Get to know the best way to get around in Sylhet and find the attractions you shouldn't miss
Fancy a walk in the middle of a refreshing tea garden while nature rejuvenates your body and soul? Yes, today we are talking about Sylhet and the best places around it.
It is unlikely that you are in Bangladesh but never thought about visiting Sylhet. This place has this influence over the travellers regardless of their nationality. The welcoming nature of the green surroundings, swamps along with the hillside beauty of the locality is too irresistible.
This article will be mainly focused on Sylhet and the most attractive places around it. From this article, you will get the information regarding all the basic questions that might appear in your mind before planning a tour to Sylhet.
- How to visit Sylhet?
- When is the best time to visit Sylhet?
- What are the top tourist destinations of Sylhet?
- How to book your flights to Sylhet?
How to visit Sylhet?
Usually, most people will travel from Dhaka to Sylhet. The distance between Dhaka & Sylhet is around 250 KM. This should be a 5/6 hours drive from Dhaka. But in fact, it takes more time than that. That happens due to the extra traffic.
But if you are on a visit with a short time in hand, or willing to save time & energy to get the best of Sylhet from the very first day, air travelling to Sylhet will be the best way. It takes 50 to 60 minutes on average to reach Sylhet’s Osmani International airport from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport of Dhaka.
Air travel can be a great way to save your time and energy from the turmoil of a prolonged journey by road. You will still feel fully fresh and energetic even after landing in Sylhet!
When is the best time to visit Sylhet?
Before making your tour plan to Sylhet, you must be aware of the best time to visit Sylhet to experience the most beautiful version of it.
According to our observation, the most popular time to visit Sylhet are from November to January. Usually, the temperature stays around 23 - 25 degree Celsius. That creates a comfortable atmosphere which is suitable both for domestic and international tourists. This is why tourists mostly plan ahead to visit Sylhet during this time of the year.
If you want to experience the beauty of Sylhet in the rainy season, the June to September will be a great time for you. Usually, there will be a lot of rainfall during these times of the year which washes away dust and nature look as if it is reborn!
What are the top tourist destinations of Sylhet?
Ratargul Swamp Forest
This place will come at the first position with its popularity and the experience that it offers. It is a natural swamp with huge size of almost 504 acres. As it is a swamp, so you will need a boat to explore the place.
Riding through the swamp will give you a unique experience. The greeneries around and their reflection on the water looks artistic indeed! A different part of the day brings different colours to the beauty of the Haor.
The whole place is surrounded by green. There are many different and rare water plants also. The swamp is directly linked with Gowain river and the Chengir Lake which are nearby. You will experience a different scenario if you visit the place in rainy seasons. During this time all these trees go under 20-30 feet of water. Then you will be able to see the clear reflection of the sky in swamp water. This is a thing that needs real experience, not just descriptions!
Traveller review
Mr Mahabur visited Ratargul & left a review on TripAdvisor
‘’An exceptional place to visit. One of the very few swamp forest in Bangladesh. It's a must place to visit for tourists. We went there in late January but still, it's been an amazing experience for all of us.’’
Rating
4.6/5.00
Bisanakandi
Another well-known and beloved name among the travellers is Bisanakandi. You will need to make a journey by boat through Piyain river to reach this place. The journey itself is a great experience.
After reaching Bisanakandi, you will enjoy the rural landscapes surrounded by mountains. You will love the continuous flow of crystal clear water and the rolling stones.
Surely you can enjoy some bathing in the natural water. But be careful if you do not know how to swim.
There are also some floating restaurants around nearby where you can enjoy some delicious meals freshly prepared and served.
Traveller Review
Mushfiq reviewed Bisanakandi on Tripadvisor
‘’it’s a nice place with wonderful environment. it looks so amazing. This is the place where anyone can go with their family for a picnic or can go for a study tour.’’
Jaflong
It’s another popular tourist destination of Sylhet. It is situated at the northeastern border of Sylhet. It’s an attractive destination of Sylhet and very popular among nature lovers.
The most attractive parts are the view of the hilly areas of Meghalaya. You will get a stunning view of those hills. But that’s not all! You will find dozens of natural waterfalls from the hills of Meghalaya which created a beautiful river called Piain. The water is crystal clear and you can see beautifully shaped stones underwater.
You will also find friendly locals who mostly belong to many ethnic groups like Khasia, Marma & Murong. There is a Khasia village at Sengram Punji. This is a beautiful village which depicts the simple yet smooth lifestyle of the Khasia’s.
Traveller’s Review
Selim visited Jaflong and reviewed it in Tripadvisor
‘’The experience was great though the water level was low, missed boat ride but the place is awesome. If locals take good care then it would lot nicer. If anyone wishes to go, please go at rainy season otherwise you will miss a lot.’’
Rating
4.3 / 5.00
Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal
The holy Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal is one of the famous shrines of Bangladesh. It is highly respected by the Muslim community not only of Bangladesh but also others all over the world.
According to historians, Hazrat Shah Jalal was given a handful of soil and was asked to visit the place where the soil belongs. There he can start spreading Islam. As a result, Hazrat Shah Jalal travelled to Sylhet and settled in.
As a token of respect, the largest international Airport of Bangladesh (Dhaka) is named after him as Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
You will enjoy some unique experiences there. In the evening, the tomb is illuminated by candles & the atmosphere becomes quite magical. You’ll find a massive pond filled with catfish and a separate tank with goldfish. You’ll also find the holy Jalali pigeon over there. You can also feed those pigeons.
Traveller review
Dr Tayeb visited this sacred placed and reviewed on Tripadvisor:
‘’This is a sacred place that you must visit when you come to Sylhet. Very famous and popular saint Hazrat Shahjalal was buried here. There are lots of pigeons which are called 'Jalali Pigeons'. Every day this place is visited by hundreds of visitors. People of all religious beliefs can visit this place.’’
Rating
4.6 / 5.00
Tanguar Haor
Another swamp forest that is stealing the hearts of the visitors is known as Tanguar Haor. This place has been internationally recognized & considered as the second Ramsar site of Bangladesh only after the Sundarbans.
Anyone who enjoys a natural atmosphere, birds & animals would enjoy visiting this place.This swamp is well known for its biodiversity. Due to the unaffected atmosphere of the area, there are lots of animals and plants of different species which are usually not available in the normal environment of Bangladesh. There are nearly 250 species of birds, 140 species of fish & more than 12 species of Frogs living in this area.
Also, a large number of birds migrates from other countries and finds their home in this area. If you are a bird watcher then do not forget to take a binocular with you! Watching birds and animals while enjoying the boat ride through the haor will be an unforgettable experience.
Traveller Review
John visited Tanguar haor and reviewed on Tripadvisor:
‘’Life in Tanguar Hawor is based on water. We were a team with 13 members there. We reserved an engine boat there and lived a water life for 2 days and 2 nights.’’
Rating
4.5 / 5.00
How to book your flights to Sylhet?
You can book your air tickets from Dhaka to Sylhet through online travel agency of Bangladesh.
ShareTrip provides flights and hotel related services both for international and domestic destinations. So far ShareTrip’s skilled customer service has been up to the mark by serving thousands of travellers.
Also if you prefer booking through apps, then they are undoubtedly the best among the Bangladeshi travel apps. That will also unlock great additional discounts.
For more details, travellers can also contact them in other ways and the details are listed below.
Website: www.sharetrip.net
Email us: ask@sharetrip.net
Facebook Messenger: http://m.me/sharetripinc
Download ShareTrip Apps to unlock exciting deals!
Android: https://tinyurl.com/y62lftzl
So here are the top 5 places you want to visit when you are in Sylhet. There are many other places and attractions about which we will keep talking about.
Also, you can get more information on flights and hotels here:
If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments! Also, let us know what type of information you are looking for. So we can write about it next time!
