The area boasts magnificent natural features such as rivers, harbours, dunes, and vast marshes. Visitors can get up-close and personal with a diverse range of wildlife in the sanctuaries. This region is highly accessible and rich in both natural beauty and historical significance.
There are two popular natural beauty sites in this area, namely Satchari National Park and Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, there are twenty-four tea plantations in the vicinity, including Teliapara Tea Estate, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, historic Kamalarani Dighi, Bithangal Ramakrishna Jew Akhra, and Lakshmi Baur Reservoir.
The Chunarughat Upazila district is home to Satchari National Park, which is close to nine tea gardens and Raghunandan Hill. The Satchari Tea Garden is located on the western side of the region, while the Chaklapunji Tea Garden is on the eastern side.
The Tipra neighbourhood within Satchari National Park is home to 24 hill tribal families. This park is located at the meeting point of the Indian subcontinent and the Indo-China region and consists of a tropical and mixed evergreen montane forest. The park is home to about 200 species of flora, including Shaal, Teak, Agar, Garjan, Chapalish, Palm, Mahogany, Black Chura, Fig, Jam, Jamrul, Sidhajarul, Awal, Malekas, Eucalyptus, Akashmani, Bamboo, and Cane-tree.
The park houses 197 species of animals, including six species of amphibians, eighteen species of reptiles, and approximately twenty-four species of mammals. The park is also a bird sanctuary and protected forest area, with 150 to 200 bird species residing within its boundaries. Among the animals you may spot are shy monkeys, owls, Kulu monkeys, bespectacled Hanuman, Mechho tigers, and Maya deer, while the reptile population includes snakes. There is also a vast variety of insects that call the park home.
Satchari National Park has seven rhinos or fountains, and visitors can participate in Tree Adventure, which allows them to take off and land amongst trees. While wandering through the park, visitors will notice many different leaf and tree species, with notable trees including Chapalish, Awal, Kangra, Hargaza, Hartaki, Palm, Latkon, Amra, Gamar, Cow, and Fig. The fruits from these trees are a source of food for the forest’s inhabitants.
A nearby road easily connects Dhaka to the park, and Sylhet to Shaistaganj via train or bus. Visitors can also drive to Satchari National Park in about an hour.
Accommodation:
Satchari National Park provides a dormitory for students that can accommodate up to eighteen people. The cost per person per night is $150. There are also two restaurants in the park that offer a cosy environment and a variety of dishes, including rice, at affordable prices compared to the city.
If you prefer to stay outside the park, Srikuta Bazar has two bungalows located 22 kilometers from it. One can stay overnight in these bungalows for a price ranging between 150 and 200 taka. For just thirty takas, you can travel from Satchari Bazar to Srikuta by CNG autorickshaw.
Rema Kalenga Sanctuary:
The six thousand-hectare Rema Kalenga Sanctuary in Chunarughat Upazila, Habiganj District, is home to many rare animal and bird species. The Rema Kalenga Tower, located nearby, offers a panoramic view of the Indian state of Tripura and the forest.
Within the 6,22-acre forest are 638 different plant species, 17 different amphibian species, 18 different snake species, 167 different bird species, 37 different animal species, and a vulture species that is on the verge of extinction.
A Place:
This place is located in the Ranigaon area of the Gazipur Union, about thirteen kilometers east-south of the Chunarughat upazila headquarters.
Habiganj is not only a beautiful place but also a hub of other tourist attractions. The most famous attractions include the Bithangal Ramakrishna Jew Akhara, the historic Kamalarani Dighi, the Teliapara Tea Gardens, and the Lakshmi Baur Reservoir. These places are located about a thirty-minute to one and a half-hour drive away from the Habiganj district. If you want to visit the Lakshmi Baur Reservoir, you have to drive to Baniachong Upazila Sadar first. From there, you will have to spend approximately an hour on a boat to reach your destination. The boat journey to Bithangal’s Akhara takes one and a half hours and starts at the Kalarduba area near Habiganj city.
Habiganj district is well-connected and easily accessible, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers.