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Chittagong Hill Tracts
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Explore Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts for forested hills, Kaptai Lake, Indigenous cultures, hill roads and carefully planned adventures.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts occupy Bangladesh’s south-eastern corner, where forested ridges, winding rivers and broad Kaptai Lake create a landscape markedly different from the country’s principal river plains. The region comprises the districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, each with its own travel character. Rangamati is shaped by the lake and the cultural life of Chakma communities; Khagrachhari combines accessible hill scenery, caves and Indigenous cultural institutions; Bandarban is more rugged, with steep trails, remote settlements and some of Bangladesh’s most demanding hill journeys.
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Rangamati town sits beside Kaptai Lake, an enormous reservoir formed in the 1960s by the damming of the Karnaphuli River. Boat trips lead to wooded shorelines, islands, waterfalls and villages, although conditions and access can vary. The town’s Hanging Bridge has become a familiar local landmark, while the Tribal Cultural Institute introduces visitors to the crafts, clothing and heritage of communities including the Chakma, Marma, Tripura and Tanchangya. The lake is best understood not only as scenery but also as a major force in the region’s modern history, economy and settlement patterns.
Khagrachhari provides a convenient introduction to the hill districts. Alutila Cave, the hill town of Dighinala and the road towards Sajek Valley offer different perspectives on the terrain, from forested viewpoints to narrow valleys and village landscapes. Sajek lies in Rangamati district, despite commonly being reached through Khagrachhari, and its high ridges are especially popular with domestic visitors. Bandarban has a more pronounced trekking culture: routes around Thanchi, Ruma and Rowangchhari lead towards waterfalls, hill lakes, viewpoints and communities where travel arrangements need careful local coordination.
The region is home to several Indigenous peoples with distinct languages, histories and cultural practices, alongside Bengali communities and others. Bamboo and hill produce remain important, while rice, fruit, handwoven textiles and bamboo craft appear in local markets and household economies. Visitors should approach cultural encounters with discretion: a village is a lived community rather than a staged attraction, and photography should be requested. Access regulations, weather, security conditions and local permissions can change, so an itinerary should be checked before departure rather than planned solely from old travel accounts.
The dry season generally offers more manageable roads and walking conditions, while monsoon rain transforms the hills but can cause landslides, swollen streams and temporary closures. Distances that look short on a map may require lengthy journeys on winding roads. The Chittagong Hill Tracts reward patient travel: lake crossings, hill roads, forest walks and conversations arranged through trusted local guides reveal a region whose geography and cultural diversity cannot be reduced to a single viewpoint.

Getting to and around Chittagong Hill Tracts

How to get there

Most visitors reach the Chittagong Hill Tracts by road from Chattogram, Bangladesh’s principal south-eastern gateway. Long-distance buses and private vehicles connect Chattogram with Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, while domestic air travellers can use Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, which is outside the hill tracts. There are no international airports within the region. Access to Sajek is commonly arranged through Khagrachhari even though Sajek is in Rangamati district; remote Bandarban destinations require additional road travel and locally organised permissions. Foreign nationals should confirm entry and movement requirements well in advance.

Transportation

Road travel is the principal way to move between the three district headquarters, with buses, reserved cars, shared vehicles and locally hired jeeps used on different routes. Kaptai Lake makes boats important around Rangamati, but services and safety conditions vary by landing point and season. Public transport becomes less frequent and less predictable away from the towns, while trails near Bandarban require experienced local guides and sometimes permission from relevant authorities. Avoid driving unfamiliar hill roads after dark, and allow extra time for checkpoints, road works, rain, landslides and slow traffic.

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Best attractions in Chittagong Hill Tracts

The Chittagong Hill Tracts offer a landscape-led range of attractions rather than a dense circuit of monuments. Around Rangamati, boat journeys on Kaptai Lake pass wooded shores, islands, villages and seasonal waterfalls, while the town’s Tribal Cultural Institute provides context for the region’s Indigenous peoples and artistic traditions. The Hanging Bridge is a recognisable local sight, though lake conditions and crowd levels vary. Khagrachhari is suited to road excursions including Alutila Cave, viewpoints and the surrounding hill settlements, with Sajek Valley providing high-ridge scenery and sunrise views; access is commonly arranged through Khagrachhari even though Sajek lies in Rangamati district. Bandarban has the region’s most demanding outdoor itineraries, including routes from Ruma and Thanchi towards Boga Lake, Nafakhum and other remote landscapes when permissions, weather and security conditions allow. Walking, boating, photography and cultural visits are best arranged with local knowledge. Monsoon rain can make streams and waterfalls impressive but may also close roads and trails, while dry-season travel generally offers more predictable access.

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Best landmarks in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Kaptai Lake is the defining geographical landmark of Rangamati, its broad waters occupying valleys that were transformed by the Kaptai Dam and now shaping transport, settlement and local livelihoods. In Rangamati town, the Hanging Bridge is a prominent modern structure and a familiar symbol of the lake district. The Tribal Cultural Institute adds cultural significance rather than monumental scale, presenting material associated with the region’s Indigenous communities. Khagrachhari’s Alutila Cave is a notable natural landmark within a forested hill, while the ridges and cloud-prone viewpoints of Sajek Valley have become among the region’s most recognisable highland scenes. Bandarban’s golden-domed Buddhist temple at Balaghata, often known as the Golden Temple, is an important architectural and religious landmark near the district town. Farther into the hills, Boga Lake is a distinctive natural site reached by a demanding journey, and the steep roads around Chimbuk and Thanchi express the terrain’s dramatic vertical changes. Remote landmarks require current permission, a suitable vehicle, local guidance and careful weather planning.

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Best restaurants in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Dining in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is generally informal and locally focused, with rice, freshwater fish, vegetables, pulses, chicken and seasonal hill produce forming the everyday menu. District-town restaurants serve familiar Bangladeshi dishes, while roadside eateries and markets provide practical meals for travellers moving between excursions. Rangamati’s lake setting makes fish a natural feature, although preparation varies by establishment. Bamboo shoots, leafy vegetables, bamboo-cooked dishes and Indigenous recipes may be available through community-run eateries or arranged cultural visits, but they should not be assumed to be standard menu items everywhere. Chakma, Marma and other communities have distinct food traditions, and visitors should ask what a dish contains, particularly when ingredients or cooking methods differ from familiar Bengali food. Tea stalls, simple cafés and hotel dining rooms are more common than formal restaurants outside the district headquarters. Carry snacks and drinking water on long road or boat journeys, as remote routes have few reliable food stops and opening arrangements can be unpredictable.

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Best bars in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Nightlife in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is quiet and early compared with Bangladesh’s major cities. Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban town have modest restaurants, tea stalls and hotel-based evening dining, while village and trekking areas generally become still after dark. Traditional tea shops provide everyday social spaces, but alcohol is not central to public nightlife and availability is restricted by local law, religious practice and individual venue policies. Some hotels or urban restaurants may offer soft drinks and limited evening meals, while occasional cultural performances or community events depend on local arrangements rather than a fixed entertainment calendar. In remote Bandarban and Sajek areas, the evening experience is more likely to involve cool air, viewpoints, conversation and an early start than clubs or late-night venues. Keep noise low near homes, temples and guesthouses, and rely on accommodation staff for current information rather than assuming that a venue mentioned in an old guide remains open.

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Best nightclubs in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Nightlife in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is quiet and early compared with Bangladesh’s major cities. Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban town have modest restaurants, tea stalls and hotel-based evening dining, while village and trekking areas generally become still after dark. Traditional tea shops provide everyday social spaces, but alcohol is not central to public nightlife and availability is restricted by local law, religious practice and individual venue policies. Some hotels or urban restaurants may offer soft drinks and limited evening meals, while occasional cultural performances or community events depend on local arrangements rather than a fixed entertainment calendar. In remote Bandarban and Sajek areas, the evening experience is more likely to involve cool air, viewpoints, conversation and an early start than clubs or late-night venues. Keep noise low near homes, temples and guesthouses, and rely on accommodation staff for current information rather than assuming that a venue mentioned in an old guide remains open.

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Best shops in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Shopping in the Chittagong Hill Tracts centres on practical markets, small town streets and locally made textiles and crafts rather than large retail centres. Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban have district markets where visitors may find handwoven cloth, shawls, bags, bamboo and cane work, baskets, carved items and hill-grown produce. Designs, techniques and materials vary between communities, so ask sellers about the maker and cultural origin rather than treating all products as interchangeable souvenirs. Indigenous textiles can be meaningful cultural objects, and fair payment and respectful bargaining are appropriate. Seasonal fruit, spices, dry foods and locally produced items may be available, though transport and customs rules should be considered before buying plants, wildlife products or protected materials. Rangamati is particularly associated with lake and hill-market shopping, while Bandarban’s markets are useful for supplies as well as crafts. Shops outside the district headquarters are limited, card payments are unreliable and many markets close early, so purchase essentials and cash before travelling to remote areas.

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Chittagong Hill Tracts essentials

Currency and Payment
Bangladesh uses the Bangladeshi taka, or BDT. Cards and mobile payments may be accepted by some larger hotels and businesses in district towns, but cash is essential for transport, boats, guides, food stalls, entrance arrangements and rural accommodation. Reliable cash access is much more limited in remote hill areas, so withdraw enough taka before leaving Rangamati, Khagrachhari or Bandarban town. Keep smaller notes for local purchases and confirm prices for reserved vehicles, boat trips and guiding before setting out.
Safety
The main practical concerns are changing security conditions, difficult roads, limited medical facilities, river and lake hazards, steep trails, landslides and sudden weather changes. Check current official and local advice before travelling, especially towards border areas and remote upazilas. Wear suitable footwear, use a trusted guide on unfamiliar trails, avoid swimming or boating without appropriate safety equipment, and take monsoon warnings seriously. Mobile coverage can disappear in valleys, while heat, dehydration and slippery ground can make short-looking walks demanding.
Emergency Situations
Bangladesh’s national emergency arrangements apply in the Chittagong Hill Tracts; dial 999 for police, fire and ambulance assistance where the service is reachable. In remote locations, response times can be long and mobile coverage may be intermittent, so tell accommodation staff or a guide about your route and expected return. For trekking or boat travel, carry basic first-aid supplies, water and a charged phone, and ask local authorities or guides about the nearest practical assistance before departure. Travel insurance should cover evacuation and activities undertaken.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly and comfortably, particularly when visiting Buddhist temples, Indigenous cultural institutions or villages, and remove footwear where requested. Ask permission before photographing people, homes, religious objects, ceremonies or security installations. Do not enter restricted areas, cross unofficial border routes, or assume that a village visit is a public tourist attraction. Use agreed prices and respectful language with guides and drivers, avoid littering, and follow local instructions around lakes, forests and trails. Tipping is discretionary rather than a fixed regional rule, but good service may be acknowledged politely.
Local Tips
Plan by district rather than trying to cover the whole hill region from one base: Rangamati suits lake and cultural itineraries, Khagrachhari offers accessible road-based excursions, and Bandarban is better suited to carefully organised hill travel. Start road journeys early, particularly on routes to Sajek or remote Bandarban areas. Ask before buying Indigenous textiles or crafts about their makers and materials, and choose locally guided services where possible. Weather, permissions and local security can change quickly, so recheck arrangements shortly before each excursion.
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Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloহ্যালো[Halo]
Goodbyeবিদায়[Biday]
Yesহ্যাঁ[Hya]
Noনা[Na]
Please/You're welcomeঅনুগ্রহ করে/স্বাগতম[Onugroho kore/Swagotom]
Thank youধন্যবাদ[Dhonnobad]
Excuse me/Sorryমাফ করবেন/দুঃখিত[Maf korben/Dukhito]
How are you?আপনি কেমন আছেন?[Apni kemon achen?]
Fine. And you?ভাল। আপনি?[Bhalo. Apni?]
Do you speak English?আপনি কি ইংরেজি বলতে পারেন?[Apni ki Ingreji bolte paren?]
I don't understandআমি বুঝতে পারছি না[Ami bujhte parchi na]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseমেনু দেখতে চাই, দয়া করে[Menu dekhte chai, doya kore]
I don't eat meatআমি মাংস খাই না[Ami mangsho khai na]
Cheers!চিয়ার্স![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseআমি দিতে চাই, দয়া করে[Ami dite chai, doya kore]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!সাহায্য করুন![Sahajjo korun!]
Go away!দূরে যাও![Dure jao!]
Call the Police!পুলিশ ডাকুন![Polish dakun!]
Call a doctor!ডাক্তার ডাকুন![Daktar dakun!]
I'm lostআমি হারিয়ে গেছি[Ami hariye gechi]
I'm illআমি অসুস্থ[Ami osustho]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...আমি কিনতে চাই...[Ami kinte chai...]
I'm just lookingআমি শুধু দেখছি[Ami shudhu dekhchi]
How much is it?এটার দাম কত?[Etar dam koto?]
That's too expensiveএটা খুব ব্যয়বহুল[Eta khub byoybohul]
Can you lower the price?আপনি কি দাম কমাতে পারেন?[Apni ki dam komate paren?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?এখন কতটা সময়?[Ekhon koto shomoi?]
It's one o'clockএখন একটায়[Ekhon ektay]
Half past (10)সাড়ে (১০)[Sare (10)]
Morningসকাল[Shokal]
Afternoonদুপু্র[Dupur]
Eveningসন্ধ্যা[Shondhya]
Yesterdayগতকাল[Gatokaal]
Todayআজ[Aj]
Tomorrowআগামীকাল[Agamikal]
1১[1]
2২[2]
3৩[3]
4৪[4]
5৫[5]
6৬[6]
7৭[7]
8৮[8]
9৯[9]
10১০[10]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?একটা/দেয়ার কোথায়?[Ekta/deyar kothay?]
What's the address?ঠিকানা কি?[Thikana ki?]
Can you show me (on the map)?আপনি কি আমাকে দেখাতে পারেন (মানচিত্রে)?[Apni ki amake dekhate paren (manchitre)?]
When's the next (bus)?পরবর্তী (বাস) কখন?[Poroborti (bas) kokhon?]
A ticket (to ....)একটি টিকেট (এখানে)[Ekti ticket (ekhane)]

History of Chittagong Hill Tracts

Early hill societies and shifting cultivation

The hills of south-eastern Bangladesh have long been home to communities with distinct languages, social organisations and relationships with forest and farmland. Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Mro, Bawm and other peoples developed varied forms of settlement and cultivation suited to steep terrain. Shifting cultivation, often called jum, became one element of hill agriculture, alongside paddy, fruit, bamboo and forest products. It should not be treated as a single, unchanging tradition: land use and community life have altered through population growth, administrative intervention, market connections and environmental change.

Arakanese and regional frontier influences

The hill tracts stood between the Bengal plains, the Arakan region and the wider uplands of present-day Myanmar, making them a zone of movement and political interaction rather than an isolated wilderness. Marma communities have historical connections with Arakanese culture, while Chakma political traditions developed across areas now divided by modern borders. Authority in the hills was often negotiated through local chiefs and communities rather than exercised in the same way as in the settled plains. These older connections continue to influence language, religion, dress and material culture.

Colonial administration and the 1900 regulation

Under British rule, the Chittagong Hill Tracts were administered as a frontier district with a system that recognised local chiefs and attempted to limit uncontrolled settlement and land transfer. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation of 1900 formalised aspects of this special administration and remains important in discussions of land, identity and governance. British officials also mapped routes and resources, but colonial rule did not erase the authority of local communities. The period established administrative patterns whose consequences remain visible in modern debates.

Partition and incorporation into East Pakistan

The 1947 Partition placed the Chittagong Hill Tracts within Pakistan and, after 1971, within independent Bangladesh, despite the region’s religious and ethnic profile differing in important ways from much of the surrounding Bengali plains. National borders disrupted older connections with neighbouring areas, while state-building brought new administrative, military and economic pressures. The region’s political history after Partition therefore cannot be separated from questions of representation, land ownership, migration and the status of its Indigenous peoples.

The Kaptai Dam and the transformation of Rangamati

Construction of the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River in the 1960s created Kaptai Lake, now one of the defining physical features of Rangamati district. The reservoir generated hydroelectric power and altered transport and economic opportunities, but it also submerged settlements, agricultural land and places of cultural importance, displacing large numbers of residents. The lake’s scenic importance for visitors sits alongside this difficult social history. Boat travel across its waters reveals both the scale of the engineering project and the transformed geography of the old river valleys.

Bangladesh independence and hill politics

The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War reshaped the political environment of the hill districts, but questions over constitutional recognition, land rights, autonomy and cultural identity remained unresolved after independence. Insurgency and militarisation affected many communities from the late 1970s, while Bengali settlement and competing claims to land intensified tensions. The effects were uneven across the three districts, and the history is remembered differently by different groups. Visitors should avoid treating the region’s politics as merely a backdrop to scenery.

The 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, signed in 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, sought to end the armed conflict and establish regional institutions, greater local authority and a framework for rehabilitation. Implementation has remained contested, particularly over land disputes, security and the distribution of political power. Nevertheless, the accord is a central reference point for understanding contemporary governance. Travel arrangements, administrative permissions and local sensitivities are still influenced by this wider political history.

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Evendo - Your Travel Guide to Chittagong Hill Tracts

Discover the Chittagong Hill Tracts with Evendo - a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities.

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Explore Chittagong Hill Tracts like never before with Evendo, the ultimate free app-based travel guide. From landmarks to local tips, we've got it all covered to make your trip unforgettable.

  • History of Chittagong Hill Tracts and travel essentials
  • Curated local tips for an authentic experience
  • Easy navigation and 'Near Me' feature
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Planning a trip to the Chittagong Hill Tracts? Evendo is your perfect travel companion. Our app offers detailed information on the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in the region. Discover the beauty of Nilgiri Hills, explore the historic Bandarban Golden Temple, or immerse yourself in the cultural richness of the tribal villages. With curated local tips, you'll feel like a local as you navigate through the scenic landscapes and vibrant markets. Hungry? Check out the top-rated Bamboo Café for an authentic dining experience.

Evendo doesn't just stop at providing information; it also allows you to book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app. No more wasting time searching for what to see, do, or experience. Everything you need is in one place, making trip planning stress-free and enjoyable. The app's easy navigation and 'Near Me' feature ensure you always know what exciting attractions are around you.

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