Boga Lake is the highest natural lake in Bangladesh. Located 3,000 feet above sea level, it is 18 kilometers away from Ruma Sadar Upazilla. The lake covers 15 acres. The water is blue. There are many mythological stories about how this lake was created.
Boga Lake Travel Guide
Boga Lake is a beautiful natural lake known for its scenic beauty. It is located 65 km from Bandarban and 20 km from Ruma Thana. This overnight trip includes a two-hour drive to Painkhyongchori, a boat ride to Ruma Bazaar, and a five-hour hike to Boga Lake. Your local guide will arrange your overnight accommodations and all meals. Remember to bring a sleeping bag and your other essentials.
According to a local legend, the lake was formed when the inhabitants of a Khumi village killed and ate a deity, who then reappeared to them in the form of a dragon called “Boga” by the locals. An earthquake instantly occurred, the hillside caved in, and the village disappeared, forming a deep lake.
Boga Lake
Situated 18 kilometers away from the Ruma Upazila headquarters in Bandarban District, Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. Many mythological stories about the lake’s creation inspire young adventurers to trek from Ruma to explore this wonderful natural reservoir of blue waters.
It is a deep, sweet-water lake. It is nearly 1,246 feet (380 m) above sea level. Geologists believe it formed from the collection of summer rains. The lake is irregularly shaped. In 1973, a team of geologists surveyed the lake. They found the water to be too acidic for any form of life. However, by 1995, the lake was abundant with plants and fish. Local residents gather Tilapia from this lake. The people of the Bawm tribe migrated from Saikot Para to Boga Lake and established this village.
According to a local legend, the lake was formed when the inhabitants of a Khumi village killed and ate a deity, who then reappeared to them in the form of a dragon. An earthquake instantly occurred, the hillside caved in, and the village disappeared, forming a deep lake.
The lake is surrounded by mountain peaks covered in thick bamboo forests on three sides. The lake covers 18.56 acres (75,100 m²). It is a closed lake with a small spring named Boga Chhara that is 502 feet (153 meters) deep. There is no outlet for draining water from the lake. The lake is composed of soft rocks from the Bhuban Formation. Rain in the summer is the main source of water.
The greenish water is due to an abundance of algae. Like any other hill surface in the area, the lake’s bed is covered with boulders. Until 2012, the lake’s water was the only source of water for drinking, washing, and bathing. Later, a pipe network was set up to supply drinking water and water for household activities from a stream.
Best Time To Visit Boga Lake
The best time to visit Boga Lake in Bangladesh is during the dry season, from November to March. During this time, the weather is cooler and the trail is less muddy, making hiking easier.
It is quite difficult to travel to Boga Lake during the monsoon, so it is more convenient to visit in the winter. Nevertheless, many adventure-seeking tourists brave the challenges and are captivated by the beauty of Boga Lake. The entire route from Bandarban to Boga Lake is a winding mountain path. The beauty of this path will captivate you and make the journey’s fatigue disappear.
How to Get to Boga Lake
We highly recommend spending the night in one of Ruma’s homestays before heading to Boga Lake. It’s better to walk to Boga than to take a bone-jarring jeep trip. The villages are lovely, and the hill tribe people are friendly. Boga Lake is a beautiful sight.
How to Reach Boga Lake
No matter where you are in the country, you must first come to Bandarban. From Arambagh, Fakirapul, Abdullahpur, and Sayedabad in Dhaka, buses from companies such as S. Alam, Saudia, Saint Martin Paribahan, Unique, Hanif, and Shyamoli depart for Bandarban. Fares for these buses are 800-900 taka for non-AC and 1200-1800 taka for AC, per person. The bus ride from Dhaka to Bandarban takes 8-10 hours.
If you prefer to travel by train, you can take one of the following trains from Dhaka to Chittagong: The Tourist Express, the Cox’s Bazar Express, the Sonar Bangla, the Subarna Express, the Turna Nishita, and the Mahanagar Godhuli. Fares range from 405 to 1,398 taka, depending on the class. You can also reach Chittagong directly by air from Dhaka.
From Badarhat in Chittagong, Pubali and Purbani buses depart for Bandarban. The fare for these buses is 220 taka per person. You can also reach Bandarban by bus from the Dhampara bus stand in Chittagong for 200–300 taka.
Take a “Chander Gari” (public jeep) or a private vehicle from Bandarban to Ruma. From there, you can take a public jeep to Boga Lake. In the winter, you can also walk to the lake. The trip takes six hours.
Bandarban to Boga Lake
To get to Boga Lake from Bandarban City, first go to Ruma Bazaar. The distance between the two places is 48 kilometers. You can take a local bus or a moon car/jeep to Ruma Bazar. If you choose to go by bus, go to the Ruma bus stand in Bandarban. From there, buses leave for Ruma every hour. The fare is 120 taka per person, and the trip takes about three hours. If you are traveling in a group, you can take a jeep or moon car to Ruma Bazar. One car can fit 10-15 people. You can rent a car from the jeep station in Bandarban City for 3,000–4,000 taka. The trip by jeep takes about 2 hours.
Once you reach Ruma Bazaar, you will need to arrange for a guide to accompany you to Bogalek. It is mandatory to have a guide. There are registered guides, so you need to arrange to use one of them. Before leaving, you must obtain permission from the Ruma Bazar Army Camp to visit Bogalek. To obtain permission, you must submit a written list of all traveling members’ identities. The guide will help you with these tasks. Remember that permission is not given to go to Bogalek from Rumabazar after 4 pm.
Rumabazar is 17 kilometers from Bogalek. After receiving permission, you must rent a Land Cruiser or moon car from Rumabazar. One car can fit 8-15 people. You can hire a guide to help with these arrangements. If you explain your needs, the guide will usually arrange everything for you. The reserve fare for a Land Cruiser from Rumabazar to Bogalek is 1,800 taka; the rental fee for a moon car is 2,000 taka.
If your group is smaller, you can talk to other groups and share a car. Otherwise, you can buy a ticket and take a local car. Local moon cars run every hour from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fare to Bagalek is 100 taka per person.
Currently, you can go directly to Bagalek from Ruma Bazaar by car. However, if the road is in poor condition during the rainy season, the car may not be able to go directly to Bagalek.
Accommodation and Food Arrangements
There are no high-quality hotels or resorts in Boga Lake. There are some small tribal cottages. You will have to stay in one of these cottages. It will cost 100-200 taka per person to stay in one of these cottages in a completely natural environment. Five to six people can stay in one cottage. Separate cottages can be arranged for couples or women if you prefer. If you have any preferences, tell the guide beforehand, and he will arrange it. Otherwise, you can choose when you arrive.
Food arrangements must be made in the tribal house. Food packages usually cost between 100 and 200 taka. The food package includes rice, eggs, potato stuffing, and hill chicken. To do so, you must inform the guide in advance of what you will eat and how many people will eat. If you would like to have food ready upon arrival, you can inform the guide on the way. There is a barbecue facility in the cottages where you can cook hill chicken and enjoy your meal in a different environment on the banks of the lake.
Baga Lake Travel Tips:
- There is no electricity in Boga Lake, but there is a solar power system. You can bring a power bank to charge your phone.
- Not all mobile networks are available in Boga Lake. The Robi and Teletalk networks are available. Keep a SIM card with you.
- Recently, there have been some accidents while bathing in the lake, so be careful.
- Tribal people live differently from people on the plains, so don’t do anything that would disrespect them.
- Ask permission before taking photos of indigenous people. They may not like you taking photos without permission.
- The entire road from Bandarban to Boga Lake is winding and hilly, so be careful while traveling.
- For your own safety, keep a copy of your national identity card with you.
- To visit Boga Lake, you must obtain permission from the army camp and report back upon your return.
FAQS
Where is Boga Lake?
Boga Lake is the most beautiful natural lake in Bangladesh. It is situated 18 kilometers away from the Ruma Upazila headquarters of Bandarban District.
What is the best time to visit Boga Lake?
The best time to hike to Boga Lake in Bangladesh is during the dry season from November to March. During this time, the weather is cooler, and the trail is less muddy, which makes hiking easier.
How deep is Lake Boga?
It was formed approximately 2,000 years ago at an elevation of 1,200 feet above sea level. Geologists believe the lake formed when a dead volcano or meteorite collapsed. Boga Lake is 115 feet deep, and its water is very cool.
Final Words
If you’re a true nature lover, Boga Lake is a great option. Staying in the cottages and swimming in the lake can be blissful. Be prepared to share bathrooms with others and to use bathrooms with no modern facilities. It is not currently possible to provide such facilities. However, the serenity and beauty of Boga Lake will make up for it.
The food menu is limited, and the food is average. Don’t forget to buy chicken from Ruma Bazaar. Having a BBQ in the evening is a must.
The most amazing part is the trek from Boga Lake to Keokradong. It’s a real adventure, and you can enjoy the wilderness and beauty of the Bangladesh hills. This is highly recommended.