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and
the south.The valley has good number of haors which are big natural depressions.
During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy
season they turn into turbulent seas. These haors provide a sanctuary
to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to
avoid the severe cold there.
Sylhet has also a very interesting and rich history,
Before the conquest by the Muslims, it was ruled by local chieftains. In 1303,
the great Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal came to Sylhet from Delhi with a band of 360
disciples to preach Islam and defeated the then Raja Gour Gobinda. Sylhet thus
became a district of saints, shrines. Sylhet, the tea granary of Bangladesh, not only has over
150 tea gardens but also proudly possesses three largest tea gardens in the
world in respect of dimension and production.
Places of Interest
The Shrine of Hazrat Shah
Jalal
Even today, more than six
hundred years after the death of Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal, the shrine is
visited by innumerable devotees of every caste and creed, who make the
journey from far away places. Legend says, the great saint who came from
Delhi to preach Islam, defeated the then Hindu Raja (king) Gour Gobinda.
He transformed the witchcraft followers of the Raja into catfishes which
are still alive in the tank adjacent to the shrine Swords. The holy Quran
and the robes of the holy saint are still preserved in the shrine.
Shrine of Shah Jalal
Haripur Gas Field
Twenty
two kilometers from Sylhet town is the Haripur Gas Field and at 35 km.
point is the Jaintiapur's Rajbari.
Only 5 km. from Jaintiapur is
Jaflong, a scenic spot amidst tea gardens. At about 35 km. north-west of
Sylhet town, linked by rail, road and river is Chhatak, the seat of Assam
Bengal Cement Factory, Chhatak is famous for orange garden.
Madhabkunda
About
3 km. from Dakhinbagh Railway Station, Madhabkunda, rich with famous
waterfall attracts large number of tourists from home and abroad every
year.
Madhabkunda
waterfall,
Sylhet
Tamabil & Jaflong
Situated
amidst splendid panorama, Tamabil is a border outpost on Sylhet-Shilong
Road about 55 km. away from Sylhet town. Besides enchanting views of the
area one can also have a glimpse of the waterfalls across the border from
Tamabil. Jaflong is also a scenic spot nearby amidst tea gardens and rate
beauty of rolling stones from hills.
Srimangal
About 80 km. from Sylhet town
connected by road and rail, Srimangal known as the tea capital of
Bangladesh, is the actual tea center of the area. For miles and miles
around, the visitor can see the tea gardens spread like a green carpet
over the plain land or on the sloping hills.
Temple of
Sri Chaitannya Dev
About
500 years old famous temple of Sri Chaitanya Dev is located at Dhaka
Dakhin about 45 km south-east from Sylhet town. The place is revered from
being the ancestral home of the famous Vaishnava saint. Yearly fair is
organised on the fullmoon day of the Bangla month Falgun. Hundreds and
thousands of devotees from home and abroad attend this colorful fair.
Shahi Eidgah
Three
kilometers to the north-east of the circuit house, the Shahi Eidgah was
built on a hill by the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb in the 17th century. It
looks like a grade fort but is actually meant for Eid congregations, the
two biggest Muslim festivals.
Gour Gobinda Fort
The
Murarichand Government College is situated in a beautiful surrounding on a
hilltop. To the north-west of the college lie the remains of King Gour
Govinda's Fort.
Jaintiapur
Situated
43 km. to the north of Sylhet town, on the Sylhet- Shillong road,
Jaintiapur was the capital of an ancient kingdom which included the khasi
and Jaintia Hills and plains of Jainta. Interesting ruins of this
forgotten period lie scattered throughout Jaintiapur. A drive to
Jaintiapur is an interesting and worthwhile experience.
Attractions
Manipuri Dance
An
interesting feature of Sylhet region is the lifestyle of tribes such as
the Tipperas, the Monipuris, Khasis and Garos who still live in their
primitive ways in the hills, practicing their age-old rites, rituals,
customs and traditions. During festivals such as, Rash Leela (Full-moon
night in February) and Doljatra, the attractive young girls dressed in
colorful robes, dance with the male members of their choice & love.
The Monipuris perform their famous dance, based on allegorical love themes
of the ancient mythology.
Handicrafts
Sylhet
is well-known for its wide variety of exquiste handicrafts. Well-known
Sylhet cane products such as chair, table, tea trays, flower vases, bags
and the exquisitely designed fine Sital Pati (a kind of mattress having
natural cooling effect) are colorful souvenirs.
