Chattogram Hill Tracts Travel Guide: Destinations, Culture & Safety Info

 The Chattogram Hill Tracts, also widely known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), is a distinct geographic and cultural region occupying the southeastern hill corridor of Bangladesh along the borders of India and Myanmar.

This region features rolling green hills, deep valleys, natural lakes, waterfalls, and dense ridge forests. It is also home to over a dozen distinct indigenous ethnic communities—including the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, and Mro.

Due to complex regional security dynamics, strict travel permission requirements, and active foreign government advisories, booking a tour package is highly recommended to visit the Chattogram Hill Tracts requires.

⚠️ Warning: U.S. Department of State, UK Foreign Office and Australian Smartraveller advise travelers reconsider their need to travel to this region due to threats of politically motivated violence, kidnapping, and potential clashes between regional groups.

Bangladesh Government mandates that foreign nationals submit a formal travel notice/application—typically at least 7 to 10 days in advance—to the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Chattogram. Travelers generally have to register at military and police checkposts throughout the district borders.

Note: Always verify travel requirements with your embassy and the Bangladesh Tourism Board prior to booking.

What This Page Covers

• ⛰️ Why visit the Chattogram Hill Tracts?

• ⭐ Best places to visit in the Chattogram Hill Tracts

• 🚍 How to Get to the Chattogram Hill Tracts

• 🏨 Where to stay there

• ⚠️ Caution before you visit

• 🌤️ Best time to visit

• 🧳 Sample 3-day travel itinerary

Why Visit the Chattogram Hill Tracts?

• Distinct Mountain & Foothill Geography: Features Bangladesh's only major elevated hill country, offering valley vistas, cool mountain air, and dramatic road trips above cloud lines like Sajek Valley.

• Rich Indigenous & Ethnic Diversity: Home to over 11 distinct indigenous ethnic groups—including the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura—each with unique languages, customs, and traditional bamboo stilt-house (machang) architecture.

• Theravada Buddhist Heritage: Discover landmark religious sites, including the peaceful Rajban Vihara in Rangamati and the ornate, golden-embellished Buddha Dhatu Jadi in Bandarban.

• Scenery & Outdoor Adventure: Explore natural limestone subway tunnels at Alutila Cave, wade through tiered waterfalls like Richang and Shuvolong, and hike forest trails across the Bandarban hills.

• Scenic Waterway Cruising: Boat across the expansive Kaptai Lake—South Asia's largest artificial reservoir—framed by steep, forested green hills and tribal lakefront settlements.

• Authentic Handloom Crafts & Textiles: Famous for traditional tribal markets featuring handwoven waist-loom textiles, handmade silver jewelry, and distinct regional mountain cuisine.

Best Things to Do in the Chattogram Hill Tracts

🚤 Cruise Kaptai Lake & Shuvolong Waterfalls

Boat across Bangladesh's largest artificial lake in Rangamati to reach Shuvolong, where dramatic monsoon waterfalls cascade down steep, forested rock faces directly into the water.

🛕 Visit Rajban Vihara Monastery

Located near Rangamati town, this expansive Theravada Buddhist monastery complex features grand stupas, prayer halls, and a golden Buddha statue, serving as the spiritual heart of the local Chakma community.

☁️ Experience the Cloudscapes of Sajek Valley

Situated high on a border ridge, Sajek is famous for sweeping views over rolling cloud seas, tribal hamlet walkways, and hill-ridge eco-resorts accessed via Khagrachhari.

🔦 Navigate Alutila Cave & Richang Waterfall

Walk through a 100-meter dark limestone subterranean tunnel with flashlights or bamboo torches in Khagrachhari, then visit nearby Richang Waterfall to wade in its natural stone pools.

🏔️ Take a Mountain Road Trip to Nilgiri & Chimbuk Hills

Drive a 4x4 open vehicle (Chander Gari) along Bandarban's high-altitude ridges to reach Nilgiri—a hill resort over 2,000 feet above sea level offering panoramic views above the cloud line.

🕌 Admire Buddha Dhatu Jadi (The Golden Temple)

Perched atop a hill in Balaghata near Bandarban town, this striking Theravada temple features ornate golden Southeast Asian-style architecture, intricate embellishments, and sacred relics.

Traveler Tip: Travel to the Chattogram Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban) is subject to strict regional security regulations and government travel advisories. Foreign nationals require advance clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, licensed local guides, and mandatory military convoy escorts for specific routes like Sajek.

How to Get to the Chattogram Hill Tracts

Reaching the Hill Tracts involves a two-stage journey: first traveling to the major coastal port city of Chattogram, and then proceeding inland by road toward the respective district headquarters.

For intercity transport planning, see our comprehensive guide on Getting Around Bangladesh.

Stage 1: Dhaka to Chattogram City

• By Air: Frequent 45-minute domestic flights connect Dhaka (DAC) to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport (CGP).

• By Rail: Express trains like the Suborno Express and Sonar Bangla Express connect Dhaka's Kamalapur Station to Chattogram in roughly 5 to 6 hours.

• By Bus / Private Car: Express AC buses travel the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in 5 to 7 hours depending on traffic.

Stage 2: Chattogram to the Hill Districts

From Chattogram city, highway transport departs toward the three district headquarters:

• To Rangamati: Regular non-AC and AC local buses or private cars travel east (approx. 2.5 to 3.5 hours).

• To Khagrachhari: Direct buses run northeast via the Hathazari road (approx. 3.5 to 4.5 hours).

• To Bandarban: Buses depart south toward Keranihat before turning east into the hills (approx. 2.5 to 3.5 hours).

Transport Realities: Within the hill districts, private 4WD open-top jeeps (known locally as Chander Gari) are essential for navigating steep mountain roads leading to remote spots like Nilgiri or Sajek.

Where to Stay

When visiting the CHT, international tourists are generally required to stay in officially approved, registered hotels within the main district headquarters (Rangamati Town, Bandarban Town, or Khagrachhari Town).

Staying in informal home-stays or deep-forest camps in unmonitored rural areas is generally restricted by local security rules. District towns offer a selection of government-run tourism motels (Parjatan Corporation), private mid-range hotels, and specialized eco-resorts. Always confirm in advance that your chosen accommodation is authorized to host foreign nationals.

Caution Before You Visit

Traveling in the Chattogram Hill Tracts requires heightened awareness and strict adherence to local regulations:

• Checkpoints and Registration: Expect frequent security checkposts manned by the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Foreigners must present original passports, visas, and approved permit clearance letters at every station.

• Monsoon Landslide Risks: The steep slopes of the CHT are highly susceptible to severe landslides (pahar dhosh) during the monsoon season (June to September). Torrential rains can wash out mountain roads, close passes, and cause dangerous landslips. Check forecasts from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

• Strict Curfews and Movement Limits: Foreign tourists are generally prohibited from traveling on rural hill roads after dark. Always return to your booked hotel in the district headquarters before dusk.

• Remote Healthcare Limits: Emergency medical facilities in hill towns are basic. Severe medical issues require transport back to Chattogram or Dhaka. Purchase travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation.

• Mobile Signal Droppage: While district towns have standard mobile signals, network coverage drops completely in deep valleys, mountain passes, and border areas.

Best Time to Visit

• November to February (Dry / Winter Season): The most comfortable season for sightseeing, featuring mild daytime temperatures (15°C to 25°C), low humidity, clear mountain skies, and minimal landslide risk. This is the safest window for road travel.

• March to May (Pre-Monsoon): Warm and increasingly humid. While hill views remain clear, temperatures can climb above 32°C, and occasional severe afternoon thunderstorms occur.

• June to October (Monsoon Season): Heavy rainfall transforms the landscape into rich green and fills waterfalls to maximum volume. However, monsoon travel carries high risks of landslides, flooded roads, closed viewpoints, and difficult boat travel on choppy lake waters.

Note: Security permits and official travel warnings override seasonal weather conditions. Always verify that local travel permits are being issued before booking winter trips.

Sample 3-Day Rangamati Itinerary

Note: This hypothetical itinerary assumes the traveler holds all required Ministry permits, is traveling with an approved local guide, and local security conditions permit travel.

Day 1: Arrival & Town Sights

• Morning: Arrive in Rangamati town from Chattogram. Clear entry registration at the primary district police entry checkpost.

• Midday: Check into an approved hotel and enjoy a local lunch overlooking Kaptai Lake.

• Afternoon: Visit the Rajban Vihara Monastery complex to explore its peaceful grounds and stupas.

• Evening: Walk across the famous Rangamati Hanging Bridge (Jhulanta Setu) before returning to your hotel before nightfall.

Day 2: Kaptai Lake & Shuvolong Cruise

• Morning: Board a private, registered motorboat at Tabalchhari ghat for a day cruise across Kaptai Lake. Register your boat trip with the river police post.

• Midday: Cruise through narrow hill canyons to view the Shuvolong Waterfalls. Enjoy lunch at an island lake restaurant serving fresh lake carp.

• Afternoon: Visit local tribal craft stalls on lake islands to observe traditional backstrap handloom weaving.

• Evening: Return to Rangamati town center for dinner.

Day 3: Cultural Center & Onward Journey

• Morning: Visit the Tribal Cultural Institute Museum in Rangamati to view historical displays of indigenous garments, instruments, and artifacts.

• Afternoon: Complete hotel check-out, clear exit registration, and board your return transport back to Chattogram city.

For longer national travel planning, check our full Bangladesh Itineraries.

Want a Guided Hill Tracts Trip?

Navigating the complex permit requirements, military checkpost registrations, language differences, and mountain road logistics of the CHT independently can be extremely challenging. If official travel advisories permit travel, engaging a reputable, licensed tour operator is highly recommended.

Explore broader national sights on our main Bangladesh Tourist Spots hub, or consult our Bangladesh Travel Essentials for official entry rules.

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