Bangladesh is filled with places of immense scenic beauty. Among all the places,, Cox’s Bazar can be noticed separately for its longest sea beach alongside hills. Besides sea beaches and hills, Cox’s Bazar also has some islands; and Moheshkhali is one of them. Moheshkhali is the only hilly island in Bangladesh. You can enjoy the beauty of the sea along with the hills and the beauty of the coastal mangrove ecosystem.
Moheshkhali island is linked with Cox’s Bazar through the Bak-Khali river channel. To reach Moheshkhali, we need to cross the Bak-Khali river channel by boat. On the way, the scenic beauty of the coastal mangrove forest known as Person will mesmerize us. We can also see windmills along the short tree that were planted by the government to generate power. If we are lucky enough, we can also encounter dolphins on our way. The coastal brackish water is home to many sea birds, like seagulls, which will also accompany us on our way.
Upon reaching Moheshkhali, we will find the island surrounded by a coastal mangrove forest. The forest was artificially generated to protect the island from natural disasters. We need to take almost a 1.5–2 kilometer long stroll through the mangrove forest to enter the mainland of the island. The mangrove forests’ abundant species are Keora and Golpata. The mangrove forest is a habitat for many species of crabs, fish, and birds. The central part of the island is Gourukghata.
Some of the historical and recreational spots of the island are The Adinath temple, Moinak Hill, and Sonadia Island. The history of the Adinath temple goes back a few thousand years. The temple is devoted to Hindu Lord Shiva. There’s a saying that a Muslim man named Nur Muhammad Shikder saw a dream concerning the temple and took the initiative to situate a temple in the Moinak hills. It is said that the Adinath temple is the only temple situated by a Muslim. The temple has a rare flower tree named Parijat and two ponds adjoining each other behind the temple,, namely Jora Pukur.
The Moinak Hills serve a mesmerizing view of the island’s coastal line, from where you can watch the tide and ebb of the sea. The Moinak hills also have temples devoted to other Hindu lords. There are betel leaf gardens on the down slopes of the hills.
The Sonadia Island has several Buddhist temples which tourists can visit. The island is also rich in the culture of several Indigenous communities like Rakhain. The Moheshkhali island is also famous for its salt cultivation. There is a huge number of lands where the native people cultivate salt from the seawater. This salt goes into the markets of the whole country after proper refining. The cultured dry fish is also famous among the tourists. The street shops and vendors offer really beautiful clothes and other souvenirs made by the local indigenous people.
The ecosystem in Moheshkhali is based on the tertiary hill tracts of Cox’s Bazar. This land is covered with hilly plants like Gorjon, Telshur, Rubber, and other plants. There are several sea birds and animal species,, as well as corals, crabs, and sea fish.
The people of Moheshkhali live in peace and harmony. There are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Indigenous communities living in communal harmony on the island. The Adinath temple is the biggest example of communal harmony.
Our country, Bangladesh, is filled with beautiful places, and Moheshkhali is the only place where one can enjoy the beauty of hills, sea, and a subtropical island. If someone wants to calm their mind from the chaotic city life, they can visit Moheshkhali and enjoy the serenity of nature closely.
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Writer
Zabin Tasmin
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE