Ratargul Swamp Forest
About Ratargul Swamp Forest
Ratargul is often called Bangladesh’s only freshwater swamp forest, and in the rainy season it feels like nowhere else in the country. When the rivers rise, the forest floods and the trees stand up to their trunks in still, dark water. You leave the motor behind and travel by small wooden boat, paddled slowly through green tunnels of branches.
It is a quiet, magical place on a calm morning. Kingfishers and egrets hunt from low branches, monkeys move in the canopy, and the only sound is the paddle. A watchtower near the edge gives a view over the forest roof. In the dry months, from about December to April, the water drains away and the forest floor is exposed, so the boat trip is shorter or not possible.
Ratargul is about an hour or so by road from Sylhet city, so it fits well into a half day, leaving the afternoon for the Shah Jalal Shrine or the tea gardens. In the same season, the rivers at Bichhanakandi and Jaflong are also at their best. On our private Sylhet tours the guide arranges the boat and a paddler who knows the channels.
Things to do
-
Boat through the forest
Drift between flooded trees in a small wooden boat, paddled quietly through narrow channels.
-
Watchtower view
Climb the watchtower for a view over the canopy of the swamp forest and the surrounding wetlands.
-
Birdwatching
Look for kingfishers, egrets and cormorants perched on low branches over the water.
-
Village landing
Boats leave from a small riverside village, a glimpse of life in the wetlands north of Sylhet.
Getting there
From Sylhet city: about an hour or so by road to the boat landing, depending on the route and season.
On arrival: hire a small wooden boat with a paddler at the landing. Motor boats are not allowed inside the forest.
Where to stay
Stay in Sylhet city or at a tea resort on the edge of town and visit Ratargul as a half-day trip.
More to see in Sylhet
Tours that visit Ratargul Swamp Forest
Holiday Tours
Ten Days Across Bangladesh
from $800 per person
Short Tours
The Best of Bangladesh: City, Tea & Heritage Tour
from $500 per person
Questions
When is the best time to visit Ratargul?
From about July to October, when the forest is flooded and boats can go deep among the trees. In the dry season there is little water.
How long does the boat ride take?
Usually about an hour in the forest, plus the drive from Sylhet.
Are lifejackets provided?
Not always. We bring or arrange them, and the boats stay in calm, shallow water.
Are there snakes?
Snakes live in the forest, as in any wetland, but bites are rare. Stay in the boat and do not touch the branches.