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When considering where you might want to travel in South Asia to see amazing biodiversity in nature, you don’t often think of Bangladesh. However, that is where you are going wrong. One of the best things about Bangladesh is just how much biodiversity there is.
To give you an idea, there are 138 species of threatened mammals, 566 bird species, 167 reptile species, 49 amphibian species, 253 freshwater fish species, 141 crustaceans, and 305 butterfly species in this small country. These numbers are constantly threatened by habitat degradation and overexploitation with many of these species being illegally collected for the wildlife and pet trade.
Promoting ecotourism in this area is important to showcase the importance of keeping these animals from extinction in this country and providing a sustainable and eco-friendly method of income for the people there. As visitors, supporting sustainable tourism in these countries makes those in charge pay attention and see the value in protecting them and also provides economic growth for their people.
Getting there
There are few major cities, with the capital city of Bangladesh being Dhaka city. This is the main international airport and the main reason you would come to Dhaka. You can also catch domestic flights to other parts of the country, otherwise it is many hours of driving or taking a bus to get to some of the more rural areas.
Arriving in Dhaka is like arriving in the Wild West on the roads. There’s no set lanes, traffic is coming from all directions using only their horn to alert others. It’s a constant fight between big trucks, cars, bikes and rickshaws. People cross the road wherever they feel like it with only a hand held to show their intent. Along the sidewalks there are piles of trash with dogs and people alike digging through it.
The air is thick with smog and fumes and everything has a layer of dirt. There is a distinct and suffocating odor within this city. With 21 million people calling Dhaka home, I can see why. This is not where you will find biodiversity but it is where you must pass through in order to see what this country truly has to offer. If you only see Dhaka, you are seriously missing out on what this country truly has to offer.
Best time to visit
I would not recommend visiting during the monsoon season or the summer months. During monsoon is when Dengue numbers are at their highest and with the intense rains you get regular and intense flooding, making it difficult to get around if you are driving from one area to another. During the summer months, it is extremely hot and humid. The best time to visit is during the winter months when it is driest, mosquitos are lowest and the air is cool.
Travel tips for visiting Bangladesh
Observe local customs
The major religion practiced in Bangladesh is Muslim, so you will hear the call to prayer on several occasions throughout the day. I asked my Bengali friends if it is more respectful if women visiting should cover the heads and they said it was unnecessary. That you should avoid wearing tank tops and short shorts/skirts but otherwise, come as you are. The muslim religion promotes hospitality and I can say for sure that I received very warm hospitality from everyone I met and was treated with great kindness.
There is a rich cultural heritage here and people want to share it with you. I also asked my friends about the recent Forbes ranking of most dangerous cities for tourists (Dhaka was ranked 6th) and was told that is simply untrue. That Bengali people love tourists and that the worst that tends to happen is they stare at you (which is definitely true). I would still do all the things you would do in any other area to keep yourself safe, but overall I had a very positive experience here.
Use guide tours
It is really hard to navigate around here and if I were not being hosted by friends I would have no idea how to get to where I needed to be or know what to do. I would strongly recommend getting a guide while you are visiting. They know the area well and you can make the most out of your time without feeling constantly lost.
Check malaria regions and always wear bug spray
The Chittagong hill tracts is the only real malaria zone in the country. This is a biodiversity hotspot and if you want to go there make sure to take antimalarials. The other disease of concern is Dengue, which has shown higher than average numbers in recent years with our changing climate. There is no real treatment for Dengue, though often your first exposure is benign with minimal to no symptoms and you will be immune to that particular strain in the future. However, once you have had it once you are at a very real risk of the more deadly severe Dengue, which has a much higher death rate.
Do not drink the water or eat fruit or salad
The water is not safe to drink anywhere here. Make sure to either bring a filtration water bottle, use CrazyCap to purify your drinking water from mold, bacteria, and viruses or buy bottled water. This also goes for eating the salads or fresh fruit because they are often washed in the unsafe water.
Eating with your hands
It is common practice to eat with your hands (your right hand to be specific, which was very challenging for a lefty like myself). Each restaurant will have a sick with soap to wash up before and after you eat. If you feel uncomfortable with this you may ask them if they have utensils and some will. I say embrace it and give it a go, once you get the hang of it there is a certain freedom to it.
Public restrooms
Every restroom will have a hose bidet and often does not have toilet paper. You will use the hose to wash yourself and have to air dry after or just pull up your pants and underwear and your clothes will dry it. Honestly, I think this is cleaner than wiping with toilet paper (and is why I have 2 bidets in my house) but it can be slightly uncomfortable for people who are not used to giving their privates a bit of a shower as a method of keeping clean.
Best places to visit
If you are looking to get away from the smog of the city, to some of the more rural areas and in search of wildlife and more biodiversity, these are the top places to visit.
Sundarbans Reserve Forest
The Sundarbands, located in the southwestern part of the country is a UNESCO world heritage site and is the largest mangrove forest in the world. The largest contiguous mangrove forest that is. There are three wildlife sanctuaries in the area that are considered core breeding areas for some endangered species.
This is a popular tourist destination for nature lovers where you can go on a boat tour and safari to see some of Bangladesh’s premier wildlife, like the illusive royal bengal tiger. Because it is made up of three wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife is in abundance here and protecting these species is at the utmost importance.
Chittagong hill tracts
This is a great place to see the true wildness of Bangladesh. The area is covered in dense forests and is the main hill region of the country. It is recommended that you join a guided tour here as there have been conflicts in the past making the area somewhat unstable. But there is a rich history here and lush greenery.
It is also home to several endangered species of tortoises.
The Creative Conservation Alliance has been working closely with the tribal communities here to protect these critically endangered and extremely charismatic animals.
Visit the national parks
There are 18 national parks in Bangladesh, some with more human encroachment than others. The Bhawal National Park is just outside of Dhaka and parts of it have been transformed into rice paddies that are being actively farmed. There is a significant amount of trash as well and the biodiversity here is relatively low.
Lawachhara National Park, located in Srimongol is one of the most popular places for tourists coming from Dhaka. Surrounding by tea gardens, this is a wonderful place about a 6 hour drive from Dhaka.
The air here is clearer and you can hear Tokey geckos calling, see troops of macaques going by, wild boar, and many other wildlife species. There are multiple hiking trails within this park and various viewpoints to check out.
It was the most beautiful place I visited while in Bangladesh and the tea is amazing.
Concluding Thoughts
Bangladesh has such a rich culture, with some of the warmest and kindest people I have encountered. It is not an easy country to get around in, but well worth the trip. The biodiversity in this country is some of the richest in the world and one of the ways to help protect the natural beauty and species that call this place home is by supporting these ecotours. The more tourists express interest in seeing these places, the more these places are preserved.
If you want more underrated destinations, check out this collaborative post for more ideas.
