Panchagarh Travel Guide: How to See Kanchenjunga from Bangladesh

November 12, 2022, 03:29 PM
by Parvin Akter

UNB News
Publish- November 12, 2022, 03:29 PM
Parvin Akter
Update- November 12, 2022, 09:04 PM

Panchagarh Travel Guide: How to See Kanchenjunga from Bangladesh

How to experience the view of Kanchenjunga from Bangladesh (Photo: Twitter)

Do you dream to experience the spellbinding beauty of Kanchenjunga with your own eyes? You can view Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain peak in the world without a passport, visa, or stepping outside the country. Let’s find out how to view Kanchenjunga from Panchagarh in Bangladesh. We shall also discuss what to see and do in Panchagarh besides seeing the mountains.

Geographic Location of Panchagarhand Kanchenjunga

Panchagarh is a district of the Rangpur division in Northern Bangladesh which lies between 26º00' and 26º38' north latitudes and between 88º19' and 88º49' east longitudes. It became a district on 1 February 1984.

It is the lower basin of the Himalayas, geographically and so this land is the most highland in Bangladesh. It is surrounded by three sides of the Indian border 288 km long. It has Darjeeling district on the north, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts on the northeast, Uttar Dinajpur on the west, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts on the south, and Nilphamari district on the east.

The total area of the district is 1,404.62 km2 consisting of five Upazilas, 43 unions, 420 mazes, 825 villages, two paurashavas, 18 wards, and 64 mahallas. It has 16 rivers and some main rivers are Karatoa, Atrai, Teesta, Nagor, Mahananda, etc. Sir Cyril John Radcliffe designed the border of this district in 1947.

Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world is bounded in the west by the Tamur River, in the north by the Lhonak River and Jongsang La, and in the east by the Teesta River. It is situated in the border region between Nepal and the Sikkim state of India with three of the five peaks, namely Main, Central, and South, directly on the border, and the peaks West and Kangbachen which is in Nepal's Taplejung District.

In 2016, the adjoining Khangchendzonga National Park has declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to Reach Panchagarh from Dhaka

You can go to Panchagarh from Dhaka by both bus and train. Panchagarh is about 639 km away from Dhaka.

By train, it will take around 10 hours and 50 minutes to reach. You will find 3 trains available namely Ekota Express (705), Drutojan Express (757), and Panchagarh Express (793) to go to Panchagarhfrom Dhaka. Ekota Express (705) departs at 10:10 am and arrives at 21:00 pm. Drutojan Express (757) departs at 20:00 and reaches at 06:10. Panchagarh Express (793) departs at 22:45 and reaches at 08:50. Three of them have no off day.

However, Dhaka to Panchagarh train ticket price is comparatively lower than some others. Shevon seat classes 550 Taka, Shevon Chair 730 Taka, First class 1145 taka, Ac Berth 1942 Taka.

Dhaka to Panchagor bus services include Nabil Paribahan, Ena Transport (Pvt) Ltd, Hanif Enterprise, etc. The average duration of time is 10-11 hours to reach. However, time depends on the road condition and traffic jams. The bus ticket price for this route ranges from BDT 800 to BDT 2000, depending on the bus operator's services.

How to See Kanchenjunga from Panchagar

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas Kanchenjunga became visible from distant regions. Bangladeshis can see a glimpse of this scenic view of Kanchenjunga from its northernmost point Tetulia. If you see Google Maps, you will find that Kanchenjunga is about 157km away from Tetulia or Tentulia which is also called ‘The City of Dream.’

Autumn is the best season to view the enthralling beauty of Kanchenjunga. During the months of October to December, the cherubic beauty of the snow-capped white mountain of Kanchenjunga becomes visible in the cloudless sky.

Besides late Autumn or early Winter, the indescribable beauty of Kanchenjunga can also be seen from Tetulia during the rainy season especially when the Mahananda river gets filled with water.

To enjoy this view, you have to reach Tetulia, which is an Upazila under the Panchagarh district. You can spend the night at the Tetulia Bungalow. There are many other small hotels at Tetulia Bazar which are available to stay at. You'll find quality and local food at different hotels and restaurants in Tetulia.

7 Top Tourist Spots in Panchagarh

What to see in Panchagarh besides enjoying the mesmerizing view of distant Kanchenjunga? Like any other district of Bangladesh Panchagarh has some unique features. While traveling to Panchagarh you can see the following 7 top tourist destinations.

Tetulia Dak Bungalow

The historic Tetulia Dak Bungalow is located on the banks of the Mahananda River near the Bangladesh-India border. It is about 21 km away from Tetulia Upazila in the Panchgarh district.

The king of Behar built this bungalow. This structure is built about 15-20 meters above the ground. Tourists can enjoy the wonderful beauty of the Mahananda River from Tetulia Dak Bungalow. It looks extraordinarily beautiful during the rainy season.

From Tetulia Dak Bungalow, you can experience the view of Besides, late Autumn and winter is the suitable table to view the third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga.

Golokdham Temple

Golokdham Temple is an ancient structure dating back to the 18th century. It is located at the Shaldanga Union in Deviganj Upazila under the Panchgarh district. This historic building was constructed in 1846.

The specialty of this temple is that it was built in a Greek manner with six corners surrounded by trees. Inside the temple, there is a room known as a pilgrimage site. Every day numerous devotees visit the temple to offer worship rituals like pujas.

Maharaja Dighi

Maharaja Dighi is a historic pond located at Omorkhana Union. This lake is about 15 km distant from the Panchgarh district. People believe that Maharaja Prithu dug the Dighi during his reign, a 1500-year-old historical kingdom called Antargarh.

This artificial lake has about 10 ghats (stairs leading to the water body) surrounded by trees.

Every year a huge fair is organized on the bank of Maharaja’s Dighi on the occasion of Bengali new year Pahela Boishakh. Tourists and visitors from different parts of Bangladesh as well as from the neighboring country of India visited the fair.

Banglabandha Zero Point

Banglabandha Zero Point has made Panchgarh district one of the most popular tourist places in the country. Tourists visit this place to enjoy the as well as Indian border from close. National flags of both Bangladesh and India are drawn near the Banglabandha Zero Point gate. However, you cannot cross the border without permission.

You will enjoy the hypnotic scenic beauty of the river, green surroundings, and mountains, as it stands on the bank of the Mahananda River along with the Bangladesh-India border. Banglabandha Zero Point was constructed on September 1, 1997, on about 10 acres of land.

Banglabandha Zero Point as well as Banglabandha Land Port are situated at the Banglabandha Union No.1 under Tetulia Upazila. Through the Bangladesh land port, Bangladesh’s economic relations with her neighbor India, Nepal, and Bhutan are maintained.

Tea Gardens

After Sylhet, tea cultivation was started in Panchagarh in 1998. Industrialist Kazi Shahid Ahmad started cultivating tea in Panchagarh by taking inspiration from the tea gardens of India. From Panchagarh, huge Indian tea gardens can be seen which are located on the other of the border.

Around 200 tea gardens are available in Panchgarh right now and the total land area under tea cultivation is about 2255.54 acres.

Mirzapur Shahi Masjid

Situated at the Atwari Upazila in the Panchgarh district, this holy place is about 300 years old. To reach this place, you have to go 200 yards east of Mirzapur Bazar.

Mirzapur Shahi Masjid is one of the most ancient archaeological sites in Bangladesh. In 1679, this mosque was built on an area 40 feet by 24 feet holding three domes in a row. Its walls are inscribed with wonderful Terracotta flowers with clay leaves which will take the minds of tourists several hundred years back.

It is anticipated that Mughal Emperor Shah Alam built this mosque and it has an inscription written in French. At present, Bangladesh’s archaeology department has been managing the Mirzapur Shahi mosque.

Panchagarh Rocks Museum

The Panchagarh Rocks Museum is Bangladesh's first rock museum. It is found on the Panchagarh Government Women’s College campus. Prof. Nazmul Haque, the principal of Panchagarh Government Women’s College established the rock museum on March 1, 1997. It was built on the honorable principals' personal initiative.

The Rocks Museum is divided into two outdoor and internal galleries. There are many rocks in the external gallery, and there are little stones of various ages in the internal gallery.

In the rock museum, Petrified wood, fossilized rocks, granite, quartzite shells, limestone, sits, hard rock, basalt, silica, nice, clay-rock, and other specimens of rocks have been kept for exhibition. These rocks range in size from 3 to 4 inches to 10 feet. About 60 pieces are available for exhibition in this museum.

What to Do in Panchagarh

In Panchagard you can do many things. Firstly, You can also enjoy the enchanting beauty of Kanchenjunga. In addition to that, you can visit the historical places and landmarks located in Panchagar.

You can enjoy many tea gardens in the surrounding areas of the Bangladesh-India border. The Indian tea gardens look amazingly beautiful at night when the Indian searchlight lights on at night. You can take Indian tea by standing on the border of Bangladesh. Here you will find some picnic corners.

If you want to feel the thrill of stepping on the last point of the northernmost part of the country don’t miss Banglabandha Zero Point.

Besides, you can enjoy many local foods. If you are a nature lover, don’t miss the Mahananda river where the breathtaking beauty will captivate your mind.

Special food

Popular local foods include Chingri Bora (fried shrimp balls), deep-fried Mola fish, and Daal Bora (fried lentil balls). Here tourists can try the fresh fish of Mahananda including Bhetki, Katal, Ayer, etc.

Here, you will also find the meat of wild pheasants (Bon Morog) that were fairly common in the woods of the Panchagarh area. What is more? In Panchagarh, you can enjoy North Bengal sweet, Chhanar Polao-the dessert—a masterpiece creation of Dinajpur confectioners.

Bottom Line

Kanchenjunga is a heavenly mountain in the Himalayas. From Tetulia of Panchagarh, the northernmost part of the country you can gaze at the dazzling snow peaks of Mountain Kanchenjunga which is the third-highest peak in the world. Not to mention, Tetulia is one of the most amazing tourist spots in Bangladesh which gives us the opportunity to view Kanchenjunga mountain staying in our own country.

For many travel enthusiasts in Bangladesh, especially those who love mountain views, it is like an annual ritual to visit Panchuagar during the months of October, November, and December. So far we have discussed how to see Kangchenjunga from Bangladesh. We have also shared a Panchagarh travel guide to help travelers visit the other tourist attractions of the northernmost district of the country.