The largest stone quarry area in the country is located in Sada Pathor, Bholaganj, in Companyganj Upazila on the border of Sylhet district. The high mountains of the Indian state of Meghalaya form a natural barrier along the border of Bholaganj. Streams flowing down from these mountains are the source of the Dhalai River and contribute to the beauty of Bholaganj. The green hills, the touch of clouds, and the white stones that come down with the monsoon rains have increased Bholaganj’s beauty many times over.
The area surrounded by rocks at the source of the Dhalai River is known as either Bholaganj Zero Point or Sada Pathar. The Sada Pathar area resembles a delta. The Dhalai River enters Bangladesh, splits into two branches, and then rejoins around the perimeter. Many rocks come down from the Khasi Jaintia Hills of India with the Dhalai River’s water.
The Bholaganj Ropeway, built from 1964 to 1969, was constructed to facilitate the lifting of stones. The 11.5-mile-long ropeway runs from Bholaganj to Chhatak and was used until 1994. Today, the ropeway’s towers bear witness to its past. Although the ropeway is closed, stone lifting continues. This stone lifting is still a livelihood for many local residents. On the way to Sada Pathar from Ghat No. 10, you will see people lifting and carrying stones in small boats.
A land customs station is located on the border at Bholaganj. Limestone is primarily imported through this station. Every day, hundreds of trucks carrying limestone enter Bangladesh. Two other beautiful places are located near the Sadapathar area: Utmachara and Turungchara. However, it is best to avoid visiting these places except during the rainy season.
Suitable time
The best time to visit Sada Pathor Bholaganj is during the rainy season and the months that follow. You can visit anytime from June to December. If you go at other times, you can still enjoy the rocky beauty, but there is comparatively less water flow in the river.
How to get there
The distance from Sylhet to Bholaganj is about 35 kilometers. No matter where you are in the country, you must first come to Sylhet city to get to Bholaganj. You can travel from Sylhet to Bholaganj by bus, CNG, Laguna, or private car. Currently, the road conditions to Bholaganj are quite good.
Taking the bus from Dhaka to Sylhet: Green Line, Saudia, S Alam, Shyamoli, and Ena Paribahan AC buses depart from Fakirapul, Sayedabad, and Mohakhali bus stations. Ticket prices per person range from Tk 900 to Tk 1,500, depending on the bus. Fares for non-AC buses range from Tk 670 to Tk 800.
Traveling from Dhaka to Sylhet by trai: You can take the Upaban, Jayantika, Parabat, or Kalni Express from Kamalapur or Biman Bandar Railway Station. Fares range from 375 to 1,338 taka, depending on the class.
From Chittagong to Sylhet: You can travel from Chittagong to Sylhet by bus or train. Two trains, the Paharika and the Udayan Express, run from Chittagong to Sylhet six days a week. Train fares range from 450 to 1,591 taka, depending on the class.
Sylhet to Bholaganj
Local and tourist buses operated by BRTC are available from Amberkhana in Sylhet to Bholaganj and from the Majumdar area to Bholaganj. These buses run every 20 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can travel to Sadaphathar, which is adjacent to Bholaganj Zero Point, for a fare of 70 taka per person.
You can also take a local CNG bus to Bholaganj for 130 to 150 taka per person. If you take a CNG reserve, the round-trip fare will be 1,200 to 1,300 taka. Five people can sit in one CNG. The trip from Amberkhana to Bholaganj takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It will cost 800 taka to rent a boat from boat ghat number 10 to Sadaphathar and back. A maximum of 10 people can go in each boat, although the authorities do not want to allow more than 8 people in one boat.
In this case, there is no problem if you explain it. If you are traveling alone or with a small group, then if you want to rent a boat at a low cost, many boats can take 8-10 people, 1 person, or 2 people. In that case, dividing the fare will reduce the cost of renting a boat. You can spend as much time as you want in the Sadapathar area. In this case, talk to the boatman and get the boatman’s phone number.
If you would like, you can reserve a micro or private car to take you directly to Bholaganj Ghat No. 10. It will cost between 2,500 and 3,000 taka.
Apart from this, you can travel to Bholaganj via Tuk Bazar in Companyganj by CNG, Laguna, or private car. The autorickshaw fare from Sylhet city to Tuk Bazar is 200 taka per person. Trawlers are available from Tuk Bazar to Bholaganj Zero Point in Sadapathor. You can even go to Bholaganj by boat via Chhatak during the rainy season.
Utmachara and Turangchara
There are two more tourist destinations near Bholaganj: Utmachara and Turongchara. Many people travel to these destinations after visiting the white stones. If you want to visit Utmachara after seeing the white stones, you must first go to Dayarbazar. Tell the boatman on your way to Bholaganj that you want to be dropped off at Dayarbazar Ghat. You may have to pay a little more in that case. Alternatively, you can inform the boatman in advance when the boat is ready.
Go to Dayar Bazar, where you can take a CNG or bike to Charar Bazar for 30-50 taka per person. Ask someone at Charar Bazar for directions to Utmachara, and they will show you the way. It takes 10-15 minutes to walk from there to Utmachara Point. It takes 30-40 minutes to walk from Charar Bazar to Turangchhara. You can also rent a bike at Charar Bazar if you want.
Depending on your location, you can take CNG directly from Chararbazar, Dayarbazar, or Bholaganj to Ambarkhana in Sylhet when returning to Sylhet.
Where to eat
There are no high-quality hotels or restaurants in Bholaganj, Sadapathar, or Ghat No. 10. There are some average-quality hotels that serve rice, fish, and local food. On the way to Bholaganj, there are some decent hotels in Companiganj Upazila Sadar, including the Deshbandhu Restaurant, the Alam Hotel, the Navin Restaurant, and the Maya Restaurant in Tuk Bazar. If you eat breakfast in Sylhet before leaving for Bholaganj, you can travel around all day and return to Sylhet for dinner. However, your only hope for lunch is at a local hotel.
Where to stay?
There are no good residential hotels in Bholaganj or Companiganj. If you need to stay in Bholaganj for some reason, you will have to go to Companiganj Upazila Sadar. There are general quality non-AC residential hotels in Companiganj, such as Hotel Al Sadiq, Halima Boarding, Badsha Boarding, and Hotel Al Hasan. There is also a postal bungalow of the Zilla Parishad.
If you leave in the morning, you can visit Bholaganj and be back in Sylhet City by the afternoon or evening. It is better to stay in Sylhet City at night. There are many quality hotels and rest houses at affordable prices in the Lalabazar and Darga Road areas. You can find different types of rooms there for 500 to 1,000 taka. Apart from these, you can stay at hotels such as Hotel Hill Town, Gulshan, Darga Gate, Surma, and Kaikobad, depending on your needs and budget.
Travel tips and warnings
- Try to turn around and come back early so that it doesn’t get dark.
- Let the boatman know in advance how long you will be staying at the white rock. You can stay as long as you wish.
- It’s a border area, so be careful.
- Bholaganj can only be reached by river during the rainy season.
- If you want to eat, you will have to eat at the local hotels there.
- During the rainy season, there are many currents in the river, so if you don’t know how to swim, there’s no need to go into the water too far.
- Be sure to bargain when renting a vehicle.
- If you want to travel cheaply, you can travel in a group.
- If you want to visit Bholaganj Saada Pathar, Utmachara, and Turangchhara in one day, you must leave very early in the morning.
- If you want, you can rent a car for the whole day to go to CNG from Ambarkhana in Sylhet and visit the spots there. In this case, the cost may be a little higher.
More attractions nearby
Apart from Bholaganj, Sylhet, there are many tourist attractions nearby. Among them , Jaflong , Lalakhal , Bichanakandi , Ratargul , Shapla Beel , Khadimnagar National Park , and Rangpani are notable.