Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach

Cox’s Bazar is known for its wide long sandy beach which is claimed to be the world’s longest natural sea beach (120 km long) and the top tourist attraction in Bangladesh located in the eastern coastline of Bangladesh.(At 254km, Brazil's Casino Beach is longer, but according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is partly man made). Among the 120 km coastline, 96 km of the beach is covered by hill side. Cox's Bazar has yet to become a major tourist destination in Asia.

Cox's Bazar is also a town, a fishing port and district headquarters located at 21°35'N 92°01'E. It is 152 km south of Chittagong. The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox; an officer serving in British East India Company defeated the Burmese king in 1799 and set up a Bazar (market) here which was named “Cox's Bazar” after him.

Over many years Cox's Bazar has been an attraction to both international and domestic tourists who come here to spend their leisure. Splashing on Golden Sandy Beach against a backdrop of beautiful and illusive chain of hills creates an unforgettable illusive view. Towering cliffs, surfing waves, delightful sea foods, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes against the picturesque background of a chain of afforested hills with rich wildlife made this beach as one of the most attractive tourist spot in the world Where every emerge of the wave present something like starfish, jellyfish, rare kind of small stone, oyster, snail and so on. You can pick up this kind of presents from sea as a souvenir of Cox’s Bazar. You can see the huge beautiful greenery Jhau Garden (Locally called Jhau Bon) nearby the sandy beach. There is proper scope to rest inside the garden and you can easily verbalize your own thought to your soul mate/s. Opportunities of bathing and swimming in shark free warm water, lazy Sun bathing facilities makes Cox’s Bazar as a top tourist attraction. To sit down in the umbrella set on the beach, you may sometimes heed into the past to see the vastness of the sea. The wind come from the sea will soothe your tired soul. You may forget the robotic city life and your personal problem also.

Here sky and sea meet together as if they embrace each other! The sun rise and sun set on the sandy beach is particularly a matter of specialty. When the sun rises from the eastern side of the sea it looks like a fiery round shape globe is coming from the sea. During evening Cox’s Bazar provides a unique opportunity to observe the beauty of sunset behind the waves. When the light of the sun fall down to the sand at sunset, it looks like the sand is not as if they were pearl! After that tourists can flock to the fashion markets located near the shore and in the town. These markets are a good place for shopping. Typical items include conch-shell show-pieces, local made cigars, hand woven clothes and beautiful handicrafts from the tribal Rakhaine families are good buys.

 

How can I describe the moonlight night of Cox's Bazar? Adorable and soft light of moon will embrace you with its beauty and magnetizing power. The sky with full of stars of the night and the glittering light of the fishing boats produced an atmosphere of super-natural. It creates a dreamy impression upon the mind of the visitors.
If you are really adventurous and want to enjoy the wildness and madness of the illusive blue Sea you can come to Cox's Bazar round the year but it is better during November to April. Sea continues its wildness till August and it has even more exotic if you come to Cox's Bazar in the time of depression of the Sea. 

How to go Cox's Bazar

You can start heading towards the Cox’s Bazar by air or by bus. By air form Sahajalal International Airport, Dhaka or Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong, You can go directly to Cox’s Bazar Airport through several local airlines such as Biman Bangladesh Airlines, United Airways, Best Air, GMG Airlines etc. one way fair range will be approximately BDT 3500 - BDT 7500.

You can directly go to Cox’s Bazar by bus as well. There are many bus services from different location of Dhaka and Chittagong. 

If you are thinking of an adventurous journey with comfort, Train service of Bangladesh Railway is the best option. But unfortunately Train service is available up to Chittagong. From Kamalapur Railway Station or Airport Railway Station, Dhaka you can get board on the train towards Chittagong. Train is available in different time but night journey is best, start at 10.30 pm (Turna Nishitha) from Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka. After arriving Chittagong Railway Station, you can go bodderhaat and find the bus services of various companies which can lead you to Cox’s Bazar sea beach, Kolatoli point directly. It is a wish decision for the tourists from abroad to take help of the local tour operators. 

Hotels in Cox's Bazar

Undoubtedly Cox’s Bazar is the most visited tourist spot in Bangladesh. The place is visited by a number of tourists from all over the world every year. To Support the tourists, there is a jungle of luxurious tourist hotels, Motel rest house etc. including few 5 star hotels replacing the natural mangrove jungle. 

Others tourist attractions in Cox’s Bazar:

There are many other tourist attractions around Cox’s Bazar, which are easily accessible.

Himchari- Is famous for Himchari Waterfall and natural beauty beside the beach drive. It is located about 8 km south of Cox’s Bazar. You can go there by Jeep and it is really exotic experience to drive on the sea shore. 

Inani Beach- A Pristine rocky beach with corals all around. The calmness and serenity of Inani Beach is mind blowing. It is bordered by hills and forests and is located only 32km south of Cox’s Bazar. It can also be accessed via Himchari. Don’t miss the chance to visit Inani Beach while going to Cox’s Bazar. You may take packet lunch with you.

Taknaf- is about 84km from Cox’s Bazar and it may be a memorable experience as the journey in marine drive through forested hilly roads. Taknaf is the border town in the southern tip of Bangladesh territory. The side of river Naf and the Bay of Bengal situate Teknaf Town. Wide sandy beach in the backdrop of high hills with green forests with rich flora & fauna and natural waterfalls enhance charms of the tourists and the scenery never to be forgotten. You can enjoy shopping in the local market called Burmese Market where you will find all the Burmese and tribal handmade materials. Do not forget to visit the Wall of Ma-Thin which tells a sad story of love. 

Ramu and Lamapara: A typical Buddhist village located 16 kilometers away from Cox's Bazar. It is accessible from the main highway leading to Chittagong. The village accommodates monasteries, khyangs and pagodas. The beautiful Burmese Bara Khyang at lamapara has the country's largest bronze statue and it has three wooden buildings house, a number of relics-precious Buddhist images of silver and gold set with gems and stones inside the pagoda. The temple lies in a quite palm shaded village about 5km from Ramu, on the bank of Baghkhali River. The village is famous for its handicrafts and homemade Cigars. Weavers trade there in open workshops and craftsman make handmade cigars in their pagoda like house. 

Moheskhali Island- It is another attraction for the tourists who come to Cox’s Bazar. The area of the island is about 268 square kilometers. The center of the island and the eastern coastline rises, a range of low hills, up to 300 feet high. But the coast to the west and north is a low-lying treat, covered by mangrove jungle. In the hills on the coast is built the shrine of Adinath and by its side on the same hill is Buddhist Pagoda. You can go to this Island by local motorboat called trawler or by speedboat from cox’s Bazar fisheries Ghat (Harbor). 

Dulahazra Safari Park: This Safari Park is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong –Cox’s Bazar highway about 50 Km from Cox’s Bazar Town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants, different type of birds, monkeys etc which are native to the area where domesticated elephants are available for ride. Other animal attractions are lions, Bengal tigers, Crocodiles, Bears, Coital etc. which is wonderful project to attract the tourists.

There are a number of other Islands too. Some names are Saint Martin Island, Chera Dip, Sonadia Island, Shah pori island etc have enough items to attract tourists.

Saint Martin Island: St. Martin's Island is a small island on the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is the only coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the mouth of the Naf River. The local name of the island is "Narical Gingira", also spelled "Narikel Janjina/Jinjera", translated from Bangla, meaning 'Coconut Island'.

St. Martin's Island has become a popular tourist spot. Currently, three shipping liners run daily trips to the island, including Sea-Truck and Keary-Sindbad. Tourists can book their trip either from Chittagong or from Cox's Bazar. The surrounding coral reef of the island has an extension named 'Chera Dwip'.

Presently there are many efforts being put forth to preserve the several endangered species of turtles that nest on the island, as well as the corals, some of which are found only on Narikel Jinjera. Pieces of the coral reef are being removed in order to be sold to tourists. Nesting turtles are sometimes taken for food, and their hatchlings are often distracted by the twinkling lights along the beach. Species of fish, a few just recently discovered, are being over-fished. Every year the fishermen must venture further out to sea to get their catch. Most of them use motorless boats.

At high tide the island is about 3 miles around, and pinched in the middle. The island exists only because of its coral base, so removal of that coral risks erosion of the beaches. St. Martins has lost roughly 25% of its coral reef in the past 7 years.

Chera Dip: Chhera island ,  also called Cheradia Island or Cheridia Island, is an extension of St. Martin's Island but divided by sea during tides. During low tide period, the Chhera island can be reached by walking for about two and a half hours from St. Martin's Island. Most popular medium is by local motorboat or tourist boat. Corals can be found all over the island. Island's has a beautiful small bush area which is also the only green region of it. No permanent settlement is established except for tourists. You are adviced to get there soon after the water gets down in the morning around 10 am but you must get back before 3 pm.

Sonadia Island: It is about seven kilometer of Cox's Bazar and about nine square kilometer in area. The western side of the island is sandy and different kinds of shells are found on the beach. Off the northern part of the island, there are beds of windowpane oysters. During winter, fisherman set up temporary camps on the island and Dries Sea fishes, which they catch from Sea.

Shah pori island: Shah of Shahpori Island stands for Muhammad Azam Shah alias Shah Suja, a son of Aurangzeb, the last Mogul Emperor of India, and Pori stands for Pori Begum, wife of Bahadur Shah alias Shah Badar, another son of Aurangzeb. In a war back in 1689 sons of Aurangzeb were defeated by the forces of Burmese King Sudurma. Bahadur Shah was killed in the battle. Arrested by the Burmese forces a few surviving members of Mogul army including Azam Shah and Pori Banu (wife of the deceased Bahadur Shah) were ordered to board a country boat with all their hands tied from behind.

Having been towed to the mouth of the Naaf River (previously Busitang River) the boat was scuttled by making holes in its bottom drowning all the captives. Azam Shah and Pori Banu who survived miraculously took shelter in this very island which at that ancient time was known as Kuanka Island. After the names of Aurangzeb’s surviving son and daughter-in-law the Kuanka Island later became popular as Shahpori Island. Shahpori Island, though still called as an island, was in fact turned into a peninsula in early 60s by artificial siltation through cross-damming.