Bandarban:Where nature touches sky

 Bandarbon

History of Bandarbon

In the early days of 15th century, Arakanese kingdom expended its territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal. After the victory of Arakan on Burma’s Pegu kingdom in 1599 AD, the Arakanese king Mong Raja Gree appointed a Prince of Pegu as the governor of newly established Bohmong Htaung (Circle) by giving the title of “Bohmong” Raja. That area was mostly populated by the Arakanese descendants and ruled by the Burmese (Myanmar) noble descendants who started to call themselves in Arakanese language as Marma. Marma is an archaic Arakanese pronunciation for Myanmar. As the population of the Bohmong Htaung were of Arakanese descandants, these Myanmar-desendants Bohmong chiefs (Rajas) of the ruling class took the titles in Arakanese and speak a dialect of the Arakanese language.

Bandarban Hill District was once called Bohmong Htaung since the Arakanese rule. Once Bohmong Htaung was ruled by Bohmong Rajas who were the subordinates to the Arakanese kings. Ancestors of the present Bohmong dynasty were the successor of the Pegu King of Burma under the Arakan’s rule in Chittagong. In 1614, King Mong Kha Maung, the king of Arakan appointed Maung Saw Pru as Governor of Chittagong who in 1620 repulsed the Portuguese invasion with great valour. As a consequence, Arakanese king, Mong Kha Maung adorned Maung Saw Pru with a title of Bohmong meaning Great General. After the death of Maung Saw Pru two successors retained Bohmong title. During the time of Bohmong Hari Gneo in 1710, Arakanese King Canda Wizaya recaptured Chittagong from the Mughals. Bohmong Hari Gneo helped King Canda Wizaya in recapturing Chittagong and as a mark of gratitude the later conferred on Bohmong Hari Gneo the grand title of Bohmong Gree which means great Commander in Chief.

During the British Raj, it was declared as the Bohmong circle with limited autonomy. The Mizokaba or the Mizo uprise in the mid 19th century was major catalyst for re-settlemet of the tribes in the area. During World War II the area saw the presence of a formidable British military presence that came to stand against a Japanese invasion. The tribes of these hills held the reputation of unyielding rebellion throughout history. When India]], Pakistan and Mynamar went independent from the Raj, the leaders of the tribes people decided unsuccessfully to become a part of Mynamar, then known as Burma. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 to gain independence from Pakistan, the leaders again sought unsuccessfully to remain a part of Pakistan.

In the late 1970s, a policy of forced settlement of Bengalis into hills was pursued, which later gave rise to much violence against the hill people and the insurgency led by Shanti Bahini, the military wing of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti. There have been an attempt to create divide among tribal cultural lines between the Chakmas, who led Shantibanhini, and the Mrus, by creating an anti-Shantibanhini militia out of them. Now, after the peace treaty, Bandarban stands as a locally governed ethnic region together with the two other hill districts. Representation of numerous tribes of the district in the Hill Council now stands as a thorn of dispute here.

People of Bandarbon

There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma, the Arakanese descendants and Arakanese (Rakhine), who are also know as Magh, Mru (also known as Mro or Murong), Bawm, Khyang, Tripuri (also known as Tipra or Tipperah), Mizo (also known as Lushei), Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma and Tenchungya, who are closely related, Reang (also known as Riyang), Uchoi (also known as Usui) and Pankho.

The Mru, also known as Murong, who are famous for their music and dance. The Mru in major numbers have converted to Khrama (or Crama), the youngest religion in Bangladesh that prohibits much of their old ways. They are assumed to be the original inhabitants of Bandarban. The Bawm are another major tribe here. Now converted almost totally to Christianity they have taken full advantage of the church to become the most educated people in the district. The Marma are Arakanese descendants of Myanmar by origin and Buddhists by religion, and are the second largest tribe in the hill districts of Bangladesh. The Khumi live in the remotest parts of the district, and the group is thought to include yet unexplored/ unclassified tribes.

These ethnic groups are again divided in hundreds of clans and sects, principally dominated by four religious threads – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and a number of pagan faiths. All these clans and groups are clustered into two major ethnic families, namely the hill people and the valley people. Since the Kaptai dam flooded the valley creating to Kaptai lake, the valley people have started to live on hill tops along the hill people.

Bengali settlers, coming in with the forced settlements in 1979, and Rohingya settlers, coming in across the Myanmar border since the junta came to power in Yangon in 1992, now has become two major ethnic groups outside minorities. But, there are a number of Bengali families who claim to have settled earlier than some of the tribes.in there live many Barua also.

Travel Dhaka to Bandarban by Bus

There are direct bus services from Dhaka to Bandarban. These services are Shyamoli Paribahan,Saudia Paribahan, S.Alam Paribahan, Dolphin Services, Unique Services etc. From Fakirapool some transport services leave Dhaka in everyday night. Usually Bus departs from Dhaka about 10:00PM and it may take more or less 6-8 hours. Dhaka to Bandarban all Bus servicers are non AC. Present cost of Dhaka to Bandarban bus fare is around Tk.550/-BDT. Route is Dhaka to Bandarban via Chittagong.
Dhaka to Bandarban bus service is medium quality. On the highest tourist season it is better to buy tickets in advance.

Dhaka to Chittagong by Bus

If a traveler wants AC bus services he might go to Dhaka to Chittagong first. In Dhaka to Chittagong AC Bus services areGreen line Paribahan, Shohagh Paribahan and Silk Line etc.

Dhaka to Chittagong by Air

If a traveler wants to travel by air he should go Dhaka to Chittagong. By taking a flight tourist may travel Dhaka to Chittagong by Bangladesh Biman (Biman Bangladesh Airlines), GMG Airlines, Best Air or United Airways etc.

Chittagong to Bandarban by Bus

There are also some bus services from Chittagong to Bandarban. Buses are leave from Bahaddarhat terminal of Chittagong. It may take 2-3 hours journey to go Chittagong to Bandarban. Purbani, Purobi andPubali Bus service is available from morning to evening. Chittagong to Bandarban bus is available in every half an hour.

Travel Bandarban from other District

Traveler can also travel Bandarban from any other district of Bangladesh. From Rangamati it has direct bus service to Bandarban. From Chandraghona some transports leave Rangamati in everyday. From Cox’s Bazar, it is a 3 hours bus ride. Coxsbazar to Bandarban Purbani bus service is popular and it starts from Laaldighi.

Tourist Spots in Bandarbon

• Baklai Yaterfall
• Boka Lake
• Buddha Dhatu Jadi
• Chimbuk Hill and Tribal Villages
• Chinri Jhiri Waterfall
• Faipi Waterfall
• Jadipai Waterfall
• Keokradong
• Meghla
• Mirinja Parjatan
• Nafakhum and Remakri 
• Nilachol
• Nilgiri and Thanchi
• Patang Jhiri Waterfall
• Prantik Lake
• Raj Vihar and Ujanipara Vihar
• Rajuk Waterfall
• Sangu River
• Shoilo Propat
• Tanjingdong 
• Upabon Parjatan

Note- You will find description of all tourist sopts in Bandarban in this Blog.

Hotel & Resorts

To know about hotel and resorts, Please visit: http://www.bandarbantours.com/hotels-resorts

This website is really usefull.