Eid 2008

Eid pleasure at Cox's Bazar

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

COX'S BAZAR, a tiny emerald land of sparkling, shimmering white sand stretching on for miles together has always cast a hypnotic charm on the travellers at any time of the year. And this beautiful paradise on earth is located on the southern coast of Bangladesh.

The tourist season in Cox's Bazar begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. Cox's Bazar receives the full blast of the Bangladeshi monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms around May and by end of June. This scribe, along with his family, went on a 2-day pleasure trip to Cox's Bazar in the following day of this Eid-ul-Fitr and had a whale of a timeout there enjoying the fair weather brought about by occasional rainfall. We found out that during the tour, Cox's Bazar probably looks most beautiful, with green vegetation sprouting all around.

The beach is the main attraction of the town. Larger hotels provide exclusive beachside area with accessories for the hotel guests. Visitors in other hotels visit the Laboni beach that is the area of the beach closest to the town. Other than the beach there are several places of interest near the town which can easily be visited from town centre.

Our visit to Aggmeda Khyang was mesmerizing. It is a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The main sanctuary is posted on a series of round timber columns. It has a prayer chamber and an assembly hall along with a repository of small bronze Buddha images and a number of old manuscripts.

About 10 km from Cox's Bazar, Ramu is a village with sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and home-made cigars. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. Unfortunately, we could not manage our time to stay long at this religious station.

During our sojourn at Cox's Bazar, the rains did not play spoilsport, rather it kept the mercury down. On the first day, we undertook conducted tours to some of the beautiful beaches with their swaying tamarisk, whispering zephyrs, the surf, and the sun for which the tiny beach town is well-known.

If anyone wants to be away from the hustle-bustle found on main harbour of Cox's Bazar, then Himchari, located about 18 km south of Cox's Bazar along the sea beach is a nice place for the picnic. We found here a film shooting group. This picnic spot is famous for its waterfalls. The road to Himchari runs by the open sea on one side and hills on the other which makes the journey to Himchari very attractive. Its attraction is the Christmas tree.

The main town attached to Laboni Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cox's Bazar. The Burmese market spread across the beach and held every holiday is a major hit among tourists. You will find just about anything in Cox's Bazar- from head to toe or get yourself a haircut or feast on some delicious Cox's Bazarian seafood or take photographs with nature that changes according to day and night time or get a beautiful funky tattoo done on yourself.

The people of Cox's Bazar are very friendly and extremely happy-go-lucky. Cox's Bazarians are fond of the good things in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race. Siesta is an important part of life in Cox's Bazar. Though the people of Cox's Bazar belong to different faiths and from different cultural backgrounds, they have come together to create the easygoing Cox's Bazarian culture with its emphasis on good living.

(The writer is a Tourism worker. He can be contacted at Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com)