Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia and is becoming one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. It is home to the largest mangrove forest — the Sundarbans — and the longest unbroken sandy sea beach — Cox's Bazar — and is formed on the largest delta on Earth.
Bangladesh shares its borders with India and Myanmar (formerly Burma). The country's maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal is roughly equal to the size of its land area. Bangladesh is the world's eighth most populous country. Dhaka is the capital and the largest city, followed by Chittagong, which has the country's largest port. Other major cities include Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barisal.
The people of Bangladesh include different ethnic groups and religions. 98% of the population are Bengalis, who speak the official Bengali language. The southwestern part of Bangladesh is the Bengal delta. The country has 700 rivers and roughly 8,000 km (5,000 miles) of inland waterways.
Bangladesh is known to the outside world mainly for floods and natural disasters. However, tourists from around the world know Bangladesh for the Sundarbans, Cox's Bazar, Paharpur Mahavihara, the Mosque City of Bagerhat, and more. Other famous tourist destinations include Chittagong, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi. The natural attractions of Bangladesh include highlands with evergreen forests, numerous islands, sea beaches, and more. The country is also rich with ancient manmade structures such as ruins of Buddhist monasteries, forts, palaces, and ruins of ancient civilizations. The country's biodiversity includes a vast array of plant and wildlife, including the critically endangered Bengal tiger, the national animal.
COUNTRY PROFILE
Bordered on three sides by India and sharing a border with Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh is located in South Asia on the northern edge of the Bay of Bengal. Approximately 120 million people inhabit an area the size of Wisconsin.
Bangladesh consists primarily of low-lying plains that never rise more than 35 feet above sea level. The delta region of 55,598 square miles is formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and smaller tributary rivers. Changes in topography occur only in the northeastern hilly tea-growing regions of Sylhet and the southeastern forest regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The capital, Dhaka, is less than 25 feet above sea level.
Bangladesh has three main seasons. The mild (70°F) season, from mid-October to the end of February, is characterized by clear sunny skies and cool (50°F) evenings. This is when cyclones are least likely, making travel in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar ideal.
The hot season, from March until the end of May, has little rain. The early part is pleasant (75°F), but as the monsoon approaches, hot (95°F) temperatures and high humidity make life extremely difficult.
The monsoon season runs from June to mid-October. At the beginning of the monsoon, the continuous rains cool the atmosphere. Temperatures are milder (85 to 90°F), but it is the oppressive humidity that makes the climate uncomfortable.
Tropical cyclones that emerge from the Bay of Bengal with high winds and tidal waves hit Bangladesh an average of 16 times per decade. Travelers must be prepared for flooding and cyclones, particularly in coastal areas, throughout the monsoon season. Unpredictable weather patterns during the monsoon season greatly affect living conditions and agricultural crops throughout the country.
TOP ATTRACTIVE PLACES OF BANGLADESH
- Tourist Map of Bangladesh.
- Bagha Mosque, Rajshahi
- Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge, Tangail/Sirajganj
- Barendra Research Museum, Rajshahi
- Bisnakandi, Sylhet
- Boga Lake, Bandarban
- Buddha Dhatu Jadi - Shorna Mondir (Golden Temple), Bandarban
- Chimbuk Hill, Bandarban
- Choto Sona Mosque, Nawabganj
- Dublar Char (Island), Sundarbans
- Foy's Lake, Chittagong
- Gokul Medh, Bogra
- Halud Vihara, Naogaon
- Himchari Waterfalls & View Point, Cox's Bazar
- Hiron Point (Nilkamal), Sundarbans
- Inani Sea Beach, Cox's Bazar
- Jaflong, Sylhet
- Jagaddal Vihara, Naogaon
- Kachikhali (Tiger Point), Sundarbans
- Kantajeu Temple, Dinajpur
- Kaptai Lake, Rangamati
- Katka, Sundarbans
- Kolatoli Sea Beach, Cox's Bazar
- Koromjal Wildlife Rescue Center, Sundarbans
- Kuakata, Patuakhali
- Kusumba Mosque, Naogaon
- Laboni Sea Beach, Cox's Bazar
- Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka
- Lawachara National Park (Lawachara Rain Forest), Srimangal, Moulvibazar
- Madhabkunda Waterfall, Sylhet
- Mahasthangarh (Govinda Bhita), Bogra
- Muktagachha Palace, Mymensingh
- National Martyr's Monument, Savar, Dhaka
- Nijhum Dwip, Hatiya, Noakhali
- Paharpur Mahavihara, Naogaon
- Panam Nogor, Sonargaon, Narayanganj
- Patenga Sea Beach, Chittagong
- Rabindranath Tagore's Kuthibari, Shilaidaha, Kushtia
- Ramu (a Buddhist village), Cox's Bazar
- Ratargul Swamp Forest, Sylhet
- Shaat Gambuj Mosque, Bagerhat
- Shalban Bihar, Mainamati, Comilla
- Shiva Temple, Puthia, Rajshahi
- Sitakot Vihara, Dinajpur
- St. Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar
- Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj
- Teknaf Beach, Cox's Bazar
- Tin Kona Island (Triangular Islands), Sundarbans
- Vasu Vihara, Bogra
- Wari Bateswar, Narsingdi
- World War II Cemetery, Mainamati, Comilla