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Monday, September 6, 2010

Cox's Bazar-Explore the Natural, Historical and Cultural Attractions of Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar

The Longest Sea Beach in The world:


Golden sands, miles after miles, overlooked by genteel . cliffs and awash with foaming waves, colourful conch shells, ponderous pagodas, delicious seafood - this is Cox’s Bazar. Near the border with Myanmar this town is noted for one of the world’s longest and least-crowded beaches—an incredible 121 km in length.The setting for this beach with its silvery gold sand is tropical-forested hills.The sea-side tourist township of Bangladesh boasting the world’s longest (120 km.) beach sloping gently down into the blue water of the Bay of Bengal
- Cox’s Bazar is one of the most attractive tourist spots of the country. Though the beach is considered to be the longest beach in the world, it has been the least crowded among the other beaches. Here, visitors can enjoy the relaxing breeze of the ocean and the peacefulness of the place. The weather here is always in a good condition so people can visit here anytime of the year.One of the most popular destinations this winter was this beach resort town of Cox’s Bazar on the Bay of Bengal, which drew sun-worshippers from as far away as Europe and Southeast Asia.
North of Cox’s Bazar is Chittagong and the hill districts of Bandarban and Khagrachhari, to the east is Myanmar, to the west and south is the Bay of BengaL .
Golden History:coxs_bazar1
Cox’s Bazar is also known by the names of “Panowa”, “Palongkee”. The literal translation of “Panowa” means “yellow flower”. “Palongkee” is the ancient name of the Cox’s Bazar. The modern name Cox’s Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox (died 1799), a naval officer serving in British India.
After Warren Hastings became the Governor of Bengal in 18th century, he was appointed as the Superintendent of Palongkee outpost. Captain Cox was specially marshaled to deal the conflict between Arakan refugees and local Rakhains, which was going for centuries. 
The Captain was a sympathetic soul and the predicament of the people was felt by his heart. He gets on with the enormous task of rehabilitating refugees of this area, and made remarkable progress. Before he could finish his work he died prematurely. But his compassionate work earned him a place in the hearts of the locals and to honor his significant role in rehabilitation of refugees, a market was built and named after him as Cox’s Bazar (”Cox’s Market”).
The Enjoyable Moment :coxs-bazar1
Main attraction of Cox’s Bazar is for unbroken 125 km long beach that stretches from the mouth of the BakkhaliRiver going all the way to Teknaf. This beach is sandy with a gentle slope. Every year thousands of people come here from other part of the country and the world. It is now best tourism spot of Bangladesh.
The Cox’s beach bazar definitely has the finest leisure it can offer to each of its visitors. People can take a timely stroll along the lengthened stretch of the beach and enjoy the view of the amazing seascape. Visitors can also enjoy water sport activities like scuba diving, surfing, and try some boat rides.
The best time to go there is at sunrise and sunset when the sand changes colors. Enjoy water-related activities, shop for handmade clothes, relax and enjoy the scenery.coxs-bazar-sea-beach1Further down south from the town are other parts of the beaches which are not well known to tourists. Here you can go early in the morning and see the fishermen coming back with her morning catch as the sun rises by the horizon. The warm shark free waters are good for bathing and swimming & while the sandy beaches offer opportunities for sun-bathing.The beauty of the setting-sun behind the waves of the sea is simply captivating. Locally made cigars and handloom products of the tribal Rakhyne families are good buys.

Despite its increasing commercialisation, Coxs Bazar is a great place to visit. If you are a foreigner, everyone will want to talk to you and have their picture taken with you, which is a bit annoying, but at least it is a way to get to talk to people and meet local people. I personally prefer the hotels away from the town, southwards, which although more ‘touristy’ are quieter and nearer to the emptier parts of the beach.
The Time When You can Enjoy Best 
:cox-s-bazar-sunset-photo1

If you are really adventurous and want to enjoy the wildness and madness of the ruff and tuff Sea you can come to Cox’s bazar in the month of mid April, Sea continue its wildness till August; and its even more exotic if you come to Cox’s Bazar in the time of depression of the Sea. Though the season is in winter but Cox’s Bazar sea beach is crowded almost through out the year. Especially in winter season, it is hard to get an accommodation in the hotels if booking is not made earlier.
The Statistic of Visitor:
coxs-bazar-sunset
There are no official figures on the numbers of visitors to Cox’s Bazar this winter, but hotel owners said the 10,000 rooms available were full almost seven days a week in December and a second rush is expected for the Eid-al Adha festival February 13. “The winter season helps us to go through rest of the year, when the number of travellers drop dramatically along with revenue,” said an official at a major hotel.BPC statistics show just 11,179 people visited the country in 1992, but the figure jumped massively in 2000 to 207,199 visitors, who brought in about 2.65 billion taka (about 46 million USD) in foreign exchange. No figures are available for 2001 and 2002. Of total travellers in 2000, nearly 18.56 percent came to Bangladesh for pleasure visits, 16.47 percent were on business and the remainder - nearly 70 percent - had multiple reasons for arriving. Britons, Americans, Koreans, Japanese, Indians, Nepalese and Pakistanis topped the list of foreign travellers.
Weather / Geography :
The annual average temperature in Cox’s Bazar is 34.8 °C and a minimum of 16.1 °C. The climate remains hot and humid with some seasons of temperate weather. The average amount of rainfall is 4285 nm.The weather is very good. At summer season it is not too high hit . Strong wind blows all day . In Rainy season rain fall and sea is in a great beauty.coxs-bazaar-picCox’s Bazar district with an area of 2491.86 km², is located at 21°35′0″N 92°01′0″E and bounded by Chittagong District on the north, Bay of Bengal in the south, Bandarban District on the east, and the Bay of Bengal on the west. Major rivers include matamuhuri, bakkhali, Reju Khal, Naf, Maheshkhali channel and Kutubdia channel. The official area of the city of Cox’s Bazar is 6.85 km².
Map of Cox’s Bazar:
Accomodation:
Cox’s Bazar got its first five-star accomodation in December, a hotel overlooking the world’s largest natural white sand beach and basking in its spectacular sunsets.The maximum temperature here in the winter is only about 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit), but tourists on the seashore enjoy cups of tea, snacks or the very popular green coconut water.
Cox’s Bazar located at a distance of 152 km. south of Chittagong, the leading seaport of Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar is connected both by air and road from Dhaka and Chittagong.
Hotels and Motels of Bangladesh Parjatan (Tourism) Corporation are good tourist accommodations. Prior reservation is advisable (Tel: 8119192, 8117855-9). Room rent ranges from Tk.600 to Tk.3000. Good many private hotels of moderate standard are there in Cox’s Bazar. Single moderate accommodation would be available at a cheaper rate.
Some Information about Accommodation Facilities:
Hotel Shaibal
Ph: 880-341-63274
Fax: 880-341-64202
Motel Upal
Ph: 880-341-64258
Motel Probal
Ph: 880-341-63211
Motel Labonee
Ph: 880-341-64703, 880-341-62223
Honeymoon Cottage

Old Cottage

Panthanibas / Youth Inn
How to reach Cox’s Bazar :
154 km. from Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar is connected by a well-built highway. There are DhakaChittagong-Cox’s Bazar both ways Biman (Bangladesh Airlines) flights 3 days a week. Cox’s Bazar by waterways from .Chittagong is a romantic Journey.
Where to enjoy food:
Parjatan Restaurant Shagorika, Panahar and Sea View are the eating places from the Tourist Corporation. Privately owned restaurants such as Jhauban, Bakoli, Diamond, Niribili, Rojoni, Shojoni are worth trying. Prices are reasonable.
Places of Cox’s Bazar :
Inani Beach

Lovesome patches of beaches perched between the sea and the hills behind, some 30 km. down south along the sea-front from Cox’s Bazar, Inani is a quiet tourist hideout set out in the exuberance of nature. Inani is within Ukhia Thana, 35 km. to the south of Cox’s Bazar. With green hills to the east, the golden beach of Inani casts a music spell on anyone stepping on to its fine golden sands. The clean blue waters of the Bay are ideal for swimming. Reachable by public transport plying between Cox’s Bazar- Teknaf and by four wheel jeeps driving along the beach.
Himchhari

A beauty spot in the solitude of the sea and the hills. About 4 and a half km. southeast from Cox’s Bazar along the beach. A four wheeled beach drive during lowtide hours or part of the way on donkey or elephant back and the remainder afoot would be a rewarding memory
Attractions around Cox’s Bazar
Ramu

A small Buddhist village Ramu is 15 km. from Cox’s Bazar. Attractions include ancient Buddhist temple and Khyang, Ramkot Bonashram, Tirthadham, rubber gardens, Buddhist locality Red Chin Khyang, White Chin Khyang, Jhorkhyang. Ramu is half an hour bus ride from Cox’s Bazar. Taxi and minibus are available too.
Moheshkhali

An island in the Bay in the north western direction off Cox’s Bazar. The island is dotted here and there with forested hills with the ancient Adinath Temple in its midst Fishermen’s villages and the Rakhyne villages are great attractions of the island. Engine boats and trawlers ply between the island and Cox’s Bazar main land every hour throughout the day. Speed-boats and trawlers ferry across passengers and cargo regularly. Speed-boats take 10-15 minutes and trawlers half an hour.
Sonadia

This is a maiden island off Cox’s Bazar across the Bay. Under the wide open blue sky fishing community, dry fish processing and colonies of the red sea crabs are attractions of the island.
Teknaf

Teknaf, a romantic old-world border township in the southern tip of Bangladesh territory looking up to the Myanmar high hill ranges across the river Naf. Teknaf is 85 kIn. from Cox’s Bazar by road and 120 kIn. by the beach along the sea. One can reach there by a public transport that leaves Cox’s Bazar every hour. It is about 2 hours’ journey each way.
Saint Martin’s Island

Country’s only coral island is Saint Martin’s. Its local name is Narikel Jinjira. St. Martins Island is the most beautiful Coral Island where you will find live corals. Its only 30 km from Teknaf and you can go there by local motorboat, tourist boats, or sea truck.
This small coral island about 10km (6mi) southwest of the southern tip of the mainland is a tropical cliché, with beaches fringed with coconut palms and bountiful marine life. There’s nothing more strenuous to do here than soak up the rays, but it’s a clean and peaceful place without even a mosquito to disrupt your serenity.
It’s possible to walk around the island in a day because it measures only 8 sq km (3 sq mi), shrinking to about 5 sq km (2 sq mi) during high tide. Most of island’s 5500 inhabitants live primarily from fishing, and between October and April fisher people from neighboring areas bring their catch to the island’s temporary wholesale market.
In this Island, you will find the beautiful Coral reef and long Coral beach and lots of coconut trees. The local name of the coconut is Narikel and the original name of this Island is Narikel Jinjira is derived from that. Accommodation in St. Martins Island is limited, so it is advisable to book accommodation before you plan to go to this Island. Motel Nijhum is one of the best hotels in St. Martins Island. To book in Motel Nijhum, confirm you reservation from Dhaka. You will hardly get a chance to stay in this hotel if you are a sudden visitor of St. Martins Island. The other good hotels are Prashad Paradise & Sraboni Bilash.
Attractions are beaches around the island, coral stones, coconut groves, sea crabs, turtle shells and pearls. One can reach there by engine boat across the Bay from Teknaf.
Copyright notice: All contents and images are taken from worldtouristplace.com and wikipedia.org (under GNU-FDL) and copyright goes to worldtouristplace.com and other source sites, photographers and article writers

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