Haor Basin Voyage Tips and guide

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The Haor Basin is in Sylhet division in north-eastern Bangladesh. The haor basin is amongst some of the most fascinating rural areas of Bangladesh.

Haors are unique wetlands in Bangladesh. The best time to visit the haors is at the end of the monsoons, say around August–September, when they are full with water. Thereafter, the water in the haors starts receding but still provides an awe-inspiring sight. In winter, the haors and beels receive thousands of migratory birds. It is the ideal season for bird-watchers, but then the haors are reduced in size and lose much of their watery grandeur. As summer sets in the haors are no more there, but one can still see numerous beels.

The landscape is water, water, everywhere. During the rainy season, when there is a strong wind, there are waves as in a sea. Villages float around as small islands. One can have glimpses of life of the people - boats plying, cattle grazing on small islands, ducks enjoying in the water, maybe a bamboo market somewhere or a brickfield by the water side. On a day with a fair and clear weather one can see the faint outline of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, north-eastern India, on the horizon.

The haors in the Sunamganj-Mohnaganj area are more easily approachable than others. The starting point could be either Sunamganj or Mohanganj. Sunamganj is connected by road to Sylhet, which in turn is connected by train with Dhaka. Mohanganj is connected by train and road with Dhaka. While the rail link between Dhaka and Mymensingh is comparatively better, it is unreliable between Mymensingh and Mohanganj. There are plenty of buses. They do sometimes get crowded but within tolerable limits.

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When haors are full of water, the only transport available is the launch (a type of motorised river boat). Country boats are slow and can become unsafe with overloading. There is a regular launch service (several launches are there at different times) between Mohanganj and Sunamganj Sadar Upazila offering majestic views of the Kangsa and Surma rivers in addition to the haors. It has a comfortable seating arrangement for the 12-hour journey (one way) but one has to carry food and water. Tea and biscuits are available on board. The steamer service is there when it is haor season, but in the dry season the service depends on how much water remains in the river. Travel costs are reasonable by South Asia standards and cheap by Western standards.

Some launch contact numbers:

• Prince of Lakhipur - 01718600176
• Tamiz Talukdar - 01717349553
• Lal Saheb - 01719231671
• Mahfouz - 01717349551

Those who want to go deep inside the haors, need to hire a launch or boat. They can check at Mohanganj, Sunamganj and Sachna.

This is in a remote area not yet developed for tourists of any description. Bring your own food for any long trips. Only tea and biscuits are available in the launch canteens. Foreign visitors should also carry bottled water.

Alcohol is not available here. If you bring alcohol, do not drink it in public.

Mohanganj has a dakbunglow (government lodging arrangement) and some small hotels with elementary facilities. Sunamganj has a number of hotels - Hotel Palace, Hotel Noor, Hotel Noorani, Hotel Naadia, Madhumita, Shamimabad, Seven Star, Hotel Rizia etc. The hotels have basic amenities only.

With water all around there is little or no place to camp. Snakes could be a danger for camping.

The first class of the launches has seats as good as deluxe buses in South Asia. It is comfortable seating but may not be ideal for sleeping during a night journey. Launches travel throughout the day and night. You can see by day and return to your place of origin by night.