DHAKA: Ratargul Swamp Forest of Sylhet is now an attractive destination for the tourists. The venue was a little known place only five to six years ago, but it has now become a famous tourism spot of Bangladesh.
Ratargul, located at Gowainghat upazila, came in the limelight because of media and social networks. Later, the authorities as well as the administration paid heed to the spot.
Like Ratargul, ‘Kanthalbari Swamp Hill’ of Sylhet can be another attractive destination for the tourists, as the venue is a unique place of the country from natural aspect. The swamp hill, which means hill existence in inundated low-lying area, is located at Kanthalbari village under Razaganj union in Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet district. Kanthalbari village is an isolated location from other parts of the settlements, as the village is located in betwixt of Haripur-Gachhbari haor.
Hill in the haor is the main attraction of the venue, as there is no such venue in any other part of the country so far. At least 30 separate small hills are seen at Kanthalbari as well as in the haor. The distance of the hills from each other is very little and the middle places of the hills are plane-land. The middle places remain inundated at seven to eight months.
The swamp hill covers an area of three sq. At least 25 families live in 14-15 hills of the total 30. The families in separated hills contact each others only by boat although the distance among the hills is very little. It seems that the hills are floating in the water of haor.
The Kanthalbari Swamp Hill shows its beauty during rainy season. The rainy season means seven to eight months without the dry season. The trees become greener on hills across the haor as well as the wetland become more attractive. Alongside the hills, many trees are seen in the wetland adjacent to the hills. The trees in the wetland are submerged under 15–20 feet water in the rainy season. For the rest of the year, the water level is about 3-4 feet deep. There are some similarities between the Ratargul Swamp Forest and the Kanthalbari Swamp Hill from the aspect of submerged trees.
The main trees of the area Hijalkarach, Jackfruit, Wild Jaam and a variety of creepers. Lotus flower, Lily flower and Kanchan flower are also available in the area. It can be mentioned that the Kanchan flower is only found in West Bengal of India.
The Kanthalbari Swamp Hill contains a panoramic scenario which will attract the tourists. It has a lot of possibility in the tourism sector. Many local people are now visiting the venue daily since an article of this writer published in a local souvenir named ‘Razkuri’, which launched by Razaganj Sahitthya Sangskritk Forum.
Kanthalbari Swamp Hill is about 20 kilometers from Sylhet city. After reaching Haripur Gas Field or Haripur bus stoppage on Sylhet-Tamabil Road, a local boat needs to be hired to travel there. It will take 20-25 minutes time from Haripur to reach Kanthalbari, as it is only 4 km far from Haripur. Sylhet-Kanaighat as well as the Burhanuddin Road can also be used to reach the spot.
Written By Ehsanul Haque Jasim
Phone: 01713810606, email: ehsan.jasim@yahoo.com
BDST: 1730 HRS, AUG 15, 2017
EHJ
