Manpura Before 2009, Manpura was just another island on the southern edge of the Meghna River in the Bay of Bengal. Thanks to Giasuddin Selim’s Magnum Opus “Manpura” movie, the island came into the limelight. Ever since the blockbuster, there has been a growing interest in Manpura as a new travel destination. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Manpura island, how to get there, what are the attractions, and many more. 

Where is Manpura island? 

Manpura island is situated in the northern Bay of Bengal. It borders the exit of the Meghna River into the bay. The island is formally known as Manpura upazila under the Bhola district. It is surrounded by the two of the biggest islands of Bangladesh – Bhola and Hatia. 

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History of Manpura island

The history of Manpura island is contradicted by several sources. Due to its location near Bhola and Hatia, the Island always had a thriving population. Mentions of the island date back to the 15th century when travelers chose it for business and settlement. The abundance of resources on the island may have prompted the name Manpura. 

According to local folklore, a sailor named Mangazi lost his life to a tiger attack on the island. Since then, the island has been named after him. Human settlements on the island date back to the early days of the Mughal rule in the sub-continent. According to the census of 2011, more than 76,000 people resided on the island. 

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A major historical event related to the island was the Bhola Cyclone of 1970. The island was the first to be hit by the cyclone and weathered the majority of the brunt. 

How to get to Manpura island? 

The most common route of getting to Manpura is through a launch boat. Two launches from Sadarghat go directly to the island as well as via Bhola island. The launches are MV Farhan and MV Tashrif. Depending on the schedule, the launches start at around 5 to 6 pm and reach Manpura by 7 am the next day. Tickets are available in several options. 

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The ticket cost of a deck seat, single cabin and double cabin range around 450 BDT, 1200 BDT and 2000 BDT respectively. Since traveling to Manpura by launch is an overnight ordeal, it is better to get a cabin for a comfortable journey. 

When is the best time to visit Manpura island? 

Being a heavily populated Island with a 373 sq km land area, Manpura can be visited any time of the year. However, winter is the perfect time to visit considering the summer heat and torrential rains in the monsoon. Besides, migratory birds flock to the island during winter adding to the existing charm.

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Winter also makes for a cozy staycation experience with seasonal pitha (rice cakes) and dewy mornings. The foggy early hours slowly transition to a charming day which is unlike anything seen in Dhaka.  

Key attractions of Manpura island 

There are several attractions on Manpura island. However, the must-visit places include: 

Manpura Landing Station

Manpura Landing Station used to be the only docking port on the island. However, the strong current took its toll on the dock and it fell to ruins. Later a new docking point was developed in Ramnewaj Ghat. 

However, the landing station remained as a reminder of the good old days of the island. The long stretched connecting bridge provides a breathtaking view of the sea. It’s also flocked by tourists to experience the sunrise and sunset surrounded by the sea and soothing strong winds. 

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Dokhina Hawa Sea Beach 

Dokhina Hawa sea beach is the largest sea beach on the island. Just like Kuakata, Cox’s Bazar, or St. Martin, Dokhina Hawa has slowly developed as a prime beach point for travelers on the island. 

The best time to get to the sea beach is during sunrise or the sunset as visitors will get an unobstructed breathtaking view. The sea beach is lined with all sorts of amenities — from deckchairs, hammocks, swings, and even little treehouses. 

Chowdhury Project 

Chowdhury Project is a vast open space on the northern end of the island. The place is a few meters above sea level with scars of land erosion here and there. It’s a fun place to experience the vast openness of the sea and the sky and spend some quality time with friends and family. 

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Deer Sanctuary 

The deer sanctuary on Manpura island is a preserved area for wild deer. Usually, tourists may come across deer on the island by happenstance as they tend to avoid human presence. 

However, during high tide, the deer move from one end of the sanctuary to the other in a herd. Sometimes the crossing may halt the traffic of the connecting roads. It’s really quite an experience to see the wild deer up close like this.

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New Chara Bagan and Mangrove Forest

The new Chara Bagan is an extension of the original Chara Bagan of Manpura island. The place is essentially a long stretch of road surrounded by small trees on both sides. It makes for a great hangout and picnic place for the tourists. 

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There’s also a vast expanse of Mangrove Forest in the area near Chara Bagan. It will feel as if you are walking inside the Sundarbans once you enter the forest. The only major inhabitant of the Mangrove Forest are deer. 

How to move around in Manpura? 

Other than the New Bridge, there aren’t many pitch roads on the island. The most common transportation on the island are motorbikes, autorickshaws, and easy bikes. Tourists can book motorbikes and easy bikes based on their needs. Booking an easy bike for an entire day would cost around 700 to 800 BDT. Moving around in auto-rickshaws would cost at best 50 BDT per person. 

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Where to stay on Manpura island? 

There are several options to spend the night in Manpura. The island has three Daak Bungalows – the government Daak Bungalow, the Press Club Guest House, and the Chowdhury Shaheb Daak Bungalow. Staying at a daak bungalow would cost around 200 to 300 BDT per room. 

Other than daak lbungalows, there are several hotels near Hazir Hat, Ramnewaj Bazar, and Chowdhury Bazar. Tourists can easily find a room for two for about 600 to 800 BDT per night. The hotel rooms come with good amenities and a clean environment so comfortability won’t be an issue. 

What to eat on Manpura island?

Even though Manpura is an island, the most popular cuisine during the winter is duck. Duck curries are a must-try delicacy on the island complete with Chaaler Ruti (rice flour bread). Besides, fish curries and BBQ are a staple on the island ranging from Coral, Boal, Lobster, and even Hilsa. Buffalo milk is another delicacy of the island. Raw buffalo milk and milk curds are also some of the must-try items here. 

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Final Words 

The breathtaking scene of Shonai (starring Chanchal Chowdhury) rowing his boat with Pori (played by Farhana Mili) on the serene waters of the island is forever etched on the minds of Bangladeshi movie enthusiasts.

From reel to real life, Manpura island is every bit as beautiful as it’s been depicted in the movie. Over the years, the island has grown to accommodate more and more tourists each year. Even then, it is still one of the hidden gems of the natural beauty and breathtaking landscape of Bangladesh. 

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