Jaflong

About Jaflong

Jaflong is the classic day trip from Sylhet city. The road heads north through tea gardens and paddy fields until the hills of Meghalaya appear ahead, steep and green, with waterfalls streaking down them in the rainy season. At the end of the road the Piyain River comes out of the hills, clear and fast, and spreads over wide banks of stones and sand.

The river is the centre of local life. For years boatmen and labourers have lifted stones from the riverbed for building, and you will see the wooden boats and stone yards along the banks. You can hire a small boat for a ride on the river towards the border, with the Dawki suspension bridge on the Indian side in view.

Close to the river are Khasi villages, where families grow betel leaf on the forested slopes; see Khasi Tribal Village for more. Jaflong is lively and busy with Bangladeshi visitors, especially on holidays. For a quieter stone-and-river landscape, compare Bichhanakandi and Sada Pathor. On our private Sylhet tours we time the day to avoid the worst of the traffic.

Getting there

From Sylhet city: about 60 km by road, usually two hours or a little more each way depending on traffic.

From Dhaka: fly or take the train to Sylhet first, then drive to Jaflong the next morning.

Where to stay

Most travellers stay in Sylhet city or at a tea resort and visit Jaflong as a day trip. There are a few simple guesthouses near Jaflong for those who want an early start on the river.