Photo: Tanvir Rahat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nilgiri Hill
About Nilgiri Hill
Nilgiri is one of the highest points in Bangladesh that you can reach by road. The drive from Bandarban town climbs for a couple of hours along a winding mountain road, past Marma and Mro villages, jhum fields on the slopes and roadside stalls selling bananas and papayas.
At the top, viewpoints and terraces look out over the Sangu valley and endless forested ridges. On clear winter days you can see a long way towards the Myanmar border hills. In the rainy season the clouds often roll in below the ridge, so you look down on a white sea with hilltops poking through, and this is when Nilgiri is at its most memorable. The site is run by the Bangladesh Army, which also manages the cottages at the top.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts have their own rules for foreign visitors, and some areas need permission or close at short notice. We check the current rules before your trip, arrange any paperwork and carry passport copies for the checkpoints on the way. Combine Nilgiri with Nilachal Hill and Meghla Tourism Complex near town for a rounded two days in the hills.
Things to do
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Above the clouds
In the rainy season and on some winter mornings, clouds fill the valleys below and the ridges rise out of them.
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Mountain road drive
The road from Bandarban is a sight in itself, with steep bends, hill villages and wide views at every turn.
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Hill village stops
Stop at roadside markets run by Marma and Mro families for fruit and tea, and to see daily life in the hills.
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Viewpoint photos
The terraces at the top give sweeping views over the Sangu valley and forested ridges towards the border.
Getting there
From Bandarban town: about two hours each way by jeep (the local open-backed chander gari) or a private car with a driver who knows the mountain road.
From Chattogram: first drive to Bandarban, about two and a half to three hours, and spend the night there before heading up.
From Dhaka: most travellers fly to Chattogram in under an hour and continue by car. Overnight buses to Bandarban take eight hours or more.
Where to stay
Most travellers stay in Bandarban town and visit Nilgiri as a day trip. The army-run cottages at the top are in high demand and need advance booking; we can try for you if you want to see sunrise from the ridge.
More to see in Bandarban
Tours that visit Nilgiri Hill
Holiday Tours
Explore the Natural Beauty of Bangladesh
Price on request
Questions
Do foreigners need permission to visit Nilgiri?
Rules for foreign visitors in the Hill Tracts change from time to time, and some areas can close at short notice. We check the current requirements before your trip and handle any paperwork.
How long does the trip take?
Allow a full day from Bandarban town, with about two hours of driving each way plus time at the top and stops on the road.
Is the road safe?
It is steep and winding but paved. We use experienced local drivers and avoid the road in very heavy rain.
When is the best time to visit?
November to February for clear views, or the rainy season from July to October for the famous sea of clouds.