Welcome to Kaptai Lake

Kaptai Lake, which is wonderfully decorated with natural beauty. This artificial lake of 256 square miles of southern Asia is one of the attractions of domestic and foreign tourists. High-low Mountains, mountainous streams, zigzag mountain roads, ocean water and greenery, dark green forests, tree-flowers, and tribal lifestyle are one of the characteristics of Kaptai Lake. The lake is a precious animal of various species of fish and biodiversity.

The Lake is the diverse variety of natural beauty, mountains, streams, sculpted high-low mountains, ominous water and green complexes all around. It is one of the largest artificial lakes in South Asia situated in the hill district of Rangamati. A lot of fish and biodiversity combinations in the lake water. On the mountains, fruits, forests, and medicinal plants and vegetables are available. In all, Kaptai Lake has an extensive conservation of tourism, livestock, and biodiversity.

This freshwater lake, located in the greater Chittagong Hill Tracts, is about 68,800 hectares. As a square mile, its area is 266 square miles, which is 32 percent of the country's total ponds and about 19 percent of the internal water body. 

Although the aim was to produce hydropower, Kaptai Lake has been making significant contributions in the country's overall fishing sector. From fish production, local and foreign currency earning, fishers and fish traders and local people from socio-economic development and livelihood.

Kaptai Lake is the regional name of the Karnafuli Lake. The hydropower project related to the construction of the lake is located in Kaptai Upazila of Chittagong Hill Tracts. According to the name of the dam site Kaptai, residents used to call it Kaptai Lake, which was also known as Karnafuli Lake in some documents. After the completion of the construction of the Kaptai Dam, the spillway was closed in May of 1961.

Before the building of the dam, the present lake was a special landfill surrounded by small hills and valleys. Whose valley and hills are used for sloping cultivation. The Karnafuli River that was formed from the Lusai hills of Assam was flowing in the Bay of Bengal by the name of the Karnafuli on the ground surface of the Kasalong, Moini, Rinkong and Chengi rivers coming from outside the Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts. Due to the construction of Kaptai dam, the lake was created due to the flooded areas of the greater Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with the lower areas of these rivers and surrounding areas.

Location: The Kaptai dam is located 56.31 kilometers north-east of Chittagong city and 68 km from the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The reservoir is about 58,300 hectares, which stands at 68,800 hectares in the rainy season. Its average depth is 9 meters, and the maximum depth is 36 meters. The difference in the season is 8: 14m. Kaptai Lake is very similar to the English H character in shape.

With the combined flow of Miney and the Kassalong canal, the main Karnaphuli river flow in the lower part of the lake creates a long and broad section on the right side of the lake. Rangamati-Kaptai part of the left is formed as a result of the flow of the stream from the Chengi river coming from the north, along with the movement of the Raingkhiong or the Ringkong river from south-east of the lower part. This enormous reservoir of the lake is connected by the narrow and arid Shuvalong Channel (formerly the Karnaphuli river flow) between the two.

The lower part of the lake is often terrestrial, and the bottom is very unfathomable. Apart from the central riverbanks alone, there are almost all tilts, stone chisels, and abandoned big trees. As a result, it is challenging to catch fish. The plains on the foothills of the hill are thicker than the ground surface of the mountain and often refined pudding.

On the other hand, the mountains of hill and telegraphy are relatively light weeds, red and sandy or sultry. Most of the highlands in the lake area are used in zoom cultivation, and forestry and comparatively lower and floating land are used for agriculture only.

The purpose of creating this lake is primarily hydropower production. Besides, the use of the flood control in greater Chittagong, opportunities for agriculture and irrigation, acquisition of forest resources, opportunities to navigate in remote areas, and the development of fisheries and tourism industry was also its purpose. Due to the situation of the flood control of the hill districts, this lake has been significant since the beginning.

You have to go to Rangamati to see Kaptai Lake. To enter Rangamati, beautiful scenes in dense green forests surrounded by high mountains, high mountains, and mountains, captured the mind of everyone. 

Those who do not have the habit of traveling on these roads will be scared. Greater Chittagong district on the west of Rangamati, just 70 kilometers away from Chittagong, in the state of Mizoram in India, on the hill Khagrachari in the north and the hill Bandarban district on the south.

Its total area is 6 thousand 481 square kilometers. Due to the creation of artificial Kaptai lake, an attractive tourist center developed in Rangamati. In the late 70's, the government declared Rangamati district as a tourist area, and tourism corporation established an interesting spot for tourists' convenience. Tourism Corporation creates an attractive hanging bridge between the hotels, offices and the two hills.

How to go Rangamati? Rangamati has many means of transport from Dhaka like Sohag, Saudia, Shyamoli, Hanif, Eagle, etc. You can leave from Kalyanpur, Kalabagan or Sayedabad. Rent NON AC 600-650 taka, AC 800-1000 taka. You can visit the lake by renting a boat/speedboat from the reserve market in Rangamati. It is a treaty with the boat to see the places of the lake. They'll take you to those locations.

Where to stay? Rangamati has many private and privately owned hotels and guesthouses to stay. Below are some hotel descriptions:

1. Parjatan Holiday Complex, they have 12 AC rooms, rent are 1800-2000 taka. Seven non AC rooms and rent are 800-1000 Taka.

Contact / Phone: 0351-63126 (Office)

2. Hotel Sufia, they have 27 AC rooms, rent is 1000-1500 Taka, and 35 non AC rooms and rent is 700-800 Taka.

Contact / Phone: 0351-62145, 61174, 01553409149

3. Hotel Green Castle, they have 7 AC rooms and rent is 1200-1800 Taka. 16 non AC rooms and rent is 700-1600 Taka.

Contact / Phone: 0351-71214, 61200, 01726-511532, 01815-459146.

There are also many other notable hotels such as Hotel Judges, Hotel Al Moba, Hotel Mountain View, Hotel Dignity, Hotel Safia, Hotel Dreamland, etc. Besides, if you want, you can also stay in Peda Ting Ting, Tuktuk Echo Village. So make a plan with your family or friends and have a memorable tour in Kaptai Lake.