Monday, August 31, 2009

Explore the enchanting town of Rangpur,Bangladesh

Rangpur is both a city and a district in the Rajshahi division. The district is quite large and has three municipalities, eight upazilias, 33 wards and 84 union parishads. There are approximately 1519 villages in the district.

The town of Rangpur is situated on the banks of the river Ghagat and is home to one of the three district municipalities. Rangpur city is perhaps best known for its role in the tobacco industry as it serves as the administrative center for all the tobacco-growing in the district and is responsible for the manufacture of cigarettes and cigars. Rangpur city is also renowned for its cotton carpets, which are of an outstanding quality. The city has eight colleges that are affiliated with Rajshahi University, but only just more than half the population is literate.

There are quite a lot of historical attractions to see in the Rangpur district that make it well worth visiting. The Keramatia Mosque is a good place to start. However the three domed Jami Mosque from the Mughal period, the four domed Taraganj Mosque and the spectacular nine domed Radhanagar Mosque, which is also from the Mughal period, are much more impressive. On a more morbid note, there are a number of tombs that are popular with visitors; these include the tombs of Islamic thinker Maulana Keramat Ali Jainpuri, Shah Jalal Bokheri, Ismail Ghazi and Kutub Shah. If you visit these places with a knowledgeable guide you will have the opportunity to find out how these various individuals made an impact on the lives of those around them. For more conventional attractions you can visit the Rangpur Museum, the Rangpur Town Hall and the Rangpur Public Library. The palace remnants of Raja Nilambar, Hari Mandir and Mitha Pukur are also quite amazing to see.

There are many other historical and archaeological treasures to be found in here as well as a lot more to learn about Rangpur. Merely listing all the attractions here will not do any of them any justice as you simply have to see them for yourself. Book your ticket for Rangpur today to enjoy the historical mysteries of this stunning region and its friendly people.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Scuba diving in Bangladesh

Not many people view Bangladesh as being a great location to go scuba diving. However more and more people are discovering the natural wonders that St Martin's Island has to offer. This small island is located just off the coast of Bangladesh and it is already quite a national treasure.

Scuba diving in Bangladesh is still relatively under-developed. As a mostly Muslim country many tourist-related developments found in other Asian countries have yet to be found in Bangladesh. There are no discotheques, night clubs or places you can go for a drink. But true nature lovers don’t mind one bit, because when you step on to St. Martin's Island, all that is quickly forgotten

Known locally as Narikel Jinjira (Coconut Island), the island is located just 14 km away from the country’s southernmost town of Teknaf. Its beaches are fringed with coconut palms and visitors can walk the entire island in just one day. Bright, blue waters sparkle with untainted purity. This truly is paradise – and not just to the locals who frequent it. Foreigners who have chanced upon this natural treasure quickly return to share with friends. Filip Engsig-Karup, a Danish tour operator, said: "I enjoy bringing people here and they are pleasantly surprised when they see all the beauty. It's a shame this is not more known to the world yet. When I take people from Denmark to Bangladesh, everybody is amazed because the impression they have got about this country is quite different from the reality."

Government officials have already recognized the immense potential that St Martin's Island has with regards to tourism and increasing local revenue. With this in mind, they recently introduced scuba diving and speedboat sailing as part of efforts to attract more tourists. Before long, visitors should also be able to enjoy water skiing and other sporting facilities when visiting this little piece of paradise. However these changes are also made with a sense of caution; officials know that they will also need to put strict conservation measures in place to prevent people from harming the island’s nesting turtle populations – either from disturbing the nesting process or by accidentally or purposefully destroying nests. They also need to prevent divers from breaking off pieces of the dazzling coral found beneath the surface of the water. However the island is simply too beautiful to be kept a secret and so in the meantime it seems that efforts to build tourism will continue at a spanking pace.

Play a round at a Golf Course in Bangladesh

Golf is a popular sport throughout the world. It is often on golf courses that business deals are struck. Men and women worldwide enjoy a round of golf with friends and associates and Bangladesh is certainly no exception. There are a few golf courses in Bangladesh that will keep golfers occupied and ensure that they have a great time. Picture yourself playing a round of golf in Bangladesh, with beautiful trees surrounding you and birds calling across the green grass.

Kurmitola Golf Club in Dhaka is quite a challenging course. With tree lined fairways, the scenic beauty of this course is amazing. Various well-known golf competitions have been and continue to be held here, including the American Cup Trophy of 2005. Members of the Dhaka Oddball Golf Society are a common sight on this Bangladeshi golf course. They can be seen each week competing for what they refer to as the 'Chief of the Pack'. About an hour drive away from Dhaka is the Savar Golf Club. The golf course in Chittagong is also scenically situated in the hills.

Monu Valley Golf Club often adds a bit of 'excitement' to your round of golf. Situatated amidst rubber groves, banyan trees and quiet paddies, you may be fortunate enough to have a Bengal tiger cross the fairways whilst you look on. Soi Dao Highlands golf course is another unique course. Elephants, deer and wild boar are protected in the area whilst villagers can be seen fishing in bodies of water or searching for food around the course.

When traveling through this fascinating country, be sure to include a round of golf at one of Bangladesh's golf courses on your itinerary.

Kurmitola Golf Club
Dhaka Cantonment
Dhaka
Email: kgcdhaka@hotmail.com, kgcdhaka@yahoo.com
Phone: +88-02-8752520,+88-02-8752526,+88-02-8752523
Fax: +88-02-8752521
Tee off time: 6:00am to 6:00pm (Summer); 6:00am to 5:00pm (Winter)

Bangladesh Travel Attractions

Tourist attractions in Bangladesh abound. Throughout the country there are many fascinating things to see and exciting things to do. Arriving in Dhaka, your adventure can begin straight away. Pay a visit to the Old City where you will also be astounded by the bustling river life of Buriganga and the bright pink palace of Ahsan Manzil.The top attraction in Bangladesh's Dhaka is Lalbagh Fort.

Whilst traveling through the city of Chittagong, visitors will come across the lovely structures of Qadam Mubarak Mosque and Shahi Jama-e-Masjid as well as the intriguing Ethnological Museum.

Bangladesh's Mainimati Ruins, a renowned seat of Buddhist culture between the 7th and 12th centuries, should not be missed. Visitors should also include the Sompuri Vihara, dating back to the 8th century, on their itinerary. Nature lovers will definitely want to stop at Bangladesh's natural attraction: Sundarbans National Park. This park boasts the world's largest mangrove belt. There are just a few of the wonderful attractions in Bangladesh. You will discover many more when visiting this marvelous country.

Discover the wonderful culture of Bangladesh and it's people

Bangladesh has a rich, diverse culture. Its deeply rooted heritage is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting and clothing. The three primary religions of Bangladesh (Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) have had a great influence on its culture and history.

Bangalees have a rich fictional legacy, with the first available form of literature being over a thousand years old. Bengali literature developed considerably during the medieval period with the rise of popular poets such as Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi an Alaol.

The traditional music of Bangladesh is very much the same as that of the Indian sub-continent. The music in Bangladesh can be divided into three main categories: classical, modern and folk. Both vocal and instrumental classical music is enjoyed in Bangladesh. Ustad Ayet Ali Khan and Ustad Alauddin are two famous classical instrumental players that are internationally known. Modern music is becoming more popular and is practiced widely. Contemporary, pop songs and bands are also enjoying more widespread fame, but are mainly popular in the regions of Dhaka City.

Tribal dances are very popular among the Bangalees. The countryside girls are in the habit of dancing to popular folk music. Their dances require no regulations as such, just a small amount of courage and a big amount of rhythm. Popular songs like Shari and Jari are presented with the accompanying dance of both male and female performers.

Drama and theatre is an old tradition that is very popular in Bangladesh. More than a dozen theater groups in Dhaka City have been regularly staging locally written plays for hundreds of years. Many have also started adopted some plays from European writers. Baily Road in Dhaka is known as “Natak Para” and this is one location where drama shows are regularly held. Many shows are also held at the Dhaka University.

Another important aspect of the culture of Bangladesh is clothing. Bangladeshi woman usually wear Saris, made of the world famous and expensive, finely embroidered quilted patchwork cloth produced by the village woman. Woman will traditionally wear their hair in a twisted bun, which is called the “Beni style”. Hindus will traditionally wear Dhuty for religious purposes. These days most men of Bangladesh wear shirts and pants.