Photo: কুপি বাতি, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bijoypur China Clay Hills
About Bijoypur China Clay Hills
Bijoypur, in Durgapur upazila of Netrokona district, has the largest deposits of white china clay in Bangladesh. Years of clay digging have left low hills in shades of white, pink and ochre, and pits filled with water that turns blue or green, especially after rain. From the top you look north towards the Garo Hills and the border with the Indian state of Meghalaya.
Getting there is part of the day. At the village of Birishiri the Someshwari River comes down from the hills, wide, clear and sandy, and country boats ferry people and motorbikes across towards the clay hills.
The area is home to Garo and Hajong communities. Durgapur was a centre of the Tonk movement, the Hajong peasants’ struggle against an unjust crop-rent system in the late 1930s and 1940s, which is remembered at a memorial near the town. On a small hill, the Ranikhong church and mission, built in the early 20th century, looks over the river.
Bijoypur is about two hours north of Mymensingh, and Evergreen Bangladesh Tours usually plans it with a night nearby. For another side of the border hills, see Gajni in Sherpur, and Mymensingh Division for the rest of the region.
Things to do
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Cross the Someshwari by boat
Ride a country boat across the clear river, with the Garo Hills on the horizon.
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Climb the china clay hills
Walk up the pale, coloured hills of Bijoypur and look down on the blue and green pools left by clay digging.
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Visit Ranikhong Mission
See the hilltop church and mission above the Someshwari, built in the early 20th century.
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Learn about the Tonk movement
Hear the story of the Hajong peasants’ struggle for fair rents at the memorial in Durgapur.
Getting there
From Mymensingh: about two hours north by road to Birishiri in Netrokona district, then across the Someshwari River to the clay hills.
From Dhaka: around five to six hours by road, so most travellers stay overnight in Birishiri or Mymensingh.
Where to stay
Accommodation around Birishiri is limited to simple guesthouses and rest houses. For more comfort, stay in Mymensingh and make a long day trip.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
Tours that visit Bijoypur China Clay Hills
None of our set tours stop here yet, but we can add it to a tailor-made trip.
Questions
Where are the Bijoypur china clay hills?
In Durgapur upazila, Netrokona district, in northern Bangladesh near the border with Meghalaya. They lie across the Someshwari River from Birishiri, about two hours north of Mymensingh city.
What is the best time to visit Bijoypur?
Winter, from November to February, for dry paths and comfortable walking. The monsoon and the weeks after it bring a full Someshwari River and the greenest hills.
What is the blue lake at Bijoypur?
The blue and green pools are water-filled pits left by china clay digging. Their colour is strongest after rain.
Can I visit Bijoypur as a day trip from Dhaka?
It is possible with a very early start, but the round trip means ten to twelve hours on the road. A night in Birishiri or Mymensingh is far more relaxed.