Exploring Sreemangal in less than 24 hours

What if Sreemangal, the tea capital of Bangladesh, typically requiring two to three days to explore, could be fully experienced in less than 24 hours? It might sound impossible, but that's precisely what we did. Two days after Eid, we impulsively planned a quick trip to Sreemangal, aiming to capture as much as possible in just one day.

The initial plan was to visit Cox's Bazar. However, due to a lack of accommodations and transport after Eid, we turned to Sreemangal Upazila. We also visited the Kamalganj Upazila.

With less than 18 hours to plan, we quickly bought tickets for an overnight bus ride. The bus lived up to its dangerously fast yet efficient reputation. Despite the driver taking some risky turns on the winding roads, we made it to Sreemangal in just four hours at 3:00 am, a bit wonky but excited for the day ahead.

As we walked through the still-dark streets of Sreemangal, we noticed tea collection trucks lining up. The sleepy village was waking up, with locals preparing for the day ahead. The roads were empty, except for tourists like us who were already looking for accommodation around the area. But our situation was quite different; we had a day tour to pull off and the sunrise to wait for.

After a quick breakfast and Fajr prayers, we headed to Sreemangal Railway Station. We prepared for our journey by hiring a local jeep, a Chander Gari. Though it was the busy Eid season, we managed to hire one after some bargaining, but on a higher fare than usual.

Due to time constraints, we settled on a visit to six major spots, excluding key places like the Ham Ham Waterfall and Baikka Bill Wetlands, which take longer to travel to.

The itinerary included the Rubber Garden, Noorjahan Tea Garden, Madhabpur Lake, Lawachora National Park at Kamalganj Upazila, Lal Tila, and Adi Nilkantha Tea Cabin. It was ambitious, but we were determined to make the most of our day in Sreemangal.

Our first stop was the Rubber Garden. The Rubber trees, initially introduced by the British, now play a significant role in the local economy. As we walked through the vast garden at the wake of dawn, we admired the rows of rubber trees lined up perfectly.

Rubber latex is collected in winter, notably from November to March. As we visited at the end of the harvest season, we saw no rubber being collected in the pots attached to the trees. We spent some time here, enjoying the peaceful morning atmosphere before we moved on to our next spot.

Next, the destination was the Noorjahan Tea Garden. This tea garden is one of the most famous in the region and has a massive tea plantation on small hills covering 210 hectares.

Usually, hiking on the mountain is restricted here, but there were no strict guards in the early morning. So it became the opportunity of a lifetime to hike various hills growing teas, pineapples and lemons, breathe in fresh air and appreciate the stunning landscape of this tea estate.

Neatly lined plants all over the lush greenery of the hills were a sight to see from up the mountain, and the tranquillity of the morning mist and melodious calls of unknown birds enhanced the experience.

The trip moved from a hilly tea garden to a watery spot to the Madhabpur Lake, a picturesque lake close to Lawachora Sanctuary.

This beautiful lake is surrounded by hills and tea gardens, creating a perfect photo backdrop. It's hard to believe that this lake is wholly artificial. It was created in 1965 by building dams around hills to trap water for tea cultivation.

Even though artificial, the lake found its ecosystem, notably home to the Great White-Bellied Heron. The lake also has clear blue waters with pink lilies and lotus floating all over, making it look almost like a painting.

After hiking the hills of the tea estate, we sat by the edge of the lake, took photos climbing its hills, and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

Our next stop was Lawachora National Park, one of Bangladesh's most famous and biodiverse areas. This protected forest, home to endangered species like the western hoolock gibbon, offered towering rare trees, streams, and diverse wildlife.

Lawachora is also known for the 1956 Hollywood film Around the World in 80 Days, one scenario which was shot on the famous rail track going right through the forest.

Unfortunately, some irresponsible tourists disturbed the protected monkeys and ignored gatekeepers' warnings about incoming trains on the famous rail track that runs through the park.

Despite this, our hike through the rainforest was an unforgettable experience. Visiting Lawachora felt like stepping into another world where nature reigns supreme. It was undoubtedly the trip's highlight, and we spent considerable time exploring the sanctuary.

Lal Tila, or Red Hill, is another fascinating spot in Sreemangal, known for its striking red-coloured hills. The area was once a site for tea plantation cultivation during the British era. Today, Lal Tila is a popular tourist destination where visitors can hike to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding tea gardens and countryside.

At the top, two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali stood side by side, with a third altar devoted to Shitala Devi. The locals believe the deity locals believe the deity is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and can cure smallpox. This 200-foot hill offered a unique adventure and gave a glimpse of the religious culture of Sreemangal.

After a long day of exploring, we stopped at the Adi Nilkantha Tea Cabin, a local tea house that has been serving tea for decades. The cabin is famous for its overhyped multi-layered tea.

We were sceptical, but the tea wasn't as bad as we thought, and the taste has improved. It was the perfect way to end our tour.

After an exhausting yet fulfilling day, we returned to Sreemangal's train station, where we boarded a train to Dhaka.

We had already booked our tickets the day before. After a smooth and comfortable ride, we reached Dhaka at 11:00 pm, completing our impulsive tour in less than 24 hours.

In just one day, we experienced the best that had to offer, lush tea gardens, rainforests, lakes, and culture. For those with limited time but a desire to experience the magic of Sreemangal, a one-day tour like ours is a great way to make unforgettable memories.

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