Around 35 kilometers from Sylhet city in the Jaintapur sub-district, Lala Khal lies beside the Sari-Gowain River, right below Cherapunji in India. Originating from the Cherapunji hills, this river flows into Bangladesh. Due to mineral-rich water flowing from the Jaintia Hills and the sandy riverbed rather than muddy sediment, the river appears blue. While the water is blue, there is no clear history behind the name “Lala Khal.” Nestled beneath the easternmost part of the Meghalaya mountain range, Jaintia Hills, Lala Khal is a picturesque village surrounded by mountains, natural forests, tea gardens, and the river itself. It’s believed the river was named after this locality. Interestingly, Morocco’s famous traveler Ibn Battuta first arrived in Bangladesh via this river.
Some argue that Lala Khal is not technically a river. The Indian part of the Jaintia Hills brings the Maindu River close to the Lala Khal border, entering as the Sari River, and flows downstream past Sarighat, merging with the Gowain River. Others suggest that water flowing down from the Cherapunji hills merges with the Sari River at Tamabil, making Lala Khal not a separate river but rather just a part of the Sari River. Locals refer to it as a “khal” or canal, though in their dialect, “khal” is synonymous with “river.” Lala Khal features crystal-clear river waters, breathtaking scenery on both sides, beautiful forests, hills, sandy shores, and tea gardens.
| When will you go? |
| Jaflong showcases different scenic charms in each season, attracting tourists year-round. During winter, the river water is low enough to cross on foot. In contrast, the river is full of swift currents in the monsoon, revealing scattered stones, lush green hills, and enchanting waterfalls. Therefore, the monsoon and post-monsoon periods, from June to November, are considered the best times to visit Jaflong. |
| Special advice |
| Avoid littering and refrain from doing anything harmful to nature and the environment. Keep your belongings, mobile, and camera safe and secure. If needed, seek assistance from the tourist police. Treat locals with respect. To save on costs, plan your trip in a group of seven to eight people, as boats or trolleys are necessary to reach Lala Khal’s zero point and other spots. Be sure to negotiate prices and thoroughly check everything when boarding boats or making purchases. |
| Special caution |
| If you don’t know how to swim, avoid entering the water, as some parts of Lala Khal are quite deep. Do not overcrowd the boat roof, and avoid any arguments with locals. Present yourself simply, and be cautious to avoid falling into the traps of opportunists. |
| Distance of Lalakhal from various divisional cities of the country |
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| Dhaka | 265 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Rajshahi | 484 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Rangpur | 572 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Sylhet | 35 km. |
| Mymensingh | 222 km. (By Sunamganj Highway Root) |
| Khulna | 430 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
| Barishal | 402 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
Chittagong/
Caṭṭagrāma
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434 km. (By Dhaka – Sylhet Highway Root) |
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Since there is no direct transportation to Lalakhal from other parts of the country except Sylhet, you must first travel to Sylhet. |
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Ways to go from Dhaka |
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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.) |
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| Train |
Trains:-
(Taking the Ubudan Express is the most convenient option for traveling by train. The train schedule may change, so it’s best to check ahead before making a decision.) |
| Air Plane |
Airplanes:-
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Ways to go from Rajshahi |
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| 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 Sylhet. 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 |
Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Rangpur |
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| 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 Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train.] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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| Air Plane |
[Since there is no airport in Rangpur, you will need to travel to Sylhet from Syadpur.] Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Chittagong |
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| 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 |
Popular trains:
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| Air Plane |
Air Planes:
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Ways to go from Mymensingh |
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| 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 Mymensingh to Sylhet. 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 |
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| Bus |
[There is no direct bus service available from Khulna to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take train or bus or airplane.] Bus Stands:-
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 Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then take the train] Popular trains to Dhaka:
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| Air Plane |
[There is no direct flight from Khulna to Sylhet. You have to go to Dhaka first and then go by bus or train or airplane.] Air Planes to Dhaka:
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Ways to go from Barishal |
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| Bus |
Bus Stands:-
Buses:-
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Sylhet to Lalakhal From Kadamtali in Sylhet, you can find local and non-stop gate-locked buses heading towards Jaflong, as well as from Sobhanighat in the city. Take one of these buses and get off at Sarighat on the Sylhet-Tamabil road. Alternatively, there is a direct Laguna service available. You can also take a microbus, CNG, or rent a vehicle from in front of the Bandarbazar Shishu Park. From Sarighat, you can reach Lala Khal by either boat or autorickshaw. A boat ride takes about an hour and is more costly, but the scenery is far more enjoyable than by autorickshaw. Note that there is no way to reach Lala Khal zero point without a boat. However, if you prefer not to go by boat, you can take an autorickshaw or a direct vehicle. Cross Sari Bridge and take the road slightly ahead. Along this road, you will come across an old structure midway, an inn built in honor of Princess Eirabati of the Jaintia Kingdom. Take a right from there, and after seven kilometers, you will reach Lala Khal. |
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Accommodation and food |
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[Typically, tourists visiting Lala Khal return to Sylhet city for an overnight stay. Due to high tourist demand, finding accommodation at local resorts or hotels can be challenging, even with advance bookings. However, if you wish to stay nearby, there is the Northern Resort, which also provides its own transportation for guests traveling to and from Sylhet. Additionally, Nazimgarh Resort in Khadimnagar, close to Lala Khal, is another option.] |
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| Residential Hotels |
Residential Hotels in Sylhet:
(If you search the internet with the name of the residential hotels, you will get all the information related to booking.) |
| Restaurants |
Restaurants at Jinda Bazar:
Restaurants at Jaflong Road, Mirabazar:
Other Restaurants:
(You will find many restaurants anywhere in the city or around residential hotels.) |
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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Other Tourist Attractions
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2. Jaflong
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