Are you planning a trip to Bichanakandi in Sylhet? Read the Bichanakandi travel guide for information on how to get there, where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and how to save money on your Bichanakandi tour.
Bichanakandi is an outstanding tourist destination located near the India-Bangladesh border. It is a new attraction in Sylhet. The area is full of different types of rocks, and a fountain of water flows over them. The waters are pure, and the place is truly beautiful.
Bichanakandi Travel Guide
Bichanakandi is located in the Rustampur Union of the Gowainghat Upazila in Sylhet. Like Jaflong and Bholaganj, Bichanakandi is essentially a stone quarry. Many of the steps in the Khasi Hills on the Bangladesh-India border originate from both sides and converge at Bichanakandi. The high waterfalls in the Meghalaya hills’ gorge have added a new dimension to Bisnakandi’s natural beauty.
The main tourist attraction in Bichanakandi is the clear water flowing over the rocks and the white clouds floating over the mountains. At first glance, it looks like a stone bed. The mental peace you get from lying in the clear water will draw you back to Bichanakandi again and again. Bichanakandi is as if it has cast a natural spell by combining mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and stones.
Best time to visit Bichanakandi
Bichanakandi is a great place to visit year-round. However, the rainy season is the best time to visit. The true beauty of Bichanakandi can be seen during this time due to the abundant flow of water around the area. At other times of the year, stone quarrying can make travel difficult.
Ways to reach Bishnakandi
No matter where you are in the country, you must first come to the Sylhet District Town to reach Bichanakandi. Then, you will have to travel from Sylhet to Bichanakandi.
How to get from Dhaka to Sylhet
You can travel from Dhaka to Sylhet by bus, train, or plane. Green Line, Shyamoli, Saudia, S Alam, and ENA Paribahan offer air-conditioned buses that depart from Fakirapul, Sayedabad, and Mohakhali bus stations. Ticket prices per person range from 1,400 to 1,500 taka, depending on the bus. Tickets for non-AC buses cost between 680 and 700 taka per person.
If you’re traveling from Dhaka to Sylhet by train, you can choose the Upaban, Jayantika, Parabat, or Kalni Express trains from Kamalapur or Biman Bandar Railway Station. The journey will take between six and a half and seven hours.
For the fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Dhaka, you can choose air travel. Biman Bangladesh, Novo Air, Air Astra, and US Bangla Air all depart from Shahjalal International Airport bound for Sylhet. Depending on the class, ticket prices for the route range from 3,500 to 10,000 taka.
How to get from Chittagong to Sylhet
You can travel from Chittagong to Sylhet by bus or train. If you choose to take the train, two trains, the Paharika and the Udayan Express, run six days a week.
Sylhet to Bichnakandi
To get to Bichnakandi, take a local CNG from the CNG station in Ambarkhana, Sylhet. The fare is 140 to 160 taka per person, and you should tell the driver to drop you off at Hadarpar. If you reserve a CNG for the whole day, the fare will usually cost around 1,000–1,500 taka. When you arrive in Hadarpar, you can hire a boat at the pier to take you to Bichnakandi.
If you are going during the rainy season, you can hire a boat to go to both Bichnakandi and Panthumai, and negotiate the price with the boatman. The fare for a boat to Bichnakandi alone is 800 to 1,500 taka. The fare, including Panthumai, will cost between 1,500 and 2,000 taka. Of course, you should negotiate the fare. In some cases, renting a large trawler can cost up to 2,500 taka. During the winter and before the monsoon season, when the river’s water level is low, you can walk or ride a bike from Hadarpar to Bichnakandi. Renting a motorbike costs 50 to 60 taka per person.
For any rent, bargain well. And if the season and tourist presence are high, the rent may be higher or lower. If you have any problems, you can call – Upazila Nirbahi Officer (01730-331036) and Upazila Parishad (01919-515960).
If you need to change clothes after bathing in Bishnakandi, you can use the washroom. There is a fee for this.
Where to stay?
You can choose to stay in Sylhet City because it is closer to Bichanakandi. According to your needs and budget, you can stay in hotels such as Hill Town, Gulshan, Darga Gate, Surma, and Kaikobad. There are also many quality rest houses at low rents in the Lala Bazar and Darga Road areas. You can find different types of rooms there for 500 to 1,000 taka.
Some good-quality residential hotels include Hotel Holy Gate, Holy Inn, La Vista Hotel, Pansy Inn, Hotel Metro International, and Britannia Hotel. The cost of staying in these hotels ranges from 2,000 to 10,000 taka. Luxury hotels and resorts include Nirvana Inn, Hotel Noorjahan Grand, Rose View Hotel, Nazimgarh Resort, and Grand Palace, among others. The cost per night ranges from 8,000 to 30,000 taka.
What to eat
There are some temporary food hotels in Bichnakandi. These hotels offer unlimited rice and dal in various packages for 120 to 150 taka. You can also buy dry food, water, etc. to take with you if necessary. You can eat Gani Mia’s bhuna khichuri in Hadarpar Bazaar. Apart from this, Sylhet city has various quality restaurants where you will find everything according to your needs. In the Zindabazar area of Sylhet, you can eat local food at affordable prices at Pansi, Panch Bhai, or Palki restaurants. These restaurants are very popular for their bharta, bhaji, khichuri, and meat dishes.
Bishnakandi Travel Tips and Warnings
- Travel in a group to reduce costs.
- If you want, you can visit Bishnakandi and see nightingales in one day.
- Bargain wisely when renting boats and CNG.
- Be careful when entering the water at Bishnakandi.
- Keep in mind that even small amounts of water can be very fast during the rainy season.
- Bichanakandi is a stone quarry, with rocks all around, even rocks underwater, so be extra careful when walking.
- Please do not do anything that harms the environment and nature.
- Be polite to the locals.
- Return to Sylhet city before evening.