Why should you visit Tanguar Haor?

Tanguar Haor is one of the must-visit places in our country. Koroch (Millettia Pinnata) or Hijal tree (Barringtonia acutangula) in the middle of a vast watercourse. Home-like small islands floating on the water. Various species of aquatic plants, multiple species of birds, in all, this Haor is an excellent natural beauty of Bangladesh. This water body was recognized by the Ramsar Authority of the United Nations in 2000 as the vital biodiversity of wetlands in the world.

You've been steadily getting busy in the racket of the mechanical city for a long time! If so; to give your mind a little calm, you can visit 'Tanguar Haor'. A beautiful water tank as like the queen of beauty.

Location:  The Haor is located in Sunamganj district of Sylhet division. This Haor is located just below the hilly areas of Meghalaya in Dharmapasha and Tahirpur Upazila. It is the largest wetland in the district and the second largest freshwater wetland in Bangladesh, with 9 517 hectares of area and combination of minor 51 Haors. This Haor has come up to 30 fountains from the Meghalaya hills.

It is located about 60 kilometers away from Sunamganj district headquarters and it takes 3-4 hours to go by speedboat in the dry season. In the autumn, on a motorcycle, 5-6 hours. However, in the rainy season on the road to the speedboat, it takes two and a half hours. Basically, due to the backwardness of the communication system, the area remains behind the scenes, with huge possibilities.

Best time to visit: Certainly in the rainy season and in the moonlit night is the best time. Also, if you want to see guest birds, winter time is appropriate.

Attractions: One of the attractions of Tanguar Haor is the variety of birds. This Haor is a regular encounter with bird species such as Eagle, Vulture, Cormorant, Violet Kalem, Dahuk, Balihas, Seagull, Heron, Saros etc.

It is different with other Haors of the country for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty. According to the Environmental Research report, this Haor is the habitat of about 200 birds of almost rare species endangered by the world. There are over 150 species of endangered fish. This is one of the most beautiful freshwater Haor near the Khasia-Jaintia hills with an area of 20,000 acres of land.

This is the biggest natural wetland in the basin. In Bengali Hemanto season after drying the water, its size stands at 6,912.12 acres. Boro paddy is produced in 1500 acres of land in the dry season. The huge Haor of Sunamganj is now part of world heritage. Many have called this Haor as the queen of wealth and beauty.

Tangua has rare aquatic species of Gangetic dolphins, fox, Asian small-clawed otter, pangolin, wild cats, fishing cats. Among the trees, more than 200 species, including Nalakhagra, Hijal, Karach, Varun, Reyntree, Padma, Wild Rose.  A large amount of money is earned through the construction of firewood, furniture, and home furnishings.

There are about 141 species of fish, including Chital, Mahasol, Sorputi, Baghai and Rita, and about 16 species of endangered fish and 16 species of exotic fish. There are 11 species of amphibians found in the Haor. There are approximately 34 species of reptiles, including 6 species of turtle, 7 species of lizards, and 21 species of snakes.

If Tanguar Haor is said to be the colorful state of the birds, it will not be exaggerated. Around 219 species of birds including Red-crested Pochard, different guest birds, Ruddy Shelduck etc are seen in the Haor. Of these, about 98 species of birds have taken shelter for survival. Among them, there are 121 species of green bee-eater, Brahminy Kite, Spot-billed Duck and our native birds.

How to go from Dhaka? 

Shyamoli and Mamun Enterprises buses from Sayedabad, Dhaka, left for Sunamganj Sadar from morning till midnight. Bus rent is 500-600 Taka from Dhaka to Sunamganj. Non-ac buses cost is 400-450 Taka. If you leave from Uttara then you can come to Sunamganj through ENA Paribahan. You will reach Sunamganj at around 5:30 am, starting at 11:30 in the night. If there is excessive fatigue, you can take rest for four / five hours in a nearby hotel.

Remember, the number of good hotels in Sunamganj is very few. You can go straight to Tanguar Haor from the old bus stand after breakfast. The tour plan depends on your location and the temporary situation.

To see the Haor, you need to go Tahirpur after crossing Surma Bridge with laguna/bikes. If the tour is more than a member, then the cost will be less. To go to Tahirpur with the Laguna from the Surma River, it will take one and a half to two hours. After reaching Tahirpur, hire an engine boat or trawler from Tahirpur Bazarghat until the next morning.

If you hire big boats, can sleep at night with toilet facilities. If you wish, you can arrange for cooking in midday/night meal by talking to them. In that case, you have to buy food items from Tahirpur market.

Hason Raja Museum

Where to stay? Many residential hotels can be found in Sunamganj's old bus stand. Choose your own according to your needs. Note that the number of quality hotels in Sunamganj is less. If the night passes in the boat, then you don't need a hotel room.

You can stay at Tekerghat limestone project guest house which is three-kilometer north-east from the Haor. There is an accommodation facility at Tahirpur thana guest house. Many families' lives near Tanguar rest house, if you want, you can stay with them. 

Where to eat? There are plenty of restaurants in Sunamganj, where food is quite cheap. But restaurant facilities are not very good at Tahirpur. If someone arranges to stay in the boat at night, then take food from Tahirpur Bazar. Apart from that, you can arrange accommodation in the boat, if you want.

Barbeque's arrangement will be interesting if you can manage. For this, it is a good idea to talk to the boatman. People around Haor are also friendly; you can take help from them for arranging food.

Important tips: 

• If you do not know swimming, then take a life jacket. 
• Take proper preparation if you want to stay at night in the Haor. 
• Take torch lights, as well as firebox with Odomos lotion to be safe from Mosquito bite. 
• Be careful during negotiation. 
• Keep an umbrella for rain or sunlight. 
• Don't forget to take a first aid box. 
• Take plastic bags for preserving electronic devices.
• Do not throw chips, cigarettes, biscuits packets or any other kind of dirt in Haor, hills or rivers.
• Take a polythene bag to keep the dirt. Later through them in a dustbin.
• Carefully walk in the border area and do not try to cross it.
• People of Tahirpur, Tekerghat and Barek Tila are simple enough; please do not try to cheat them.
• Don't try to hunt any birds.

Necessary mobile numbers: 

To hire Trawler and visit Barek Tila by bike, contact with Muhaddis-01715960102. For staying and food arrangement at Barek's Tila, contact with Ashik -01918770048. Hason Raja Museum-01749711775. Caretaker of Upazila Dakbungalow, Kripesh Das: 017244968161. To stay at Upazila guest house, you have to communicate with the chairman Anisul Haque-01715172238.

If you want to get the touch of nature and keep away from boring city life, you can stay few days with your family here in the Tanguar Haor.