Kuakata Sea Beach

The Kuakata sea beach, known as the "daughter of the sea," is a beautiful beach in the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is the only beach in South Asia where the sunrise and sunset can be seen standing. It is undoubtedly an excellent way to see the sun shining in the sea's belly and to see the sun disappearing on the ocean.

Location: It is located in Patuakhali district of Barisal Division. Kuakata is a spacious sandy beach where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. It was part of the larger Sundarban. This beach is 18 kilometers long and 3.5 kilometers wide. The beach is surrounded by green trees. This forest attracts tourists most. There is no clutter on the beach in Kuakata.

On the west side of the beach, there are two rivers, 'Payra' and 'Bishkhali, ' and there is one river named 'Agunmukha'. There is also a mangrove forest on the west which is known as the second Sundarban. There are Buddhist temples and an old well on the beach. Rakhain village started near the Buddhist temple.

Naming of Kuakata: It is believed that in the 18th century, the Aracans started migrating from Burma (Myanmar) to this region after being driven out by the Mughal rulers. So here they had dug a lot of wells or coupes to meet the lack of water, due to which the name of this region is called Kuakata.

What to see in Kuakata: 

The beach: It's pretty clean. Due to its geographical location, only the sunrise and sunset scenes can be enjoyed from this beach. Sunrise is best viewed from the Gangetic bend on the eastern edge of the beach. And the best place to visit the sunset is the west beach of Kuakata. The quake beaches are about 18 kilometers long. 

There are long coconut trees on the entire beach. These coconut gardens have been destroyed due to the breakdown of sea tides at different times. Fisherman's fishing scene is seen all year round at the beach.

Dry fish village (Shultki Polli): The fishermen village is on the west side of the sea beach. There are lots of fishermen living here. From November to March, the work of making dry fish is mainly done here. Fishermen make dried fish on the beach by bringing fish from the sea. You can buy good quality dry fishes here at low prices.

Gangamati jungle

Gangamati jungle: The beach ends on the east side of the Gangamati canal. From here, the forest of Gangamati has started. Many people call it a jungle of Gajmati. You will see various trees, birds, chickens, monkeys etc. in this forest.

Crab Island: On the east side of the beach, Kuakata has crossed the forest of Gangamati and went further in front of Crab Island. There are red crab dwellings in this place. In the travel season (October-March), you can visit the crab island by speedboats.

Red crab in the island

Fatra forest: After crossing the river on the western side of the beach, you will see a forest which is known as Fatra forest. Its area is approximately 997507 acres. It has already been known as the 'second Sundarban'. Every day, many trawlers leave to the forest. If you wish, you can go there by reserve a trawler. 

Fatra forest

It takes 20 to 25 minutes. Here are mangrove species of Kewra, Gewa, Sundari, Fatra, Garan, Bain, Golpata etc., and many animals and birds, including pigs. The wild pigs are rarely found in this forest. There is an arrangement from the beach for going to the forest on an hour-long boat ride from an engine boat.

Kuakata well

Kuakata well: The well is still behind the history of Kuakata naming. But a few years ago, its beauty was ruined due to the shocking and grave reforms. It is in the Rakhain's village near the sea beach.It is reported that in 1784, the Burmese king captured Rakhine's motherland Arakan. After losing their land and in search of shelter on the way, they found the Rangabali Island on the banks of the Bay of Bengal and settled there. They used to dig a well for fresh water. From then on, the place is known as Kuakata.

Kuakata well

Rakhain Polli (village): Rakhain community has nearly 200 years old tradition. You can see the huge figure of "Gautam Buddha". The country's largest Buddhist temple is located 10km away from the Rakhain Polli in Kuakata. 

This meditated idol of Gautam Buddha is 36 feet high and its weight is approximately 1500 kg. The motorcycle is the main vehicle to go there from Kuakata. It is known that the beauty of the temple has been followed by China's architecture.It looks like the temple of Thailand or Myanmar.

Rakhain village/polli

The people of the Rakhain community, who had been stranded from Arakan State, migrated to the sea under the leadership of their King Mong and then settled them in Chittagong and later in the jungle land in Patuakhali. Build their own habitat in their own tradition and culture. The government gave them land for making their own village.

Jhaw tree

Ecopark and National Park: Eco Park and National Parks have been developed along with almost 200 acres of land in the sixties with planned coconut garden, Jhaw forest, gongamati reserve forests, west fishery forests and mangrove ranges of Mahipur. Continuous and overwhelming breakdown of the sea has already destroyed the very popular coconut garden. On the east side of the forest department, 15 hectares Jhau forest has been made on the sandy beach.

Other places to visit near Kuakata sea beach: Paira port: Paira Port is a third port of and an important maritime port in South Asia. It is located in Itbariia of Tiakhali union on the bank of Andharmanik River under Rabnabad channel of Kolapara Upazila of Patuakhali district. On November 19, 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiled the foundation stone at Itbariia village under the Tiakhali Union of Kolapara Upazila. On August 13, 2016, the seaport commenced its formal journey. It is an official route for import and export.

Potuakhali water museum

Potuakhali Water museum: The country's first water museum has been inaugurated in Patuakhali's Kolapara with the aim of increasing policy making and increasing public awareness to protect river and water resources. This museum is situated in a two-storied building in the Pakhimara Bazar area of Kolapara-Kuakata road.

In the Water Museum, the names of the rivers, the lost river, and the current river, the information about the future of the river can be known. Here are the water samples of 10 rivers, including Padma, Meghna, Yamuna, Buriganga, Andharmanik. There are plans to keep a sample of the water of 57 international rivers of Bangladesh in the future. Apart from this, there are potteries, clay-made materials; fishing nets can be seen in the museum.

There is a boat in front of the water museum. It is half-sanded. It is a symbol of the story of the death of the river. Now the lives of people in the river are drying up. It is highlighted by the boat stuck in the sand. There are two spikes on the boat chest, which symbolizes the attempt to kill the river.

Kuakata Sonar Char

Sonar char: Its location is approximately 80 kilometers south of Patuakhali district headquarters and about 80 kilometers south of Galachipa Upazila headquarters. In the last few years, the Sonar char sea beach has become quite popular for the tourists. To avoid the dangers of the dangerous communication system, many people are going to see the amazing beauty of nature. Sea waves. Fishing fishermen. Apart from the huge forest, there is a lot to see there.

Especially the billions of red crab wanders have become attractive to tourists across a vast beach of about ten kilometers long. It would seem like a world of red crab. The whole beach is spreading a red carpet.

a red crab in the Sonar Char

Panpatti Launchghat 10km south of the road from Galachipa Upazila headquarters of Potuakhali district. If you go ahead from there, the Agun Mukha estuarine is in the mouth. Trawlers or launchers will be seen from Agun Mukha estuarine three hours ahead of the magical island Tapashi. Sonarchar is a 30-minute route from Tapashi, A unique beautiful eye-catching seaside about 10 km long. 

But there are many people who do not know the green forests of Sonarchar, Ruparchar and Charhear and the green forests that are awake. Sonarchar, a beautiful island of nature, woke up in the sea. Standing in the same place on the island sunrise and sunset can be seen.

Sonarhar beach is an attractive place of beauty. When the light of the sunshine in the last afternoon falls in the golden belt, then the entire island will feel like a golden plate. When the tide rises in the sea, another beauty develops in the Sonarchar. The small-scale waves in the coastline collapsed. The intensive campus of solid green forest in salt water.

There are also 5000 acres of forests in addition to the long beach. According to the information provided by Galachipa Upazila administration, it is the second largest forest in Bangladesh only after the Sundarban. There are hundreds of small and big canals spread across the huge forest area of Sonarchar. With a small boat or engine trawler, it is seen in the canals that all the birds and birds wander. But do not fear. There is no wild animal except for the fox and some big cats here.

If you are close to the forest, it is easy to see the wild buffalo. If fate you are lucky then deer can be seen. There are pigs, monkeys, meatballs and other wildlife. If you see this, you have to get out in the morning. There is a dak bungalow (guest house) and forest department camp for the tourists.

Sunrise and sunset: There are about 3 kilometers long beach. Now the Kuakata is not the only beach where the sunrise and sunset can be seen from the same place. Sonarachar beach is also like this. Here is an unusual view of sunrise and sunset standing in the same place.

Majidbaria mosque: Majidbaria Shahi Jami Mosque of Mirzaganj Upazila of Patuakhali is one of the oldest Muslim architectures in the southern part of the country. This Shahi Mosque, which was established in the Sultanate period, five hundred years ago, which still, reminds Muslim architecture and heritage. 

According to this mosque, the name of the place has been named as Mosque. Later, a UP chairman named Majid was named as Majidbaria instead of Mosjidbaria.

                          Majidbaria mosque

According to different sources, it is known that Rukanddin Barabak was an independent sultan of the Iliyas Shahi dynasty. He was the ruler of the Bengal from 1449 to 1474. Under his reign, this mosque was built in 1465.

The mosque has three beautifully decorated Mehrab, three arched paths on the east and six pillars of monoliths in the periphery. A verandah and two windows are on the east-north and south sides. In the absence of reform for long, the doors and windows of the doors and pillars have reached the end of destruction.

The huge one-domed mosque is constructed of limestone and stoneware bricks without any rod-cement. The walls of the mosque are about 75 inches full and inside the mosque, there are many examples of Muslim architecture. It is really impossible to understand the genuineness of the mosque without seeing it.

It is believed that the mosque has remained unbounded due to its long habitat in remote areas. A spectacular area surrounded by forests. In 1960, when the forest was cleared to survey the land, the mosque came to the attention of the people. Someone thought that it was created by Allah's special power.

At present, the mosque is under the Department of Archeology. But due to lack of reform, many beauty of the mosque has been lost. If there is no initiative for quick reform, then the remainder will be over. So the residents demanded that the government will look forward to highlighting the history of Muslim rule in Bangladesh, the contribution of Muslims and historical patterns to the next generation through the rapid reform of the mosque.

How to go to Kuakata: The distance from Dhaka to Kuakata is 380 kilometers and from Barisal its 108 kilometers. Several buses from Dhaka are now directly going to Kuakata. From Dhaka Gabtoli or Sayedabad, Druti Paribahan, Sakura Paribanhan including several transport vehicles is available. Bus ticket fare is 500-550 Taka.

It takes a total of 12/13 hours to go from Dhaka to Kuakata by bus if there is no traffic jam or other problem on the road. A BRTC bus departs from Khulna at 7 am for kuakata. It takes about 7/8 hours to go from Khulna. If you want to come from North Bengal, you can go from Saidpur to Khulna by Simanto intercity train. If you travel at night, you can go to Kuakata by BRTC 7 am scheduled bus.

But after Barisal, you will have to cross the route of Lebukhali, Kolapara, Hajipur, and Mahipur to reach Kuakata by ferry. However, the tourists who want to come to Dhaka via river can get rid of the two ferry disadvantages.

From Dhaka Sadarghat luxury double-decker MV Parabat, MV Saikat, MV Sundarban, MV Sampad, MV Prince of Barisal, MV Patarhat, and MV coastline launches are going to Potuakhali. After reaching Patuakhali or Kolapara you can hire a rent a car or can go by bus to Kuakata.

Mentioned launches are normally left from Dhaka to Kuakata between 5 pm to 7 pm. Launch single cabin rent is 600 Taka. From Kolapara to Kuakata is 22 km and the road condition is very poor.

Where to stay in Kuakata: There are two rest houses in Kuakta along with Sagan Konna (daughter of the sea) holiday homes. Besides these, there are two rest houses of LGED, roads, and highway department have one, the district council has one and Rakhain cultural Academy have one rest house. 

To stay in these places, the prior permission of the concerned office is to be obtained. Besides more than fifty private hotels and motels are also available for accommodation.  Few quality hotels and motels are Hotel Niljana, Hotel B-View, Hotel Golden Parej, Hotel Beach-Velli, Hotel Family Homes, Kuakata Guest House, Hotel Sagor Konna, Hotel Al Hera, Hotel Akon, Hotel Sea-Garden, Hotel Sriti etc.

Hotel in Kuakata sea beach: Here is a few Kuakata sea beach hotel information:

Youth in Kuakata: contact 04428-56207

Hotel Sky Palace LTD: Cell.01727-030248, 01716-749027

Ananda Bari: 01911-672135 or 01712-849373

The Golden Palace: 01911-672135 or 01712-849373

Hotel Kuakata Inn: Call +88029885623, 01750008177, 01555012500, 880442856031

Hotel Neelanjana LTD, Kuakata: Call 01712-927904

Kuakata Grand hotel and Sea Resort: Call 01709-646371

Hotel Shoikot Kuakata: Call 01716-214428

Hotel Golden Beach International: Call 01971-841606

Aman Palace Hotel: Call +8801670141478, 01553697336

Hotel Graven Inn International: East side of Rakhain Market, Sea Beach, Kuakata, Call 01833-318387

Hotel Sun Marina: Call 02-9111070, 01819504989

Hotel Banani Palace Kuakata: Parjaton Road, Kuakata, Patuakhali. Kuakata, Call 01713-674189

Century Gold Coast Beach Hotel and Spa: Century Kuakata Model Town, Kuakata, Call 01915-476605

Beach Haven Kuakata: Near Kuakata Beach, Kuakata, Call 01730-021341.

Hotel Sagar Neer: Call 01701499123

Hotel Sea Queen International: Call 01720-172894

Sagor Konna Resort Ltd: 01911-672135 or 01712-849373

Where to eat in Kuakata: Hotel Sefard for quality food, Khabar Ghar-1, Khabar Ghar-2, house-2, these hotels offer food to your resident hotel. Apart from this, there are many small food hotels in the tourist area - Kalapara Hotel, Hotel Mannan, Hotel Barisal etc. These hotels offer quality food and supplies at low cost. Potuakhali Joy hotel and restaurant, contact: 01713-953787.

In 1998 Kuakata was declared a tourist center. From then on, it is known as "Sagarakonna". Every year, thousands of tourists from all over the country and abroad are welcomed by the Kuakata sea beach.