Thursday, February 21, 2013

A Human Habitation of Hilltracts and Forests | Rangamati



Rangamati Hill-tracts is one of the south-eastern district in Bangladesh which is very very beautiful for its natural resources. There are lots of hills in the district.  In this post I am going to tell you a little about Rangamati Hill-Tracts.


A little history about Rangamati:
Rangamati was a contesting ground for the kings of Tripura and Arakan. This region came under the Mughal Empire after the Muslim invasion in 1566. In 1737 Sher Mosta Khan, a tribal leader, took refuge with the Mughals. After this the Chakma settlement began along with various other settlements of varying ethnicity. From 1760 to 1761, this land was leased to the East India Company.

In the end of 70s the Government of Bangladesh has announced the district as one of the tourists attraction spot in the country. The total land area is near about 6500 sq. km. Some famous natural and man made attractions of Rangamati are:
  • The largest man made Lake in Asia
  • The one and only Hydro-Electricity center (Electricity generated by water power)
  • Batbunia Satellite Station
  • Karnafuli Paper mill etc.
There are about 14 (fourteen) tribes or classes of people in this district ans most of them has their own history, language and culture. There is a small museum in the city where you can see the history and culture of the people of Rangamati. There are some famous Buddhist Pilgrimages and Illustrations. The natural resources (waterfall, hills etc) are really attractable for the visitors.

The City:
Rangamati Town is mainly divided into 13 areas. Namely Vedvedi, Collegegate, Rajbari, Newmarket, Banarupa, Kathaltoli, Fishery Ghath, Reserve Bazar, Launch Ghath, Pathor Ghata, Tabalchori, Mazher Basti, Asam Basti.




Some Places of Interests:

  • Kaptai upazila under Rangamati district has Bangladesh's only hydro-electric project. The Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River created for this purpose resulted in the Kaptai Lake.
  • Tourist spots include the Hanging Bridge over the Kaptai Lake, the remnants of the residence of Raja Harish Chandra Roy, archeological relics and heritage such as the Palace, Mosque and Dighi of Raja Jan Bashk Khan.
  • Cruising on the Kaptai Lake is an enjoyable way of observing the landscape as many great picnic spots, natural landmarks and historic monuments are accessible only by motorboats. The Rangamati Parjatan offers such tours to the tourists, taking them to great sights, locations of cultural and historical significance while explaining the diversity that exists in this district.
  • There are several waterfalls in the hill tracts adjoining the lake, more prominent during the monsoon because of the increased water levels due to rainfall.
  • Scattered throughout the district, are beautiful Buddhist temples and ancient relics of civilizations, all accessible by motor vehicles.
  • A stretch of road connects the tourist spots of Rangamati and Kaptai. The road goes deep into the hill tracts and displays the natural beauty and wildlife of the district.
Thanks a lot for reading this post.




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