If you are craving a trip to a lush green paradise with breathtaking waterfalls, serene lakes, and expansive tea gardens, look no further than Sreemangal. This small town in northeastern Bangladesh offers a blend of natural beauty, rich wildlife, and unique eco-tourism experiences.  Whether you want to relax in an eco-resort or explore forests, Sreemangal promises unforgettable adventures. Let’s dive into the top destinations and experiences that this captivating place has to offer. Location of Sreemangal Sreemangal is located in the northeastern part of Bangladesh, in the Moulvibazar District under the Sylhet Division. Known as the tea capital of Bangladesh, it boasts tea gardens, hills, and forests. The region's high rainfall, fertile soil, and tropical climate make it a biodiversity hotspot, rich with flora and fauna.  Sreemangal is about 191 kilometres away from Dhaka which makes it accessible for both short getaways and extended vacations. Read more: How to Visit Kotka Beach at Sundarbans How to Visit Sreemangal from Dhaka By Air While Sreemangal does not have its own airport, you can fly from Dhaka to the nearby Sylhet Osmani International Airport. Domestic airlines offer frequent flights ranging between 3,600 BDT to 10,000 BDT, and the journey takes about 45 minutes. From Sylhet, Sreemangal is just a two-hour drive.  By Road  One of the most common ways to reach Sreemangal is by road. Regular bus services connect Dhaka with Sreemangal, with the journey taking around 7 hours depending on traffic. You can choose between luxury buses or more budget-friendly options. The fare ranges from 570 BDT to 800 BDT. The drive is scenic, with views of tea estates and green landscapes along the way. By Train For a more leisurely travel experience, opt for a train ride from Dhaka to Sreemangal. The journey takes about 5 hours, and trains like Parabat Express, Upaban Express, and Kalni Express offer a comfortable ride. The ticket fare is between 275 BDT and 938 BDT. The best part is you will get to enjoy the countryside views of villages, rivers, and tea gardens throughout the trip. Read more: Discover Bisnakandi: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Sylhet’s Tourism Hotspot What to See in Sreemangal Baikka Beel Wetlands Baikka Beel Wetlands is a paradise for bird watchers, especially during the winter months when migratory birds flock here. It is situated halfway between Sreemangal and Moulvibazar. The tranquil environment, combined with sightings of species like the Purple Heron and Pallas’ Fish Eagle, makes it a peaceful spot to appreciate the region’s natural beauty. To reach Baikka Beel from Sreemangal, you can hire a CNG, autorickshaw, or microbus. The wetland is located about 17 kilometres away from Sreemangal, and the journey takes around 40 minutes.  Read more: Madhabkunda Waterfall: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Bangladesh being on the tropical spectrum of the climate, experiences a moderate winter season. Apart from the northern regions of the country, the mild winter season makes for a perfect time to go for a vacation and explore the diverse landscape of the country. With that said, here are the 8 top popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh for spending winter vacation.  Top Place to Visit in Bangladesh During Winter  Saint Martin’s Island  One of the prime attractions of winter travel is Saint Martin’s island. This Bea coral island is situated in the south of Bangladesh off the coast of Cox’s Bazar. The ship operation to St. Martin remains closed from April to October. It begins in early November and runs through March for the winter and spring seasons.  Every year, millions of tourists flock to the island to experience the serene landscape and the blue lagoon all around. Getting to St. Martin Island is also easy. There are direct bus services from Dhaka to Teknaf. From Teknaf, there is an abundance of ships and launches going to St. Martin. It takes about two and a half to three hours by ship to get to the island.  Read more: Bandarban Tourist Spots – Best Places to See and Craziest Things to Do To protect the biodiversity and environment of this coral island, the government of Bangladesh has taken some initiatives. Tourists are required to take permission before visiting this island. Make sure to take ample winter clothes as nights can get pretty cold. Take note of the tides to experience the unobstructed beach along the coast of the island.  Kuakata  Kuakata is famous for being the only place in Bangladesh where one can enjoy both sunrise and sunset. Often referred to as the “Daughter of the Sea”, Kuakata is comparatively less crowded than Cox’s Bazar during the peak travel season.  Read more: Best Places for Honeymoon in Bangladesh

Biting cold gripped Sreemangal as the lowest temperature in the country this season was recorded at 5.6 degrees Celsius in the upazila in the 24 hours to Friday morning. The lowest temperature in Sreemangal was recorded at 2.8 degrees Celsius on February 4 in 1968, Mujibur Rahman, an officer at the Srimangal weather monitoring station, said. Read more: At 6 degree C, Naogaon records lowest temperature in 24 hours Temperature between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave. Severe cold with frosty winds and dense fog is disrupting daily life in Sreemangal. The low-income people who get by working every day are being hit hardest. Many were seen making fires along the roadsides to keep warm. Most people are staying home unless there is an emergency. Also, the number of diarrhoea and pneumonia patients – mostly children and elderly – is increasing in the hospitals of Moulvibazar, district Civil Surgeon Dr Chowdhury Jalal Uddin Murrshed said. Read more: Tetulia records season’s lowest temperature at 6.1 degrees C this morning A mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping Rangpur division; Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Sirajganj, Sreemangal, Rangamati, Cumilla, Feni, Brahmanbaria, Jashore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Barishal, and Bhola districts and it may continue, the BMD said this morning. Also, moderate to thick fog may envelop the river basins and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere from midnight to morning. "The weather may remain dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Night and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged," the BMD said.

Police detained 16 Rohingya including women and children from Sreemangal Sunday as they were on their way to Moulvibazar from Cox’s Bazar refugee camp. Sreemangal police detained them during a drive from an Ena Paribahan bus from Cox’s Bazar, said Jahangir Hossain Sardar, Officer-in-Charge of Sreemangal police station. An inspector of district police traveling on the same bus suspected some passengers being Rohingya refugees and informed the matter to Sreemangal police station, he said. In primary questioning , they said that they had fled from the Rohingya camp at Kutupalong, in Cox’s Bazar, said OC Jahangir. They will be sent back to their camp, he said. Read more: Committee formed to discourage Rohingyas from using Myanmar mobile network: Home Minister

Are you feeling stressed over the tensions of the hectic urban life? Why don't you plan a vacation to spend some heavenly moments in Bakikka Beel - a place where birds are chirping, fishes are playing, and nature is offering limitless bounties to humankind. Baikka Beel is located about 1 sq-km away from the east side of Hail Haor, a large wetland spread over Moulvibazar, Sreemangal, and Bahubal Upazilas of Habiganj in Sylhet. On July 1, 2003, it was decided to preserve Baikka Beel as a fish sanctuary. The total area of Hail Haor is about 10 sq-km. It is also known as Lotapatar Haor to the locals due to its abundance of herbs and shrubs. Let’s get to know the details about this aesthetic aquatic landscape. The specialty of Baikka Beel of Hail Haor After originating from Bilaschhora upstream, Gopla River bifurcates into the Hail Haor and joins the upper reaches of the Meghna through the Bijna River downstream. If you are a true haor lover then you must come to Hail Haor and Baikka Beel. Here you can watch some priceless moments with nature. The shepherds are returning home with their cows under the red sky in the red sunlight in the late afternoon. Fishermen are floating boats on the shore. A group of fishermen is walking on the way to the village market with fish baskets on their oars. The boundless flight of flocks of birds in the distant sky. The beauty of Haor has got a new dimension by the chirping of domestic and foreign birds. A wonderful twilight glow spreads all over the Haor. Read Nikli Haor, Mithamoin-Astagram Road Trip: On the Way to Kishoreganj During the monsoon, Baikka Beel and Hail Haor appear in a mesmerizing fresh cherubic beauty. Everywhere you look, there is only blue water in sight. You can’t escape the urge to have the thrilling experience of boating on the swamp. The rustic sight of thousands of fishermen fishing around the waking up swamp in the dawn is very captivating. Surrounded by 14 swamps, this huge wetland is currently a habitat of about 77 species of fish. The number of exotic birds visiting here is increasing every year. Among the various species of local birds, the Kura bird is the main one. A two-story observation tower has been constructed near the Beel to facilitate the visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the Beel and the lush green forest. Read Visit Saint Martin, Coral Island, Bangladesh: Piece of Paradise on Bay of Bengal The best time to visit Baikka Beel of Hail Haor Usually, the monsoon is the best time to visit the swamp area. But if you want to hear the chirping of thousands of different species of birds, you must go to Hail Haor and Baikka Beel between November and February. Moreover, towards the end of winter, you will see the newly blossoming lotus there. Dhaka to Baikka Beel of Hail Haor route You can reach Sreemangal by taking a Sylhet-bound bus from Fakirapul or Saidabad bus terminal in Dhaka. The rent will be BDT 300 to 400. Apart from this, you can commute to Sreemangal by intercity train from Komolapur railway station where the fare is BDT 115 to 75. Read The Most Beautiful Tea Gardens in Bangladesh to visit Arriving at Sreemangal, you have to take the Boruna-Hazipur paved road through Kalapur Bazar on the Sreemangal-Moulvibazar road in order to reach Hazipur Bazar. This market is known as Ghater Bazaar to the locals. Local autorickshaw fare up to Baruna Bazar is BDT 50 per person.

Police arrested a rail employee in Sreemangal for allegedly raping a disabled woman in a moving train. The victim herself filed a rape case against the accused at railway police station.

The day’s lowest temperature was recorded at 6.6 degrees Celsius  at Sreemangal in Moulvibazar on Monday morning.