Do you know what is one of the best beaches in the world is? It is none other than Cox’s Bazar; one of the most sought after tourist destination in Bangladesh. It is also a major fishing hub. The sea beach is 120 kilometres in length with a smooth sandy texture. The town has been named after a British officer. Captain Hiram Cox wanted to establish a refugee settlement for Arakanese people during 1790s. Unfortunately, he passed away leaving the work incomplete. In order to cherish his contributions, a market was named after him. The market was titled as “Cox’s Bazar.” The city is only 150 kilometres away from the port city of Chittagong. It is a mere 3 hours drive from Chittagong or a 45 minutes flight from the capital city of Dhaka. Cox’s Bazar has multi cultural society which includes people from various religions such as Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. There are several indigenous tribes such as Chakma, Marma and Tripua. The marine town of Teknaf shares sea border with Myanmar. Therefore, the district also includes several Burmese immigrants.
Cox’ Bazar – Best Beaches in The World
Cox’s Bazar is the most visited beach destinations in the world. It was officially represented as a town in 1869 and it eventually graduated to a district in 1989. In the 9th century, it was part of the Arkan kingdom until it was conquered by the Mughals. Shah Shuja, a Mughal prince, also noticed the mesmerizing beauty of Cox’s Bazar. The district was so far ruled by several tribes such as Tipras, Arakanese, Portuguese and ultimately by the British. However, it became a portion of East Pakistan after the British rule ended in 1947. Fazlul Karim became the first chairperson of the district and established a forest consisting of Tamarix in order to boost tourism and prevent natural disasters. He had a strong desire to turn the district into a major tourist destination just like other South Asian beaches. He developed the overall infrastructure of the district by establishing sanitation systems, medical institutes and a stadium. During the liberation war in 1971, Pakistani navy forces used Cox’s Bazar quay as a naval base for their war crafts. Cox’s Bazar began to receive immense importance after the independence of Bangladesh. It was registered as a municipality in 1972 and eventually it was promoted to a district in 1984.
Cox’s Bazar Beach
The main economy of Cox’s Bazar relies on tourism and fisheries. Tourism has made major contribution to the district’s economy since early 1980s. Cox’s Bazar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh because of the widespread availability of accommodation. In recent years, there has been a significant growth in the amount of international tourists. Cox’s Bazar is also one of the best bag packing locations for Bangladeshi youngsters. This is because the district has affordable hotels for everyone. The entire district has more than 300 hotels which has a total capacity of accommodating at least 75000 guests. There are plenty of tourist attractions in the district which includes couple of sea beaches, national park, safari park, Buddhist monastery, native Buddhist village and also the one and only coral island of Bangladesh. It is recommended that every traveller should visit Saint Martin’s Island.
Nice Beaches to Visit
The Longest Sea Beach In The World – Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Laboni Beach
It is the most popular and major sea beach in Cox’s Bazar; it has a record for being one of the longest in the world. The beach has a very natural surrounding which can please anyone’s eyes. The mesmerizing sunset and sunrise are few of the most beautiful views from there. There are several notable pictures of sunsets which have received various awards nationwide. You can also take a night walk while feeling the cool southern breeze during winter. The atmosphere over there has a magical aroma during night. The beach is also an ideal spot for a perfect sun bath during daytime. Since Bangladesh is a Muslim country, alcohol is restricted to authorized bars only. You can always go for a cold beer at Shoibal, the one and only affordable government authorised bar in Cox’s Bazar. It is located on Laboni Beach Road.
There are lines of cosy seats where you can lie down and rest. Although it is crowded during day, but there are various activities for tourists. You can hire a quad bike on an hourly basis and drive around all sides of the beach. Moreover, if you are travelling during peak season, you can rent a Jet Ski bike to go for a quick ride in the sea. Do not worry if you have forgotten to bring your camera. There are various photographers waiting to click perfect snaps of you. It will cost you as low as 2 dollars for more than 20 photographs. There are many hotels located near the beach. You can get a room for two people at an average of 25 dollars per night. However, there are budget friendly hotels which are situated within 1 kilometre from the main sea beach. You can reach Laboni point by using automatic rickshaws.
Kolatoli Beach
Kolatoli is another point of attraction in Cox’s Bazar. It is generally calm and quiet because tourists usually gather around Laboni beach. If you are searching for a peaceful environment then Kolatoli is the perfect spot. There are several eateries all around the beach. You can eat diverse range of fried sea foods including Sandrine, lobster, shrimp and Rupchanda.. Kolatoli offers a perfect view on a full moon night. You can go for a stroll around the shores in presence of moonlight. You can find vendors selling coconut and beetle leaf as well. The atmosphere of Kolatoli is very relaxed and laid back in comparison to Laboni beach. The hotels around Kolatili beach are relatively cheaper. You can use auto rickshaws for transportation. It will cost you only 20 taka per ride to reach Laboni beach or nearby places. The price can increase to 40 during peak seasons.
Inani Beach
One of the most alluring sea beaches in Cox’s Bazar is Inani. It is located in Ukhia sub district which is only 30 kilometres away from Cox’s Bazar town. It can be reached easily by bus or CNGs from the main borough. The road trip to Inani has majestic views since it is a marine drive path. It only takes about an hour to reach Inani due to recent renovations of the road. This sea beach has crystal clear water unlike the other ones. Inani is covered in enormous coral stones. The beach has an amazing view of hills from one side. The sunset at Inani is very renowned for its majestic scenery. There are only a couple of luxurious hotels around Inani so it is not possible for everyone to stay there for the night.
Burmese Market
If you are a shopaholic then you would definitely love to check out the Burmese market. The market has a rich heritage since it has been established 30 years ago by Burmese immigrants. There are varieties of shops which sell diverse range of items including traditional clothes, wooden jewelleries, handbags made from jute, bed covers and beauty products. Most of the items are hand crafted by local Burmese women. They also sell dry fishes and different flavours of pickles. The market is mainly popular for local products such as powdered soaps, facial packs and shampoos. You can get the best value for money over there because of affordable pricings. Hence, it is one of the mandatory places to visit specially for female tourists. The market is easily accessible from anywhere in Cox’s Bazar town.
Himchori
Himchori is a national park which is situated on the southern side of town. It can be reached within half an hour by CNG. It is surrounded by hundreds of species of lush green trees, bushes and herbal plants. The natural atmosphere provides home to over 200 hundred species of birds. It also has different types of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The national park is composed of fountains and it has a hill view point. You will need to climb numerous stairs to reach the hill top. The view of the seaside from the peak is absolutely stunning. The waterfall is also visible from the hill. You can take incredible photographs with the background of hill and the sea together. There are dining options at local Burmese food courts inside the park.
Aggmeda Khyang
Cox’s Bazar is incomplete without temples and monasteries. It hosts one of the largest Buddhist monasteries know as Aggmeda Khyang. You must keep your shoes outside before entering this place and women are not allowed inside. There are around 400,000 devotees who gather here during Buddha Purnima festival. The walls of hall room are engraved with images of Buddha and there is a separate space for praying. The actual shrine is held on a series of circular wooden columns. You can reach Aggmeda by bus or CNG from town.
Ramu
Ramu is small Buddhist village which is only 8 kilometres away from Cox’s Bazar. The rural area is famous for its handmade cigars and Buddhist friaries. There is a temple near the bank of river Bangkhali; it contains a huge bronze statue of Buddha which is supported on a very high platform. The entire village is a home to weavers and monks. There are workshops where craftsmen design wooden statues and sell them to tourists. The area is secured due to the presence of Bangladesh military camps nearby.
Maheshkhali
The solo hilly island of Bangladesh is Maheskhlai. It can be reached by speedboat or trawler from Cox’s Bazar jetty. The island was separated from Cox’s Bazar during 1559 due to natural calamities. The island holds outstanding landscape, breathtaking hills and enormous salt fields. The major charisma of Maheskhlai is the ancient temple of Shiva on the peak of a hill. You can click aerial photographs of the island from the top of the hill. Tourists also regularly visit a Buddhist pagoda which is close to the shrine of Adinath.
Sonadia Island
Sonadia is a tiny coastal island which is 8 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar. You will find sea shells lying on the island. It is very prominent for fishermen because they usually camp there during winter. They also dry off their fish over there. The island attracts different species of birds. Sonadia is perfect for a quick and short getaway. The most appropriate transportation to the island is by boat. A round trip can cost you around 2000 taka.
Dulhazra Safari Park
Do you want feel nature and see some of the rarest wildlife? Then, Dulhazra safari park is the best place for you. It is only an hour drive from Kolatoli beach. It is situated at Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. The animals are preserved inside the park and visitors are only allowed to use jeep for movement inside the premises. There are many extinct species of mammals and replies. It also has the only national aquarium.
Saint Martin Island
Do you want to enjoy a cruise in the blue ocean? You should head straight away to Saint Martin, the only coral island of Bangladesh. It has astonishing view of the sky at night. In order to visit Saint Martin, you can either take a speedboat or ship from Teknaf. The journey to the island is very refreshing as you can literally feel the wind if you remain on deck. Teknaf is around 2 hours drive from Cox’s Bazar. Saint Martin used to have hotels and resorts but recently the government has restricted stay-over. This initiate has been taking in order to preserve the natural beauty of the island. You can still enjoy cycle rides all over the island. There are live sea kitchens which will cook fresh fishes out of the water.
Visit Cox’s Bazar Beaches
The peak season for tourists in Cox’s Bazar is from October to March. There is a huge congestion of tourist during the month of December. It generally occurs during the last two week of December because people from all over the country flock together to celebrate New Year and Christmas. The price of hotel rooms tends to increase enormously during December and January. It occurs due to high ratio of rooms to tourists. There are instances where several hotels remain booked for the entire two months. The ideal time to visit Cox’s Bazar is during April to September.
