Ratargul Swamp Forest

Ratargul Swamp Forest is a fresh water marshland forest located close to river Goain, in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District. This forest is engulfed with freshwater in most of the seasons. This evergreen forest gets over flooded during the rainy season. Different local fish are available here. It’s the terrain of different creatures’ like snakes, monkeys, lizards, insects & birds.

You may also see vulture and Eagle. Some parts of this forest are very small, so boat ride would be tough. However, it is the only swamp forest located in Bangladesh and one of the few freshwater swamp forests in the world. The forest is naturally conserved under the Department of Forestry, Government of Bangladesh.

This evergreen forest is situated by the river Goain and linked with the canal named Chengir Khal. Most of the trees grow here are Pongamia pinnata (Koroch tree). The forest goes under 20-30 feet water in the rainy season. Rest of the year the water level is about 10 feet deep.

How to go:

It is approximately 18.7 km away from Sylhet. You may take bus or CNG auto rickshaw and head towards Saklutikor road. Take rickshaw to reach there.

How To Reach: Sylhet District:

Three type of transportation mode is available towards Sylhet from Dhaka. You can get in there by bus, train or air.

1. Greenline Paribahan
9/2, Outer Circular Road, Rajarbag, Dhaka-1217. (BDT 850 Volvo, BDT 1100 Scania)

2. Shyamoli Paribahan
Arambagh Counter, Dhaka. Phone-7102291, 0193626023
Sayedabad Counter, Dhaka. Phone-0171-8075541, 7511019, 7550071

3. Hanif Paribahan, Dhaka offices
Panthapath: 0173-402670
Arambagh: 01713-402671
Sayedabad: 01713-402673

4. S Al Saudia
Address: Humayun Rashid Chattar, Sylhet
Mobile: 01712920909

5. Shohah Paribahan
Address: Shobhani Ghat, Sylhet
Phone: 0821-722299
Fare: Taka 1100

You will find the above bus operators from Malibag Rail-gate, Razarbag or Sayedabad bus stand. These services are available from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm.

Where to Stay:

There are a number of good quality hotels in Sylhet town. Most of those are at the Mazar road, Amberkhana, or in Zindabazar. A brief list of hotels is given below:

1. Hotel Eastern Gate & Panahar Restaurant.
2. Hotel Gulshan.
3. Hotel Dargah View.
4. Greenland Hotel & Restaurant.
5. Hotel City Link International.
6. Surma Valley Rest House.
7. Hotel Baharain Residential
8. Hotel Qureishi Residence.
9. Hotel Ajmeer.
10. Hotel Payra.
11. Hotel Supreme,
12. Hotel Palash,
13. Hotel Western,
14. Hotel Anurag,
15. Hotel Al-Amin,
16. Hotel Garden’s Inn,
17. Hotel Ferdous,
18. Hotel Panama,
19. Hotel Green,
20. Hotel Hilltown,
21. Hotel Rose View,
22. Hotel Star Pacific,
23. Hotel Tajmohal.

Things to do:

1. Enjoy boat trip.
2. You’ll get the flavor of Amazon forest here.
3. See different types of animals those can’t be seen otherwise.
4. Observe the natural beauty of forest.

Travel Tips:

You have to report and take permission from the forest office first before entering the forest, and request them to arrange a boat. You should not take any boat from outside. It may have the risk of hijacking with unknown boats.

Source: http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/ratargul-swamp-forest/