Kaptai Lake is a paradise of natural beauty. It is one of three features that make up this paradise: mountains, rivers, and lakes. Visitors can see small and large mountains, winding mountain roads, waterfalls, and lush greenery. Every day, numerous tourists from different parts of the country come here to enjoy Kaptai Lake’s immense beauty.
Kaptai Lake Travel Guide
Kaptai Upazila, located in the heart of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, boasts unique natural beauty. Kaptai Upazila boasts a unique mountain, a vast lake, and lush greenery.
Spanning 11,000 square kilometers, this artificial lake is the largest in South Asia. Here, visitors can see small and large mountains, winding mountain roads, waterfalls, and lush greenery. Just as there are various plants and animals in the mountains, there are many species of fish and endless biodiversity in the lake’s vast waters.
The surrounding environment, small islands, various birds, and the water-centered lifestyle of the people will fascinate you at every turn. Although Kaptai Lake is artificial, nature has adorned it in all its glory. You can visit Kaptai Lake all year round, but the waterfalls are most impressive during the monsoon season.
Where is Kaptai Lake located?
It is located in the Rangamati District of Bangladesh. It is an artificial lake in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. The Karnaphuli, Kachalong, and Maini rivers connect to the lake. The clear water and beautiful green mountains easily attract tourists, and boating on the lake fills the mind and soul with the glory of nature.
History of Kaptai Lake
In 1965, Pakistan’s government built the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River to generate hydroelectric power. As a result, approximately 54,000 acres of land in the Rangamati district were flooded, creating this artificial lake. The lake covers about 292 square miles. It is the largest artificial lake in South Asia. Initially, the dam’s power generation capacity was estimated at 1.2 megawatts. Currently, however, a total of five units are operational, with a total power generation capacity of 230 megawatts.
How to Reach Kaptai Lake
From Kalabagan in Dhaka, buses from transport companies such as Sohag, Saudia, Shyamoli, Hanif, and Eagle go to Rangamati. The fare is 600 to 650 taka for non-AC and 800 to 1,000 taka for AC. The journey takes seven to eight hours.
Alternatively, you can take a train or plane from Dhaka to Chittagong. From Chittagong, buses leave for Kaptai every 30 minutes from the Baddarhat bus stand. The fare is 80 to 120 taka. The trip takes two to two and a half hours.
You can also go to Kaptai from Bandarban. Take a bus from the Roangchhari bus stand in Bandarban to Rangamati, and get off at Baraichhari. To reach Kaptai Bazaar, you can take a bus, CNG, or engine-powered boat from Rangamati to Kaptai Lake.
How to Explore Kaptai Lake
Your trip will not be complete without taking a boat trip on the lake. Various piers offer engine boats, small houseboats, speedboats, and large engine boats for lake visits. If you are staying at a resort, they also offer lake tours.
Typically, you rent a boat for the day to visit Shuvolong, Bihar, tribal villages, island hotels for lunch, hanging bridges, and Paulwell Park. After visiting these sites, you will be dropped off at the pier in the afternoon.
The cost depends on the type of boat, its capacity, your destinations, how long you stay, and the season. If you are traveling with family or friends, renting a small boat that can accommodate 5–15 people will generally cost between 2,000 and 3,000 taka. You will have to bargain for the rental price.
Things to Do at Kaptai Lake
You can rent an engine-powered boat and float on the lake. You can also visit the Paradise Picnic Spot in the mountains to take in the beauty of the lake. You can also kayak on the Karnaphuli River. There are several places to kayak here. You can kayak from wherever you like. You can also see the Shuvolong waterfall and the hanging bridge. If you want to take a cable car, go to Sheikh Russell Ecopark.
Read More: Top 5 Best Houseboats in Bangladesh
Where to eat
There are restaurants on small islands in the middle of Kaptai Lake. You can have lunch there or pack a picnic. Other options near Kaptai include Zoom Restaurant, Paradise Café, and Berayne Lake Shore Café. Apart from these, there is a floating restaurant near the Navy base. You can eat there, too. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
Where should you stay?
There are no high-quality hotels or motels in Kaptai for an overnight stay. However, you can inquire about staying at government rest houses, army rest houses, PDB rest houses, Water Development Board rest houses, or Forest Department rest houses. It is best to come to Rangamati town, though. Details of some well-known hotels, motels, and guesthouses in Rangamati are given below:
- Hotel Green Castle: 0351-62145, 0351-61174, or 01553409149.
- Hotel Sufia: 0351-62145, 0351-61174, 01553409149
- Tourist Holiday Complex: 0351-63126
- Hotel Golden Hill: 01820-304714
- Hotel Lake View: 0351-62063
Places of interest around Kaptai Lake
There are several places of interest around Kaptai Lake. Notable among them are:
- Suspension Bridge
- Kaptai Dam
- Shubhlong Waterfall
- Navy Academy
- Sheikh Russell Ecopark
- Cable Car
Read More: Tourist spot in Kaptai