Overview to Bangladesh: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Poor, overcrowded and often unfairly compared to neighboring India, Bangladesh undoubtedly gets a bad press. But packed with wonderful sights and rare natural attractions, the reality of traveling in the country is very different.
The capital Dhaka has all the hustle and bustle of its Indian counterparts New Delhi and Mumbai. Life here is colorful and chaotic, with rickshaws passing through noisy street markets and waves of people filling the air with an intoxicating atmosphere.
Leave the turmoil of Dhaka behind, however, and Bangladesh’s charms become utterly unique. Much of the country is rural and remote, with the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta system dictating the natural ebb and flow of life.
The lattice of waterways that comprise the delta leave behind a host of areas perfect for intrepid backpacking. Sundarbans, for example, is the largest mangrove swamp in the world; a UNESCO protected park, it’s home to Royal Bengal Tigers, crocodiles and cobras!
To the east of Sundarbans, the unusual sight of Cox’s Bazaar presents itself. This is Bangladesh’s favorite beach resort and, while its busy beaches and brutal concrete hotels may not particularly appeal, it is interesting to see how the country likes to unwind.
Altogether different is Inani Beach which begins 30km from Cox’s, only drawing to a close some 150 or so km later. This is the longest and widest stretch of sand in the world - and Bangladesh at its very best.