A few places of note at Cox's Bazar that you really shouldn't miss
It will be near impossible to find anyone who hasn't heard of Cox’s Bazar as it is one of the most lucrative travel destinations of Bangladesh. Not only in our country but Cox’s Bazar has also expanded its popularity beyond the borders of Bangladesh as one of the longest sea beaches in the world.
Previously, Cox’s Bazar was known as Palongki. The new name was derived from Hiram Cox, who was an officer of the East India Company. As a Superintendent of Palongki outpost, he did some mentionable work in refugee rehabilitation. To commemorate his deeds, the entire place was renamed as Cox’s Bazaar.
So far we all know about the famous sea beaches of Cox’s Bazar. But that’s not the end! Cox's Bazar has a number of amazing places that deserve a visit. In today’s guide, we will talk about those places.
In this blog I have tried to answer all the usual questions which comes in to every traveller’s mind before visiting Cox’s Bazar:
- How to visit Cox’s Bazar?
- When is the best time to visit Cox's Bazar?
- What are the top tourist destinations of Cox's Bazar?
How to book your flights to Cox's Bazar?
Let's start with the initial questions and then we will deep dive into the top attractions that are waiting for you in Cox’s Bazar!
How to visit Cox’s Bazar?
The distance between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar is nearly 395 Kilometers. In any case, you have to reach Cox’s Bazar via Chittagong. The distance between Chittagong (AKA Chattogram) and Cox’s Bazar is nearly 149 KM.
It should ideally take 5-6 hours to reach Cox’s Bazar by bus. But in fact it needs more time. Due to traffic and other issues, sometimes it takes 8-10 hours to reach Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka.
But if you are one of those people who would like to to save time and have a relaxed tour, air travel will be the best option for you. More or less it takes 55 to 60 minutes to reach Cox’s Bazar airport from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. An hour of air travel vs a day long journey on the road? I would certainly pick the former at any given day!
Moreover, you will be enjoying direct flights from Dhaka to Cox’s bazar without any halt in Chittagong!
Undoubtedly it’s the most convenient method of reaching Cox’s Bazar. It will save your valuable time & energy. After the brief flight, you will find yourself fresh and ready for all the actions! There are many domestic airlines who are offering Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar Direct flights at a competitive price.
When is the best time to visit Cox's Bazar?
Most people prefer to visit this place during February to April. The weather remains moderate at this time which will allow you enjoy your time in the water comfortably. Also ideal for foreigners who would love to bask in the sun for a while.
We have noticed another huge rush of tourists around the months of November & December. Temperature stays comparatively lower during these times. You’ll be enjoying comfortable days and cool nights beside the beach.
What are the top tourist destinations of Cox's Bazar?
Now that we know how and when to visit Cox’s Bazar, let's get into the attractive destinations that are waiting for you!
Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach
The most famous destination in Cox’s Bazar is undoubtedly Cox's Bazar Beach. It is usually known as the longest natural beach of the world (150 KM). Actually it’s the second longest one after the Ninety Mile Beach in Australia (151 KM). Still the beauty and diversity of Cox's Bazar Beach is notable to a great extent.
The specialty of this beach is, despite its length, the beach is fully sandy and hardly will you find muddy areas over there.
The largest fishing port of the country and the submarine cable landing station is around this place. You will find many tourist spots, hotels/ resorts & Burmese markets nearby. 
This place will offer you all the experience that you might expect from a beach! Wide shores, shiny white sands, bright sunshine and sounds of waves with cool breeze creates a perfect experience for the visitors.
You can take part in fun activities like riding sand bikes, horses etc. Fresh seafood including crabs, prawns and different types of sea fish are prepared and sold fresh on the beach.
Traveler review
Mo Sheik from Harbin, China reviewed Cox’s Bazar beach on Tripadvisor:
‘’Large & popular beach indeed! The most magnificent sunset I have ever witnessed. We watched local fishermen go out to sea with their huge wooden fishing.’’
Rating
4.5/5.00
Sonadia Island
Sonadia Island is one of the famous islands of this area. It has a small volume of 9 square kilometers only. It is situated at 15 KM North-west of Cox Bazar.
The history of people residing in the island is not more than 125 years. This is why the natural atmosphere and the diversity is still unaffected in this area. This is why many different types of plants and animals are found in this place.
This tiny beautiful island has a population around 2000. The island is divided into two parts: East side & west side. Comparatively the West side is more attractive as a tourist spot.
You will experience your togetherness with nature on this island. People who prefer a natural atmosphere will really enjoy their visit.
You can go to Sonadia island from the 6th port of Cox’s Bazar via Moheshkhali. You can also go there by hiring a speedboat directly from Cox’s Bazar.
Traveler Review
Mushfiq Ahmed reviewed Sonadia Island on Tripadvisor.
‘’One of the greatest places to spend your leisure time in Bangladesh when visiting Cox's Bazar and Sonadia Island. It took only 20 to 30 minutes speedboat visit from Cox's Bazar 6 No. Fisheries Ghat. I fully enjoyed the calm natural beauty, the sea, the long white or grey sandy beach & large waves. A must visit place.’’
Himchori
It’s a famous tourist spot situated just 12 KM south of Cox’s Bazar beach. This is an ideal place for tourists who prefer less crowded places and more natural serenity.
Himchori has a collection of spots for your experience. There is a smaller beach where you will experience less crowd than Cox’s Bazar. Therefore it is usual that the place is cleaner.
The most attractive part is the marine drive between Cox’s Bazar to Himchari. This is truly one of a kind. At one side you will see the wide sandy area, and on the other side you’ll see the green hills. In a word it’s an excellent experience to go through this path.
Also there is a beautiful fountain called Himchori fountain with cold fresh water flowing through the hills. You will have a splendid time over there. Enjoying a bath in the freshwater will be a bonus!
Another attraction is the Himchori Eco Park & a waterfall. The entry fee to the eco-park is only BDT 20, but it will offer you some memorable experience. There is a hill where you have to climb about 200 steps to reach the top. The view from the top is absolutely stunning.
Traveler Review
Afzal A. from UK visited & reviewed Himchori in Tripadvisor:
‘’A quiet and lovely little village, many Buddhist temples, nice friendly locals. Also nice little shops around the main path. Amazing natural scenery.’’
Rating
4.2/5.00
Adinath Temple
This is one of the famous temples in the region. The temple is situated on the top of Moinak Hill of Maheshkhali, which is 85.3 meters above the sea surface. It’s a temple of Hindu God Mahadeva (AKA Mahesh).
History says that, a long time ago a farmer was roaming in the forest and he found an idol of ancient Hindu God Mahesh. Then he built a temple on the spot. Gradually the region was named after the temple as Mahesh-Khali.
The temple is about 10.5 meters long. 9.75 meters wide and 6 meters in height. There are 69 stairs to climb up to the temple. There are three separate rooms in the temple. One of them is very old while the other 2 were built later.
You can directly visit this temple from the no. 6 port of Cox Bazar. From there you can go to Maheshkhali by a speedboat.
Traveler’s review
Seasoned traveler dmittleman visited and reviewed Adinath temple on Tripadvisor:
‘’Just next to the Maheshkhali pier, this temple atop a hill is quite the scene. Multiple shrines and full of locals praying and making offerings. It's very colorful and well worth a visit.’’
Rating
4.4/5.00
Radiant Fish World
Radiant fish world is a large sized fish aquarium in Cox’s Bazar. It is situated in the Jhautala area of Cox’s Bazar. It’s an amazing place for kids and family entertainment. 
You will experience a large collection of both sea water & fresh water fishes. There are about 100 different species of fishes here. Among them there are different types of Sharks, Tortoises, Piranha, Jellyfish, Lobster, Crabs, Prawn and many other well-known and unknown species. 
It is a great collection of sea animals which allows us to experience their diversity without causing them the least harm.
There are also many arrangements in the complex for you and your family to enjoy. After experiencing the large aquarium, you can enjoy some 3D movies after having lunch in the restaurant with fresh seafood that includes delicious crabs & lobsters and many more!
Traveler Review
Makin Azad reviewed Radiant fish world on trip advisor:
‘’Amazing sea fish & fresh water fish collection with very nice display. People of all ages can enjoy it. Especially kids love it very much. You need to keep some time in hand to enjoy the full experience. ‘’
Rating
4.5/5.00
Opening hours
9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Open 7 days a week.
How to book your flights to Cox's Bazar?
By this time you must be aware of the fact that air traveling will be the most comfortable and affordable solution to visit Cox’s Bazar
Booking flights to Cox’s Bazar flights are easy like anything. There are many Online Travel agencies and airlines who will be happy to assist you. Usually I prefer travel agencies as they will almost always provide a healthy discount.
Personally ShareTrip is my favorite online travel agency in Bangladesh. They are always on top of others with their ongoing promotional offers. Beside flights, they also provide hotels, visa facilities and holiday packages to any destinations. Simply, a one stop solution. Moreover their mobile app is an excellent one that helps you to book tickets & hotels on the go.
Visit ShareTrip website: www.sharetrip.net
Download ShareTrip App
Android: https://tinyurl.com/y62lftzl
iOS: https://apple.co/3dgpL8S
Contact them through
Facebook inbox: http://m.me/sharetripinc
Phone: +8809617617617
Email: flight@sharetrip.net
These are the best 5 places that you might want to visit beside the renowned sea beaches of Cox’s Bazar other than beaches.
Also you can get more information on flights and hotels of Cox’s Bazar here:
I hope you enjoyed the read. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments! Also let me know what type of information you are looking for, so I can write about it next time!
See you later!
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