Chandranath Pahar
Chandranath Hill, situated in the western region of Chattogram, is the highest peak in the hill range. It’s not just a place for tourism but also one of the prominent pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Many sadhus and sannyasis from home and abroad visit this temple. The Chandranath Hill, with its summit at Sitakunda, is an extremely picturesque location for tourists. However, reaching this place is not easy. It requires navigating through treacherous paths and stairs, with over 2,200 steps leading to the top. Making even a slight mistake on this long path can lead to danger. This is because the highest peak of Chandranath Hill is almost 1,020 feet. One of the main reasons for it being a Hindu pilgrimage site is the ancient Chandranath Temple located at the summit of Chandranath Hill. The bridge and stairs were constructed by the Chandranath National Pilgrimage Sitakunda Shrine Committee and inaugurated on March 2, 2013 (Saturday).
The western hilly range of Chattogram is a separate eastern part of the Himalayas. This mountain range winds through the southern and southeastern sides of the Himalayas, passing through the Indian states of Assam and Tripura and crossing the Feni River to merge with Chattogram. In the Chattogram region, the distance from the Feni River to the city of Chattogram is approximately 70 kilometers. Sitakunda Eco Park has been constructed at the foothills of this mountain. Along the way to Chandranath Hill, followers of Hinduism can see various beautiful structures. Additionally, the immortalized Mitra sculpture will also catch the eye.
| Here lie two waterfalls named Sahasradhara and Suptadhara. In the Mirsarai region, there are many more waterfalls and cascades including Khaiyachhara, Harinmara, Hatubhanga, Napittachhara, Baghbiyani, Boalia, Amar Manikya, and many others. Towards the east, several streams and canals originating from these mountains merge into the Halda River. Among them, Gajaria, Baramasia, Fotikchhari, Harualchhari, and Boalia are prominent. Towards the west, several streams and waterfalls including Mahamaya and Mithachhara have fallen into the Bay of Bengal. Currently, a rubber dam has been constructed over the Mahamaya waterfall. This lake is the second largest artificial lake in the country. Additionally, there is a beautiful lake named Nilambar Hrad situated at the foothills of this mountain. |
History of Chandranath Temple
According to Rajmala, about 800 years ago, King Vishwambhar, a famous descendant of the ancient Sur dynasty of Gaur, attempted to reach Chandranath through the maritime route. Tripura’s ruler, Dhana Manikya, unsuccessfully tried to take the statue of Shiva from this temple to his kingdom. Various sources provide different types of information about the history of this place. It is assumed that human habitation began in Chittagong during the ancient Navvya Prastar period. The artifacts discovered from here bear its signature. As far as history goes, in the 6th and 7th centuries, the entire Chittagong region was under the reign of the Arakan Kingdom. In the subsequent centuries, the rule of this region passed into the hands of the Pal Emperor Dharmapal (770-810 AD). Sultan Fakhr-ud-Din Mubarak Shah of Sonargaon (1338-1349 AD) captured this region in 1340 AD. In 1538 AD, when the last Sultan of the Bengal Sultanate, Ghiyasuddin Shah Sur, was defeated by Sher Shah Suri’s army, this area fell into the hands of the Arakan Kingdom, and the descendants of the Arakanese ruled this region. Later, the Portuguese also intervened in the governance of the Arakanese and from 1538 AD to 1666 AD, this region was jointly ruled by the Portuguese and the Arakanese dynasty. At the end of nearly 128 years of rule, in 1666 AD, Mughal general Bujrug Khan overthrew the Arakanese and the Portuguese and took over this region.
| When will you go? |
| You can visit Chandranath Hill throughout the year. However, during the rainy season, the beauty of this place is stunning due to heavy rainfall, but traveling on the hill becomes dangerous at this time. Every year, special prayers are offered here on Shivaratri or Shiva Chaturdashi. This worship is centered around a huge fair held at Sitakunda. Hindu devotees residing in the Sitakunda-Chandranath Hill area organize a large fair every year during the Bengali month of Falgun (English February-March), known as the Shiva Chaturdashi Fair. In this fair, countless sadhus, sannyasis, men, and women from Bangladesh, India, and various other countries participate. This fair continues until the full moon day. According to the estimates of the fair committee, every year, more than 10 to 20 million pilgrims visit this holy pilgrimage site. |
| Special advice |
| To conquer Chandranath Hill, it’s essential to start with a slow and steady ascent, preferably with the help of a stick. The price of each stick for climbing is 30 taka (according to the 2024 record). However, upon returning the stick, you’ll receive a refund of 20 taka. Sticks can be found at the Sitakunda Bazaar. Hiking is necessary to reach the main temple. When ascending from a lower to a higher elevation, your feet naturally demand more effort, so you should be cautious while climbing. Hasty movements won’t be beneficial. Otherwise, there’s a higher risk of accidents. Proceed with caution on the rocky paths. It will take more than 2 hours to reach the summit of the hill. Since the ascent from the lower region to the higher region is challenging, you may experience increased thirst. Therefore, make sure to carry sufficient water before starting the journey. Your body will require water frequently during the climb. It’s advisable not to carry heavy equipment. Lemonade is available on the hill. According to the 2024 record, a glass of lemonade costs 10 taka, served in special glasses. The paths on the hill are risky, with many steep and winding stairs. Be very careful while climbing the stairs. Take breaks if you feel tired along the way. There are two paths to reach the summit of Chandranath Hill, one on the left side and the other on the right side. The path on the right side is entirely rocky, while the left side path is mostly stairs. Additionally, there are some broken stairs on the left side. The path on the left side is easier to climb. Hold onto the stairs while ascending from the temple. It’s best to take the left-side stairs while descending. Be careful while walking on the path towards the Eco Park, as there’s a risk of slipping. Try to leave the area before nightfall. |
| Special caution |
| For those lacking in self-confidence, with fragile hearts, prone to emotional turmoil at the slightest provocation, habitual procrastinators, constantly anxious about their lives, less industrious, experiencing breathing difficulties, panting even with a little exertion, and prone to excessive vomiting, venturing to Chandranath Hill is risky. |
| Distance of Chandranath Hill from various divisional cities of the country | |
| Dhaka | 152.47 km. (94.74 miles) |
| Rajshahi | 355.06 km. (220.62 miles) 463 km if you go through Dhaka via Natore. 507 km if you go through Ishwardi and pass through Kushtia. |
| Rangpur | 405.68 km. (252.08 miles) 544 km if Sirajganj is passed through Bogra. 648 km after going through Bogra to Kushtia through Natore. |
| Sylhet | 229 km. (142.67 miles) |
| Mymensingh | 248.56 km. (154.45 miles) |
| Khulna | 214.25 km. (133.13 miles) |
| Barishal | 133.99 km. (83.26 miles) |
Chittagong/Caṭṭagrāma | 55.83 km. (34.69 miles) |
Ways to go from Dhaka | |
(You can reach Chandranath Hill from any part of the country. Since it falls within the jurisdiction of Chittagong district, you can reach Sitakunda by any transportation means bound for Chittagong. To reach Chandranath Hill and temple, you first need to go to Sitakunda or Chittagong.) | |
| Bus | Bus Stands of Dhaka:-
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Buses:-
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| Train | Trains:-
(If you want to travel to Chandranath Hill by train from Dhaka at a low cost, you will need to board the Chittagong-bound mail train from Kamalapur Railway Station. This is because no other trains except Dhaka Mail stop at Sitakunda Station. It goes directly to Chittagong. The Dhaka Mail train departs from Dhaka at 11:00 PM and reaches Sitakunda between 6:00 to 7:00 in the morning (according to the 2024 record). Among the trains on the Dhaka-Chittagong route, only this train stops at Sitakunda Station.) |
| Air Plane | Airplanes:-
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(You can travel to Sitakunda from any place in the city of Chittagong by bus, auto-rickshaw, or reserved rickshaw.) (The fare for a CNG (auto-rickshaw) ride from Sitakunda Bazar to the entrance gate of Chandranath Temple is 100 taka. Alternatively, the fare for a rickshaw ride is 50 taka. [Based on the records from 2022]) | |
Ways to go from Rajshahi | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train | [There is no direct train from Rajshahi to Sitakunda. You will need to first go to Dhaka and then take a train from there.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
[Since you have to catch the Dhaka mail train. So first it is better to go to Dhaka by fast express from Natore] |
| Air Plane | [There is no direct flight from Rajshahi to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then go by bus or train.] Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Rangpur | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train | [There is no direct train from Rangpur to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Sylhet | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train | [There is no direct train from Sylhet to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Mymensingh | |
| Bus | Buses:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train | [There is no direct train from Mymensingh to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Khulna | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
Buses to Dhaka:-
(Before traveling, always make sure to confirm where you are going and whether the transportation options will get you to your destination on time. Because along with changes in time, information can also be subject to change.) |
| Train | [There is no direct train from Khulna to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train. Or it should become barisal.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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| Air Plane | [There is no direct flight from Khulna to Sitakunda. You have to go to Dhaka first and then go by bus or train. Or it should become barisal.] Air Planes to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Barishal | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
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Ways to go from Chittagong | |
| Bus | Bus Stands:-
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All buses from Chittagong go to Sitakunda. | |
Accommodation and food | |
(It is possible to visit the places of Sitakunda in one day. In that case you have to start the journey from dawn. Or should be. Sitakunda has all kinds of facilities for staying and eating.) | |
| Residential Hotels |
(If you search the internet with the name of the residential hotels, you will get all the information related to booking.) |
| Restaurants | (You will find many restaurants anywhere in the city or around residential hotels.) |
- Improved Guide Facility.
- Beautiful And Pleasant Environment.
- Suitable For Trekking Or Adventurers.
- Facilitation Of Spending Quality Time With Family/Couple Or Friends.
- If Necessary, Take Water Bottle, Umbrella Or Raincoat And Water Proof Bag.
- Get Full Charge On Mobile, Torch, Power Bank.
- With The Help Of A Local Guide You Can Tour The Whole Region Beautifully.
- Don’t Forget To Take Necessary Materials For Trekking.
- Travel In Groups Of At Least 6 People.
Note- Beware of all kinds of brokers/scammers. Be very careful on the way so as not to get into any kind of danger. In case of any problem, take the help of local administration or call the National Emergency Service of Bangladesh – 999.
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