“The sun shines brightest from the peaks of mountains” – We Dream of Travel.
Mountains are one of the most wonderful wonders in the world. Some people see it as inspiration and some as a goal. People usually equate climbing mountains with achieving success.
The hardship of climbing a mountain inspires people to do all the hardship to gain his goal. Edmund Hilary said – “Life’s a bit like mountaineering – never look down.”
There are a vast number of mountains in the world. The number of mountains is 1,187,049. But considering the size, among all mountains Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level.
While talking about mountains, Bangladesh also has their own mountains. The highest mountain of Bangladesh is Saka Haphong. Which is called the Everest of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is primarily a low-lying country. There are 83 named mountains in bangladesh. The main hills area are Chittagong and Sylhet district. There are also highlands in the north and northwest.
Saka Haphong, the highest mountain of Bangladesh, which is located on the Bangladesh – Myanmar border. It is situated between Thanchi, Bandarban on the Bangladesh side. The name of this mountain is a Tripura Tribal name. It is also known as Mowdok Taung.
The mountain was first discovered by A.K.M Shahidullah Kaiser Sazzad Hossain. In February 2006 English adventurer Ginge Fullen first recorded GPS reading of the summit area of Saka Haphong. English climber Jing Fleen first climbed this peak in 2005. Later in 2007, the first Bangladeshi team led by Yahya Khan climbed this mountain.
When Jing Fleen first climbed Haphong he also measured the peak of the mountain which was 1,064 meters. In 2011, again two expatriate teams measured the height of Saka Haphong as 3,488 feet and 3,461 feet.
The weather of Saka Haphong is quite interesting. It has a tropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. The culture of Saka Haphong is influenced by both the Bangladeshi and the Burmese people who live in the surrounding areas. The Burmese people call it Tlong Miy or Modak Tong.
The people who live in the area of Saka Haphong have their own languages, religions, customs, and traditions. Some of the ethnic groups that live near the mountain are the Marma, Bawm, Chakma, Mro, Kuki and Chin. They practice Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and animism. They celebrate various festivals such as Sangari, Biju, Bizu, Boisabi, and Christmas.They also have rich heritage of music, dance, art and handicrafts.
Even though Saka Haphong is known as the highest mountain of Bangladesh, some resources claim that Keokradong is the highest point of bangladesh.
Mountains have their own charisma. Some mountains touch the sky, some barely rise from the ground. Some mountains are part of long chains or ranges, while others stand alone. For some people mountain is inspiration, same says beauty, some may also say it’s like life.
Writer,
Samiha Jahan
Content writing department, YSSE
To read more blogs #click here