The island known as Moheshkhali is known to have a size of 286 square kilometres. Following the central coast of the island and the eastern coastline, there are mountains visible which are 300 feet high. The Moheshkhali is, therefore, an island having both the view of the glory of the sea as well the grandeur of the mountains.
AT A GLANCE Name: Moheshkhali Island Location: Moheshkhali Island, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Destination: Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar Transport: Green Line bus service, Shoag, Hanif Paribhan etc bus services from Uttara Fakirapul, Saydabad , Kalampur, Panthopath etc.. Fair: BDT 800 to 2000 (Bus), Airplane would cost 20000 taka or more (Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar ) Time: 10 –12 Hours (Bus), 30 minutes (Air). Explore: Moheshkhali Island, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Distance: 400 kilometers from Dhaka Cost: Depend to coverage tourists spots. Accommodation: Hotels , Government rest house , Cottages , Motel etc available. Food: Available. Advice: Keep dry foods, water, medicines, saline, glucose, extra money, and kits.
Moheshkhali Island is well known to the tourists for its tranquil and enchanting beauty. It is known as the only hilly island in Bangladesh. In one side of the island is the sea and in another mountain. For those tourists who love to visit and experience both the mountains and the sea together, Moheshkhali is a definite place for them. Furthermore, tourists visiting Moeshkali will also be able to see stunning and eye-catching mangrove forest, fabulous areas where the hills have spread all over the place covered with deep, dense green trees. The tangled mess of the trees and the hills as they overlap each other is absolutely an amazing sight for all nature lovers. The beach points on the island are also very peaceful, so tourists can visit this island also to relax at the sea beach.
When it comes to relaxing or quietly indulging with nature by resting under a shady tree doing nothing, Moheshkhali is a brilliant place as it has some wonderful locations where tourists can experience relaxation being in a natural area. Adinath temple is located at the summit of the Mainak Hill, and the areas which surround the Mainak hill are filled with big trees. Tourists can visit the temple, and as well as take some rest under the shady green trees.
Adinath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Adinath. Some say that one of the disciples of Goraknath, the first guru of the Nath community, came to Moheshkhali and built this magnificent temple. The reason for some to say this is because the Moheshkhali Adinath temple resembles the other temples created by the Nath communities. The temple is 6 meters high, and the inner walls are 105 meters thick. There are three parts of the temple. The northern part two square rooms where devotees of Shiva worship exist, the eastern part has the image of Shiva Linga and the western part has the image of Mother Durga.
Apart from that, there is another place known as Sonadia Island in Moheshkhali which is another tourists’ spot of Cox’s Bazar. Sonadia Island known as an ‘Island of miracle’ is located 16 km. Southwest of Cox’s Bazar town and by the side of Moheshkhali Island. The Sonadia Island is also known as a paradise for migratory birds like different kinds of ducks, seagulls, fowls, sandpipers and geese etc. The red crabs are abundant at the sea beach. From a distance, it seems to a red carpet but disappears as soon as someone approaches them. This island is an ideal breeding ground for certain variety of Sea Turtles. In the Mangrove areas, the sea snakes have found their safe homes. The government has declared Sonadia as reserve forest. Adinath Temple and Sonadia Forest are the two most visited tourists’ spots in Moheshkhali.
How to go to Moheshkhali and some of its tourists’ spots?
Tourists will have to visit Cox’s Bazar and from there travel to Moheshkhali. From Dhaka, there are many bus services such as Shamoli Bus Service, Hanif Paribahan, Green Line, Volvo Scania etc. There are both AC bus and non-AC bus available in each of the buses above services.
If the transportation is by train, then you have to travel to Chittagong first. There are various trains to Chittagong like Turna, Dhaka mail, Mahanagargodhuli, Mahanagar Probhati, Subarna express and so on. The fair rate from regular to the first class seat will cost from, 285tk to 460tk and AC seat 788tk. Non-AC berth costs 685tk and AC berth 1179tk. After getting down to Chittagong, the bus is available for Cox’s Bazar from AC Bus stand of Chittagong located at Majar Road of Dampara.
As for Air, there are four flights which are, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novo Air, United Airways, US-Bangla Airlines. These fights go on a daily basis, and the round Cost for Biman and United Airways is 5500-7000tk, and others are one-way flight which costs from 5200tk to 8700tk.
After reaching Cox’s Bazar to go to Sonadia or Adinath temple tourists will need to hire trawler or speedboat from Moheshkhali Ghat (jetty) or Kostury Ghat at Cox’s Bazar. It will take 20 minutes by a speedboat and 35 minutes by a trawler, but it is to be remembered that the journey made only during the high tide period.
A journey to Moheshkhali Island from Cox’s Bazar will be a thrilling journey which tourists will keep in their minds for a long time. The speedboat charge for a single person is 50 Taka, and 25 Taka is required to go by a trawler. Tourists travelling to Adinath Temple can take an auto rickshaw to the area near Mainak Hill or walk to Mainak Hill and from there walk the stairs to reach Adinath Temple.
Food and Living Accommodations in Moheshkhali
There are no living accommodations available in Moheshkhali area. Therefore tourists will have to go to Moheshkhali Island by morning and return to Cox’s Bazar by late afternoon. There are many hotel services available in Cox’s Bazar. Cox’s Bazar is a very tourist friendly place and has food and living facilities. There are some hotels to choose from and of various types. Some hotels are nature-oriented filled with trees, and the rooms are like tents. Some hotels are magnificent in their service of food; there are large rooms. Also, there is house in Cox’s Bazar main town which is given for rent to the tourists; these are relatively cheaper than the hotels.
There are many local restaurants in Moeshkhail. Tourists can try the various local fish items which are fantastic to taste. Also chicken and beef meat are available. The food prices are reasonable. In Cox’s Bazaar, there is a wide range of restaurants handy with a wide price range so tourists can have their lunch and dinner according to their convenience.