sylhet

Sylhet division occupies the northeast part of Bangladesh, has an area of 12596 sq. km, and a population of 7.899 million. There are 4 districts and 14 municipalities under Barisal. It is a natural hilly, forest area with oxbow lakes and famous shrines.

Sylhet City:

Nestled in the picturesque Surma Valley amidst scenic tea plantations and lush green tropical forests, greater Sylhet is a prime attraction for all tourists visiting Bangladesh. Laying between the Khasia and the Jaintia hills on the north, and the Tripura hills on the south, Sylhet breaks the monotony of the flatness of this land with a multitude of terraced tea gardens, rolling countryside, and exotic flora and fauna. Here the thick tropical forests abound with many species of wildlife, spreading their aroma around the typical hearth and homes of the Mainpuri Tribal maidens famous for their dance.

The Sylhet valley is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named the Surma and the Kosiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and the south. The valley has a good number of haors, which are big natural depressions. During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season, they turn into turbulent seas.

These haors provide a sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to avoid the severe cold there. Sylhet has also a very interesting and rich history, Before the conquest by the Muslims, it was ruled by local chieftains. In 1303, the great Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal came to Sylhet from Delhi with a band of 360 disciples to preach Islam and defeated the then Raja Gour Gobinda.

Sylhet thus became a district of saints, shrines, and daring but virile people. Its rich potential became easily attractive, and the 18th-century Englishmen made their fortune in tea plantations. About 80 km. from Sylhet town connected by road and rail, Sriman Gal, which is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh, is the actual tea center of the area.
For miles and miles around, the visitor can see the tea gardens spread like a green carpet over the plain land or on the sloping hills. A visit to the tea plantation in Sylhet is a memorable experience. Sylhet, the tea granary of Bangladesh, not only has over 150 tea gardens but also proudly possesses the three largest tea gardens in the world in both area and production.

[Sylhet - Tea Garden]

Sylhet is the land of Shrine, natural Hills, forests, beautiful tree plantations, and lots of Haors. It is an old city full of natural beauty. A large number of tourists come every year to visit Sylhet. The main attraction of Sylhet City is the Shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal(R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R). The shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) is on the top of a hillock (tilla) in Sylhet city. Thousands of visitors are coming every day to this Shrine. The shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (R) is eight km far from Sylhet town on the Sylhet-Jaflong road where also thousands of visitors visit this Shrine every day. The road journey to Sylhet is a wonderful experience through roads running ups and down the hills and green lush tea gardens of nature at its best.
Main Tourist Spots in Sylhet Division:

The Shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal - Sri Chaitanya Dev Temple - Shahi Eidgah - Gour Gobinda Fort - Jaflong - Tamabil - Sripur - Jointapur's Rajbari - Srimongol - Madhab Kunda Waterfall - Lawacherra Rain Forest - Handicrafts of Sylhet - Manipuri Dance