By Azhar Mahmud

Hazarikhil, in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, is a place of great natural beauty. It is surrounded by mountain passes, a tunnel, hill waterfalls and tea gardens, and offers the chance to enjoy nature at its fullest.

Its greatest attraction is the chorus of birds of many species. If you want to lose yourself in a kingdom of birds, simply head to Hazarikhil, where you will see countless birds you may not know by name. The sanctuary will keep you surrounded by birdsong.

The sanctuary covers 2,908 hectares. In 1893 the area was declared the Ramgarh-Sitakunda reserved forest. Hazarikhil is rich in wildlife, including bears, jungle cats, fishing cats, jackals, barking deer, sambar, wild dogs, wild goats, monkeys and langurs. Occasionally even a leopard is seen.

The forest has 8 species of amphibians and 25 species of reptiles. But Hazarikhil is known above all as a bird sanctuary, with more than about 123 species of birds, so it would be no exaggeration to call it a paradise for bird lovers.

In particular, the endangered kath mayur and mathura can be seen here, along with the kau dhanesh (hornbill) and the hutum pecha (owl). Because of the wide variety of plants in this evergreen forest, species of birds rarely seen in other forests have been found here.

These include the hoopoe, chokh gelo, nilkantha, begh bou and ababil, birds that vary in size, shape, colour and habits. A research team found these species in a recent study run by the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute.

In winter, migratory birds join the many resident species. As you enter the sanctuary, a large tea garden lies to your left, and climbing the steps on the right brings you to the wildlife. The tea garden's scenery is enchanting.

Hazarikhil also has a wide range of trees, mostly evergreen, including garjan, chapalish, teak, koroi, mahogany and chundul. The well-known Rangapani tea garden lies next to the sanctuary.

From Dhaka you can go to Chattogram by bus or train, and then on to Hazarikhil via Fatikchhari. Buses for Fatikchhari leave from Oxygen; the fare is Tk 40 a person and the journey takes about half an hour.

Get off the bus at Bibirhat, cross to the other side of the road and you will find CNG auto-rickshaws, which charge Tk 35 a person to Hazarikhil bazar.

From the bazar, the sanctuary is ten minutes away. With a guide, a trek of about two and a half hours through the hill passes brings you to the Kalapanir waterfall. After returning, you can cross the tea garden to see the tunnel.

There is one rice eatery in the sanctuary for lunch, where a package costs Tk 130 a person. Fatikchhari town also has many restaurants.

For accommodation there are plenty of hotels in Chattogram and Fatikchhari towns. Be sure to see the room and bargain over the rate before checking in.

So why wait? Visit Hazarikhil, the paradise of birds, and lose yourself among them in the evergreen forest.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.