Himchari National Park, located in Himchari, Cox’s Bazar district, is a part of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division. Established in 1980, the park spans over 1,729 hectares (17.29 square kilometers) and is 12 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar town.
Its primary objectives include research and education, promoting tourism and recreation, and wildlife conservation.
The park is bordered by a vast seashore and lush green hills. It is famous for its waterfalls, the most iconic of which is the Himchari waterfall, which attracts tourists from near and far.
Himchari National Park is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical forests. Among its 117 plant species, 58 are trees, 15 are shrubs, 4 are grasses, 19 are climbers, and 21 are herbs.
The forest is believed to be a habitat for elephants and is home to various species, such as barking deer, wild boars, and monkeys.
The park supports a rich ecosystem with 55 species of mammals, 286 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 16 species of amphibians. Gibbons are among the notable mammals that can be found here.
For birdwatchers, Himchari National Park is a paradise, offering sightings of 286 species of birds, including mynas, drongos, and palm swifts.
By Rajin Saleh
