Tourist spots in Khagrachhari see thin crowds during Eid holiday despite long break

Tourist arrivals at different attractions in Khagrachhari have remained lower than usual during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday, with major spots yet to become lively, even on the second day of Eid.

With Eid sacrifice activity ending, tourism stakeholders forecast increased footfall on Saturday and Sunday.

Surrounded by green hills, streams, waterfalls, lakes and valleys, Khagrachhari remains one of Bangladesh’s popular travel destinations during major holidays.

Many visitors travel to the district with friends and family to get away from busy city life and spend time close to nature during long Eid vacations.

Its key attractions include Alutila Mysterious Cave, Richhang Waterfall, Tareng, District Council Park, Mayabini Lake, Aranya Kutir, Manikchhari DC Park and Sajek Valley. But this Eid season, the usual buzz has been slow to build.

Although the footfall at the tourist spots is low this season, those who have made the trip say they are completely captivated by the majestic landscape.

Md Abir, a tourist who travelled from Dhaka, said: "I came to the hills since we got a long break for Eid-ul-Azha. In the hustle and bustle of city life, you rarely get time to travel.

“The green hills of Khagrachhari are truly magnificent. Coming here instantly lifts your spirits."

Another tourist, Suman Chowdhury, said he came mainly to enjoy the rain in the hills.

“I figured the crowds might be a bit thin this time, so I boarded a bus on Eid night. After getting down this morning, I toured a few nearby spots.

"I will stick around for another two days and will head over to Sajek as well. It feels wonderful to explore the hills on a rainy day."

Chandra Kiran Tripura, the supervisor of the Alutila tourism centre, said the turnout of tourists was quite low on Friday, Eid day, because of the holiday festivities.

The numbers, however, ticked up slightly on Saturday, and he expects the visitor count to climb higher on Sunday and Monday since government offices remain closed.

Sub-Inspector Korban Ali of the Khagrachhari Tourist Police Zone said, "Our teams are continuing regular patrols across different tourist destinations in the district to ensure safety for all visitors.

“The Tourist Police remain fully prepared to handle any situation,” he added.