Sreemangal city is located about 180 km north-east from the capital Dhaka. This area is an upazila under Moulvibazar district under Sylhet division. Full of natural beauty, this upazila is famous for various aspects. Among them, the most significant aspect is the tea industry of Sreemangal. Sreemangal’s recognition and reputation for this tea industry is worldwide. That is why Srimangal is called the tea capital of Bangladesh. The area of Sreemangal upazila, which is known as the capital of tea, is about 450 square kilometers. There is direct rail and road connectivity with the capital Dhaka. Here I will briefly discuss the reasons why you should visit this tea capital and Sreemangal tour plan also. Let’s start then…

Stunning Tea Gardens

While entering Sreemangal upazila by road from Dhaka, the first thing you will see is the stunning hilly tea gardens on both sides of the road. Also, the sculpture of Cha Konnya Sculpture can be seen at the entrance of Sreemangal. Sreemangal Upazila alone has a total of 44/45 tea gardens. The beauty of each of those charming tea gardens is different. Some tea gardens have parallel rows of hills. Some tea gardens look like golf courses, some are slightly elevated and some are slightly sloping. Some of the tea gardens are hilly. Many tea estates also have mountain lakes surrounded by hills and reservoirs in the middle. There is no similarity between one tea garden and another tea garden. This exception has made Sreemangal a unique destination for tourists. During monsoon these tea gardens become more green and vibrant. The tide of new youth comes to the tea tree, new buds grow. The two eyes see only green and green. Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) has been formed in the state for the development of varieties and quality of tea. The institute is located within the Finlay Tea Estate at Sreemangal. Anyone can visit this institution to learn about tea and the history of the tea industry in Bangladesh. There is an exhibition center here for purchasing high quality tea leaves. Anyone can buy tea leaves from here. Besides, there is another famous institution in Srimangal which is known as Tea Museum which is located in a resort (Tea Resort and Museum).

Nature and Wildlife

The nature and wildlife of Sreemangal is a major attraction for nature-loving tourists. Along with tea plantations, there are numerous small and large hill streams along with rubber plantations, pineapple and lemon plantations. These streams meander through the foothills and meet at Hail Haor (Wetland). This Hail Haor is called a fish sanctuary. Migratory birds flying from Siberia in winter take shelter in this Haor (Wetland). In summer they go home again. Hail Haor is a wonderful place to visit for bird lovers from November to February.

Located just seven km east of Srimangal town within Kamalganj upazila is the famous Lawachara Rain Forest which is basically a National Park. The 1,250 hectare (12.5 sq km) rainforest is a wildlife sanctuary and a semi-evergreen forest. This large forest area was nationalized in 1996. More than 460 different species of birds, mammals, and reptiles live in this mysterious rain forest. Ethnic community Khasias live within 2 km of this forest area. A nature lover can lose himself for a whole day if he wants to, in this nature, he can see the amazing biodiversity hidden in the dense forest.

Rich Culture 

Sreemangal is known worldwide for its rich culture. Many tourists from all over the world come here just to be attracted by the culture here. Different ethnic communities have been living in this region for a long time. Notable communities among them are Khasia, Manipuri, Tripura etc. A number of Garo communities also live here. Apart from this, the tea plantation workers have also migrated from the regions of India like Bihar, Assam etc. and have been living in this region for a long time. Religion and culture of these communities are also different in many respects. For example, Khasias and Garos follow Christianity. In the past they were followers of other religions but now most of them have converted to Christianity. Again, Tripura, Manipuri and tea plantation workers follow Hindu/Sanatan religion. All of them have different clothes, social rules and religious rules. Along with that, their food also has variety. A tourist visiting Sreemangal can get to know in detail about their unique traditions, crafts and lifestyle.

Tea Testing

If you visit the tea plantations and their factories, you will see that 17/18 types of tea are produced from one tea processing machine. Each of these types of tea tastes different. Here, one can learn the steps a tea worker has to follow from collection of tea leaves to production. Come to Sreemangal you can taste 8 layers of tea. This 8 layer tea is not very tasty but it is enjoyable. What happens if you don’t know about tea and tea leaves when you come to the capital of tea? So visit Sreemangal to know about the local tea culture.

Cool Climate and Mysterious Weather

The weather and climate of Sreemangal is completely different from other parts of Bangladesh. Especially when other parts of the country experience very warm temperatures, the weather in Sreemangal feels very cool. The average temperature here is 25.5℃ . The maximum temperature is 34℃ and the minimum temperature is 11℃. The average annual rainfall is relatively higher than other regions of the country. That is, Sreemangal is the highest rainfall region of the country. I personally say that Srimangal weather is very mysterious. You wake up in the morning to see the sun shining outside. There seems to be no chance of rain or weather change. In such a situation, you will freshen up and find that it has started to rain in torrents before the breakfast is over. You’ll feel like it won’t stop when you see this kind of rain. You may be lying in bed again and just wrapped the sheets, then you will see that the sun is shining outside again. It’s not funny! But this is not always the case. There are also records of 24-hour rainfall during the monsoon season. Then, there is nothing to do but spend the whole day sleeping. Why late? Come next monsoon, soak in the rain at Srimangal.

Endless Photography Opportunities

If you are not a professional photographer, if you have a little photography hobby then Srimangal is the best place for you. Magnificent landscapes, vibrant sunsets, unique cultural sites, lined hills, tea gardens, waterfalls. What else do you want? In addition, if it is the rainy season, then there is no word. Rainy season is paradise for photographers.

Local Cuisine

The cuisine of Srimangal is also diverse due to the presence of people from different cultures. The restaurants here also have a variety of food. Many restaurants and resorts offer traditional cuisine of the ethnic community. Like- Bamboo Chicken, Bamboo Biryani etc. Many places traditionally cook on wood stoves which add to the flavor of the cooking. Barbeque over wood fire or coal fire is also a traditional part of the food here. Also, cooking beef with satkara and dried chapa fish mashed is also a traditional dish of this region. These dishes mainly reflect the culinary traditions of the region. 

Adventure Activities

Srimangal is especially popular for adventure loving tourists. Cycling through hilly tea plantations, mountains and winding roads takes you to a different world. You can easily get lost in the excitement of discovering new springs or waterfalls in the deep mountain forest. I believe, here you will get lost in a new world of adventure.

Finally, I can emphasize that the Srimangal tour is like a complete package. There are adventures for the adventure lovers and also for those who want to spend their free time in a peaceful way. Whether you’re looking to unwind or embark on an adventure, Sreemangal has something special to offer!