The forest trails
Shade and monkey calls.
Mar11 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Radman Siddiki — CC BY 4.0 · Ifsanjry — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ifsanjry — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ifsanjry — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lawachara and the Tea Gardens bring together Lawachara National Park and the tea estates around it near Sreemangal, in north-eastern Bangladesh. The park covers about 1,250 hectares of semi-evergreen and mixed forest within the West Bhanugach Reserved Forest. The area offers cooler air and a greenery you will not find on the country's crowded plains. The government declared Lawachara a national park on 7 July 1996. It lies about 160 km north-east of Dhaka and 60 km from Sylhet. The land consists of small hillocks 10 to 50 m high, known locally as tila, carrying the famous tea estates of the Sreemangal area. You walk shaded trails in the forest, and you may hear monkeys among the trees. Its best-known residents are gibbons, which are hard to see, so take a local guide to improve your chances. You then pass green rows of tea on the hills, with slim shade trees among them. Ask before photographing workers, as these are real working estates. It is about 6 km in a straight line from Sreemangal and easy to reach by small vehicle. Early morning is best for wildlife, and the dry season is easier for walking. Bring insect protection, and watch for the train that crosses the forest.
Shade and monkey calls.
Green on the hills.
Slim among the bushes.
Near Sreemangal, Moulvibazar District, Bangladesh
It is hard but possible, and a local guide in the early morning improves your chances.
This may differ from estate to estate, so ask in Sreemangal.