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Sylhet is the capital of Sylhet Division in Bangladesh.

[edit] Understand

Nestled in the picturesque Surma Valley amidst scenic tea plantations and lush green tropical forests, greater Sylhet is a prime attraction for all tourists visiting Bangladesh. Laying between the Khasia and the Jaintia hills on the north, and the Tripura hills on the south, Sylhet breaks the monotony of the flatness of this land by a multitude of terraced tea gardens, rolling countryside and the exotic flora and fauna. Here the thick tropical forests abound with many species of wildlife, spread their aroma around the typical hearth and homes of the Mainpuri Tribal maidens famous for their dance.

The Sylhet valley is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named the Surma and the Kushiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and the south. The valley has good number of haors which are big natural depressions. During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent seas.

These haors provide a sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to avoid the severe cold there. Sylhet has also a very interesting and rich history, Before the conquest by the Muslims, it was ruled by local chieftains. In 1303, the great Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal came to Sylhet from Delhi with a band of 360 disciples to preach Islam and defeated the then Raja Gour Gobinda.

An interesting feature of Sylhet region is the aboriginal tribes such as the Tipperas, the Monipuris, Khasis and Garos who still live in their primitive ways in the hills, practicing their age-old rites, rituals, customs and traditions. During festivals such as, Rash Leela (Full-moon night in February) and Doljatra, the attractive young girls dressed in colorful robes, dance with the male members of their choice & love. The Monipuris perform their famous dance, based on allegorical love themes of the ancient mythology.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

Osmani International Airport (ICAO: ZYL) is served by all major domestic carriers, Biman Air and GMG Airlines,United Airlines,Royal bangle airlines. Please check the airline's website for latest schedule.

[edit] By bus

There are many luxury coach and bus services from Dhaka to Sylhet.Some notable services are Shohag Poribahan,Green Line,Silk Line,Shamoly,Holy city etc. these service is available from 7.30 am to 10.30 Pm. For latest schedule it is recomended to contact with particular company.

For budget travelers , there are non AC bus service available in Sayedabad bus terminal ( locally known as a Jonopath mor , near sayedfabad hujur's mosque)which depart in every half n hour from 6 am to midnight. Efficient budget bus service companies are Shamoli, Hanif , al-mamun and al-mobarakh.

[edit] By train

There are train services from Dhaka ,Chittagong and Comilla to Sylhet everyday. From Dhaka , there are three train named Joyontika, parabat and Upoban depart at morning , noon and evening.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

Tea Gardens, shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal Yamani and Hazrat Shah Farhan (rahmt.), Shahi Eidgah, Chandni Ghat, Ali Amjad's Clock Tower, Keen's Bridge, Shah Jalal Bridge, Osmani Museum, Jaflong, Parjatan, Shah Jala University, Osmani Medical College and Hospital, Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, Theme Parks, etc.

• Tamabil-Jaflong: Situated amidst splendid panorama, Tamabil is a border outpost on Sylhet-Shilong Road about 55 km. away from Sylhet town. Besides enchanting views of the area one can also have a glimpse of the waterfalls across the border from Tamabil. Jaflong is also a scenic spot nearby amidst tea gardens and rate beauty of rolling stones from hills.

• Sri Mangal: Sri Mangal is famous for the largest tea gardens of the world covered by lush green carpet. One can have a look into the spectacular tea processing at Tea Research Institute. Bangladesh produces and exports a large quantity of high quality tea every year. Most of the tea estates are in Sri Mangal. It is called "The land of two leaves and a bud". It is also called camellia, green carpet or Tea Mountain. There are a lot of tea estates including the largest one in the world. The terraced tea garden, pineapple, rubber and lemon plantations from a beautiful landscape. It is known as the tea capital in Bangladesh. Just offer entering into the tea estates the nice smells and green beauty will lead you many kilometers away.

• Lawacherra Rain Forest: Lawacherra Rain Forest is one of the important & well-reserved forests in Bangladesh. Here visitor may see gibbons swimming through the trees and birds like bee-eater owls parrot. It is a good habitant of Deer, leopard, wild chicken, squirrel, and python. Don't miss it especially if you are bird watcher. The terrain is hilly and vegetation is fairly thick. Only one rare Chloroform tree of Asia is here and a prime attraction of travel

• Madhabkunda: Madhabkunda surrounded by lush tea estates and full of waters lilies is a unique one. Magurchara ruined gas & Oil reserved field, which was inadvertently blown up while digging 3 years ago and was burning a 500-feet height for more than 3 months. A lot of burnt trees now carrying the symbols of disaster. Ever where a lot of rubber & lemon plantation form a beautiful landscape. And you can have a visit to Madhobkundo waterfall.
• Tilagor. It is a place with small and big hills which are cut or not. There are poultry farms, and dairy farms and houses on cut hills. There is Tea Garden also there.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

At day time you can visit all the major attractions . There is no nightlife in sylhet although few bars are available in major hotels and station club. Drinking is strictly prohibited in public area.

At evening it is a must see recommendation to visit chadnighat area where you will enjoy a beautiful view of Surma river along with kean bridge ( almost 1oo years old iron bridge)and Ali-amazad clock ( a big clock of 80 years old history.)

[edit][add listing] Buy

Sylhet has a variety of malls and bazaars which offer shoppers plenty of goods for sale. The relatively new influx of expatriate money has rapidly transformed Sylhet into a shoppers city. Hand-made textiles are a specialty. Zindabazar is the shoppers paradise where most of the big maal are located. For famous local fabric manipuri fabric, all the good shops located in Lamabazar area. Be aware of your personal belongings as you walk around, pickpockets are rampant and unnoticeable among large crowds.

Places to shop:

• Al Hamra
• Blue Water
• Millennnium
• Aarong
• Monorom
• Artisti
• Westex
• Kumarpara
• London Mansion
• Manipuri Bazar, Lamabazar. A big area with lots of shopping mall for famous hand weave Manipuri Shari and fabrics.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Silver Palace, noya sorok.  edit
• Chiangmai Chinese Restaurant.  edit
• Chicken Hut.  edit
• Pizza Shop.  edit
• Alpine Restaurant (traditional).  edit
• Prithiraj (traditional).  edit
• Paktoon, Rose View Hotel.  edit
• Pearl Orient, Rose View hotel.  edit
• Four Season, Rose View Hotel.  edit
• Sizzling Restaurent, Rose View Hotel.  edit
• Exotica Restaurent, Hotel Supreme.  edit
• Dinette Restaurent, Hotel Fortune Garden.  edit
• Manipuri bazar, Lamabazar point. A big area with lots of shopping mall for famous hand weave Manipuri Shari and fabrics.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Sylhet Station Club.  edit
• Club Royale, Rose View Hotel.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Sylhet has many hotels which offer decent accommodations at reasonable prices. Bargaining always helps.

• Hotel Palash
• Hotel Gulshan
• Hotel Western
• Hotel Anurag
• Hotel Al-Amin
• Hotel Garden's Inn
• Hotel Firdous
• Hotel Panama
• Hotel Hilltown
• Hotel Rose View

[edit] Get out

Nirvana Inn Roseview Hotel