Eight Eid getaways in Moulvibazar

With lush tea gardens, rolling hills, waterfalls, wetlands and rich indigenous culture, Moulvibazar is emerging as one of Bangladesh’s most attractive Eid holiday destinations, offering travellers a blend of nature, heritage and eco-tourism within a single district.

Tourism stakeholders said the district, located in the country’s north-eastern region, is expecting a steady flow of domestic tourists during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays despite comparatively lower advance resort bookings this year.

Spread across seven upazilas, Moulvibazar is home to more than a hundred tourist attractions, including national parks, tea estates, wetlands, waterfalls and cultural villages inhabited by ethnic minority communities preserving their own traditions and languages.

Among the district’s most visited attractions is Lawachara National Park, an internationally recognised tropical rainforest in Kamalganj. Covering around 1,250 hectares, the protected forest is considered one of Bangladesh’s leading biodiversity conservation areas and is particularly known for its endangered hoolock gibbons.

Declared a national park in 1996, the forest hosts hundreds of species of plants, birds, reptiles and mammals, making it a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts, researchers and eco-tourists.

Another major attraction is the scenic Madhabpur Lake, surrounded by green tea estates and rolling hills. The lake’s calm waters, water lilies and peaceful natural setting have made it one of the district’s most photographed tourist spots.

Visitors travelling to Kamalganj also frequently stop at the Bir Sreshtho Hamidur Rahman Memorial Complex, built in memory of Bir Sreshtho Hamidur Rahman, one of Bangladesh’s seven highest decorated war heroes.

In Barlekha upazila, the spectacular Madhabkunda Waterfall continues to attract large crowds during public holidays. Considered the country’s largest waterfall, the site features water cascading from nearly 200 feet above, surrounded by forested hills and nearby Khasi settlements.

Wetland tourism is also gaining popularity in the district. The famous Baikka Beel, part of the Hail Haor wetland ecosystem, draws visitors seeking migratory birds and scenic landscapes.

At the entrance to Sreemangal, tourists are welcomed by the iconic Tea Daughter sculpture, symbolising the district’s long-standing tea industry heritage. The area is also known for its tea estates, boutique resorts and cultural attractions.

Other notable attractions include Ham Ham Waterfall, Hakaluki Haor, Monipuri villages, tea research centres, forest reserves and several scenic lakes and eco parks spread across the district.

Tourism-related businesses said Moulvibazar’s hospitality sector had expanded rapidly in recent years, with luxury resorts, eco-retreats and boutique properties catering to growing domestic tourism demand.

Among the prominent accommodation facilities are Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf, Dusai Resort & Spa and Grand Selim Resort & Tour, alongside dozens of smaller resorts and eco cottages.

Selim Ahmed, former president of the Sreemangal Tourism Service Association and owner of Grand Selim Resort, said advance bookings at larger resorts were lower than expected this Eid season due to shorter holidays and concerns over viral infections, although smaller resorts were already fully booked.

Authorities said security arrangements had been strengthened across major tourist destinations ahead of Eid.

Inspector Md Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury, in-charge of the Tourist Police Sreemangal Zone, said visitors would receive full security support to ensure safe travel during the holidays.

Additional Superintendent of Police Nobel Chakma said police checkpoints had already been set up at different locations and law enforcement personnel would remain deployed across key tourist areas throughout the Eid period.

Tourists can reach Moulvibazar by road from different parts of the country, while rail passengers from Dhaka and Chattogram can travel via Sreemangal, Bhanugachh, Shamshernagar and Kulaura railway stations before taking local transport to nearby tourist sites.