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Bangladesh is mainly a low plain land on an
average only 30 meters above sea level. The Keokradong is the
highest peak in Bangladesh (at least at the time when I visited in
2000). It is in the south-east end of Bandarban district 1230 meters above the sea level. Also, it is
the remotest area of Bangladesh.
If you do not
like to walk and you are anxious of climbing up by stairs then you
are not the right person to go there. It will be very hard journey
even for the person who usually does hard physical work. So, you
have to be well prepared before planning to go there. You have to
do physical exercise at least for two months. During the exercise
do the following:
1. Try to run at least five km everyday.
2. Try to use stairs to climb up at least 15 floors at a stretch
everyday
You will feel
loneliness along the whole way. Some times you may encounter one
or two tribal people. Don't fear seeing them with knife in hand.
They are very friendly and hostile. With that knife the usually
clean the jungles to clear the path or collect fruits like banana
or pineapple.
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The women in the
picture gave us shelter for two nights and cooked food for us. I
am second from the left. |
You will find several trivial
villages where you will be welcomed very cordially.
They will be
very happy to see a small team is passing through their village.
All the children with people of all ages will come forward and
will talk to you. This is very enjoyable. The people are very
simple and easygoing. Their local language will not be known to
you. But interestingly you can speak English with them. Their
local alphabet is English and most of them can speak English too.
They will offer you food when you will reach their village.
Banana, pineapple or papaya are the common fruits. If you are
lucky you may get biscuits and coke in some village shops that
they usually purchase from Ruma. But this will not be available
when you will go more deep into the remote area.
They are Christian in belief. Their homes are very neat and clean.
They lead a very clean life that you cannot imagine. They grow all
their own foods. They are dependant to outside only for salt.
Their cash crops are zinger and rice that they sell to purchase
salt. They prepare their homes with bamboo and nol-khagra. The man
and women work equally in the outside field.
Can you run 10 km at a stretch
now? Can you climb up 20th floor by stairs at a stretch? If yes,
you are now ready to plan for going there.
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1. |
Keep in mind that you have to
stay 2 nights in the trivial village for your four days
journey |
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2. |
Select a day suitable for you
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3. |
You mast learn the weather
forecast for five days. |
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4. |
Go to chittagonj
and hold the night there |
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5. |
The following morning go to
bandarban by bus and go to Ruma by 'chnder-gari' (local
zip). |
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6. |
Get down from the zip and hire
a boat to take you to Ruma through Shankha river |
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7. |
Take lunch in Ruma bazar and
start walking for Boga lake and hold night there. |
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8. |
Wake up early in the morning
and walk for Keokradong where you will reach at noon |
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9. |
Return back in boga lake and
hold night there |
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10. |
At last Boga lake to Ruma and
back as you forwarded |
Do not forget to
take a local person as your guide from Ruma. Otherwise you will
never know the way and consequently will never reach Keokradong
Take the following items with each of you.
| 1. |
A bag to hang on the back side |
| 2. |
Cira (1kg), Gur (half kg), a
plastic bottle of coke (1 litre), biscuit and other light
foods you like |
| 3. |
Plastic rope (20 feet) |
| 4. |
Torch light with extra battery
and bulb |
| 5. |
A knife |
| 6. |
Special shoe to climb hill.
you will find it in Ruma bazar |
| 7. |
First aid box with basic
medicine like paracetamol, detol etc. |
You will start
enjoying your journey just after leaving Bandarban. The zip will
take you through ups and downs. Some times your heart will come
out seeing dangerous turn of the hilly way. If you have any heart
disease do not look through the side window where you will see
deep cliff and feel that the car will just fall any time for a big
crash. You will climb up hill and find the foggy surrounding as if
you are in the middle of a sea. Again you will come down to
discover yourself into deep forest. At last your journey will end
when you will stop by the side of a small stream known as Shankha
river.
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Once we thought that we would not be able to complete the mission.
My friend Shamor just fell asleep and denied to forward more |
Now you are in another charm. The knee deep river water is so
clean that you will find all the fishes as if they are in a large
aquarium. You must drink that water to make your heart fresh and
cool. The boats are amazing. They are so narrow that you have to
sit in a line on them. The two sides are high rocky cliff that are
about to fall upon you. Don't fear, just enjoy the natural beauty.
This river will take you to Ruma.
Ruma is the remotest thana in Bangladesh. You will find a small
community with some government building and a market. The market
is full of goods from Barma (Mayanmar). Purchase your climbing
shows from the shops. Have your lunch with local fish. Take some
rest. Your real journey is just about to begin. By this time
manage a guide to go with you for two days. Discuss with the
people about current security warnings. Make sure that the guide
is acquainted with the place you are planning to go.
Now the real journey begins. Prepare yourself for the first
hurdles. The first hill is so high that you may decide to come
back from the middle of the hill. The climbing is endless and some
times impossible to endure mental strength. Some of your running
mate may stop you to climb, some may just sit and will never start
climbing. You will feel very tired that you never went through
before. If
your team is very enthusiastic you will at last see the top of the
first hill named 'Lunkawee'. Now you will see a new horizon, a new
scenery that you never enjoyed before.
When you are thinking that the difficult part is complete and
following part to come down is the easy task for you, you are just
making yourself a fool. The coming down in the another side of the
hill will merely be easier than your first part. When you will
climb down you will feel how much high you traveled.
Once you have come down your journey is almost through the plain
land with rough walking way full of stones. You will cross several
streams where you will enjoy the cold and clean water. You do not
need to think of drinking water. There are plenty of streams for
you to supply pure cold water. You will meet local people, talk to
them and enjoy their hostility. Walk, Walk and walk. They way is
endless. Take rest in several places. Drink cold water. Take bath
if you feel hot. Enjoy as much as you can. You will pass just by
the side of a stream where the solitary valley will make you enjoy
the natural beauty. Do not fear for any wild animal or thief or
hijacker. Your way is safe and enjoyable. Feel free to talk loudly
or laugh or joke with each other. Otherwise your journey will not
end.
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The peak is just behind me |
Now you will have
another hill to cross. Prepare yourself after taking some rest on
the foot of the hill. Climb climb and climb. You have to rest
three or four times to finish climbing. Unfortunately this hill is
higher than the first one you already passed. But good news is
that you need not go down again. After going to the top of the
hill you will find another new horizon. You will feel flying. Go
forward. Another surprise is waiting for you.
Wow! Its a lake! A lake on so high! It is Boga lake 1500 feet
above sea level. You will find a small trivial village at bank of
the lake. They will welcome you. By this time it will be night.
Take a rest for the whole night there and wake early in the
morning.
Walk, walk and walk again. You have to hurry up otherwise it will
be difficult to come back before sun set. At noon you will reach
the peak. Take cira as food. have rest. enjoy the surrounding
beauty. And leave the place before it is too late to return Boga
lake again. It will almost be evening when you will reach the
Lake. Stay in the same village and following morning start for
Ruma again.
You will stay two
nights in a trivial village on the bank of Boga lake. The boga
lake is very beautiful surrounded by hills 1500 feet above
sea level. The trivial people will welcome you. They will give you
place to sleep. They will provide you with food. Please do not
forget to pay for their cordial hospitality.
Though the trivial people are very friendly and hospitable your
misbehavior may make them violent. Be sure to be aware of the
following:
1. Be respectful of their dress, because some trivial
women may be topless
2. Respect
their local language
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