Kuakata is a scenic travel paradise in the southern part of Bangladesh, known as the "Sagar Kannya" which means “Daughter of Sea”. It is one of the most beautiful and captivating places for traveling and leisure travelers. Not just in the country, Kuakata is now known all over the world. Standing at the same place on the beach, anyone can see the sunrise and sunset. Kuakata has a wide reputation for breathtaking natural scenic beauty. Are you planning to go on a vacation to Sagar Kanya Kuakata? Here are some essential travel tips.

History and culture of Kuakata: Name and location

The name Kuakata is derived from the word 'Kuya,' which means "well" (water that comes from the ground). There is a popular belief that the Arakanese were driven out of Burma by the Mughal rulers around the 18th century, landed on Rangabali Island off the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and settled in what is now Kuakata.

There was a problem with drinking water then, so they dug a lot of wells here. Hence, the region was named Kuakata. However, it is a conventional idea, and found this information almost everywhere, including Wikipedia. However, this may not be fully accurate information.

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Kuakata is a location of pilgrimage for the Buddhist and Hindu communities. Countless devotees attend the holy Ras Purnima and Maghi Purnima festivals here. On this occasion, the pilgrims take a holy bath in the bay and also take part in the traditional fair.

Kuakata is located in Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali District. It is situated in the southern part of Bangladesh, and it is about 320 kilometers (200mi) south of Dhaka and 70 kilometers away from Patuakhali district headquarter.

How to reach Kuakata?

You can go by road or by the river through the launch. But whatever the way you take, you will reach there by 9-10 am in the morning.

By road: 

The distance by road from Dhaka to Kuakata is 380 km. From Dhaka several buses including Hanif Paribahan, Golden Line Paribahan, Survi Paribahan, Sakura Paribahan, Druti Paribahan go to Kuakata. Buses leave from Gabtoli bus stand for Kuakata. The fare of these buses is Tk. 800-1000 per person, while the AC bus fare is Tk. 1000+. The buses will drop you off near the beach, and you can walk to the beach. It takes about 13 hours to reach Kuakata by bus from Dhaka.

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However, many people choose to travel by launch to enjoy the beauty of the river and consider the comfort. But there is no launch going directly to Kuakata from Dhaka. So, you have to take a launch from Dhaka Sadarghat to Patuakhali or Barisal and from there take a bus to Kuakata.

Dhaka to Kuakata via Patuakhali by Launch: 

Since the distance from Patuakhali to Kuakata is relatively short, many people choose the Patuakhali water route to go to Kuakata. The launches of Patuakhali started their journey from Dhaka Sadarghat between 6 pm and 7 pm. The fare is approximately Tk. 300-400 on deck, Tk. 1000-3000+ on the cabin. From Patuakhali river port you have to go to the bus stand by auto or rickshaw, and from there you have to go to Kuakata by bus. Bus fare is around Tk. 150-200. It will take about 2 hours to reach Kuakata.

Dhaka to Kuakata via Barisal by Launch: 

The country's largest and most luxurious launches operate on the Barisal waterway. So many people feel comfortable traveling on the launch of the Barisal route. Launches from Dhaka Sadarghat leave between 9 pm and 9:30 pm. The fare is approximately Tk. 200-300 on deck, Tk. 1000-2000+ on the cabin. From Barisal, river port goes to Rupatali bus stand and from there take Kuakata bus. Bus fare is around Tk. 250-350, and it will take about 3 hours to get there.

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What to see and what to do in Kuakata?

Kuakata has a lot of places to go. The main attraction of Kuakata is the sea beach. About 18 kilometers long and a one-kilometer-wide beach has a beautiful combination everywhere with dazzling scenic beauty. This place is blessed with protected forests through which numerous spell-binding lakes flow. Coconut trees near the beach, a large mangrove forest in Fatra, opposite the Ecopark and Andhra Manik estuary under the National Park, increase the beauty of Kuakata. Further, the shutki Palli, red crab island and Gangamati beach are also popular in Kuakata.

The most interesting part of the Kuakata trip is seeing the sunrise. You have to go to Gangamati Char in the morning to watch the sunrise. To the east of Gangamati is Crab Island. You will see innumerable red crabs riding on the island. If you go a little further inland from Red Crab Island, along Vheribad Road, you will see Misripara Buddhist Monastery, which is an important place for the Buddhist community. If you go a little further along the road on the left from Kuakata Zero Point, you will see a hundred year old boat. As a result of the erosion of the beach in 2012, a wooden boat of 72 feet in length and 24 feet in width was found.

Apart from these, you can visit Kuakata National Park, Kauar Char, Zhou Forest, Rupali Island, Rakhine Palli, the east part of Sundarban, etc.

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Cost of living in Kuakata

Kuakata has two Daak bungalows and Sagar Kanya Tourism Holiday Homes. Moreover, LGED, roads and highways, district council, and Rakhine Culture Academy have several rest houses. However, in order to stay in these places, prior permission of the concerned department has to be taken. Besides, more than 50 residential hotels and motels have been set up in this tourist city on private initiative. The cost in those motels and hotels starts from Tk. 600 per night, which will increase depending on the quality. Further, there are several restaurants to have a meal.

Precaution

The sea remains quite rough during the rainy season. So you have to stay careful while going out to sea. If the signal continues, it is better not to go down to the sea. If you have a baby with you, keep an eye on it. Besides, it is not safe to walk while it is dark at night. Make sure you take torchlight with you. Collect the tourist police's phone number while going out. You can take help from the tourist police any time you want.

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Best time to visit Kuakata

You can visit Kuakata any time of the year. But it is recommended to visit during the fall to winter (October to March) as the weather remains calm and quiet. If you go to Kuakata during the summer, you can see a rough version of Kuakata. You will get to see the big waves crashing on the lands during summer.