With a five-day Durga Puja holiday from October 20 to 24, many people are planning trips to Cox’s Bazar to enjoy its beaches, hills, and natural beauty. The popular tourist destination is preparing to welcome more than 600,000 visitors during the holiday, while advance bookings at hotels, motels and resorts are already increasing.
Beyond the main beach, tourists can explore several scenic spots near the town. Dariyanagar, Himchari and Kakra Beach offer opportunities to enjoy hills, sea views and coastal greenery, with relatively easy transport and affordable travel options.
Dariyanagar: Where hills meet the sea
Located about four kilometres from Cox’s Bazar town, Dariyanagar attracts visitors with its hills, scenic sea views and landscaped park. It is a suitable place for families and groups of friends to spend time outdoors and take photographs.
Visitors can travel from Kolatoli by local tomtom for around Tk 10 per person. Hiring a tomtom for an exclusive trip may cost about Tk 100.
Himchari: Hills, a waterfall and sea views
A short distance from Dariyanagar, Himchari is known for its green hills, expansive sea views, and waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy the blue sea from elevated viewpoints and spend time amid nature.
Himchari is about 9.4 kilometres from Kolatoli and usually takes around 25 minutes to reach by vehicle or CNG-run auto-rickshaw.
Depending on the transport and bargaining, a reserved tomtom or CNG may cost around Tk 300. Local transport fares are about Tk 40 per person.
Kakra Beach: Jhau forest and red crabs
Kakra Beach, also locally known as Anarosh Beach, is about 11.1 kilometres from Cox’s Bazar town. The beach is known for its sea views, rows of jhau trees and red crabs.
For visitors seeking a relatively quiet setting to enjoy nature, it can be an attractive addition to their travel itinerary.
A local transport journey from Kolatoli costs around Tk 50 per person, while hiring a vehicle may cost about Tk 350. Fares may vary depending on the time and bargaining.
More than 600,000 tourists expected during the holiday
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners Association, told BSS that the district is expected to receive more than 100,000 tourists daily on average. He said this could bring more than 600,000 visitors over the five-day holiday.
He said Cox’s Bazar has more than 500 hotels, motels, and cottages of different categories, with advance bookings already reaching around 70 per cent of rooms at many facilities.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Tasnim Jahan told BSS that the district administration was making the necessary preparations ahead of the tourism season.
She said visitor numbers were expected to rise during the Durga Puja holiday and that the administration would coordinate with law enforcement agencies and other relevant organisations to ensure tourists’ safety and comfort.
Tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar during the holiday can therefore explore Dariyanagar, Himchari and Kakra Beach alongside the main beach. Their proximity to the town may allow visitors to include all three in a single-day trip, depending on their schedule and transport arrangements.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
