The warm soothing smell of ‘Khichuri’ wafts through the air
as the earth soaks in the big droplets of rain that is quick to fill in all
gaps of the cracked scorched earth. The land of six-seasons, many rivers and
golden fields is at the zenith of its beauty during the monsoon. As the young
boy quickly makes a run for his house with his cows, splashing mud and water,
the old man sits on the wooden slab of his tiny make-shift tea-stall brewing
scalding-hot tea for his bazaar-regulars. The conversation flits from religion
to the upcoming wedding in the village, whilst the rain rages on- soaking
everything in sight. Monsoons are beautiful, the pitter-patter of rain, poetry
hanging low in the air- perfect time to head out to the nature and see it come
alive.
As monsoon clouds begin to slowly gather in the blue summer
skies, it is a fine excuse to hit the roads again. It is time for dense,
creamy-brown-milk tea, ‘addas’ at the local bazaars, for leech bites and for
walks in the muddy forest floor. Read on to find out some of the places you
could visit around the country.
Sylhet
High hills, forests, myriad waterfalls-all make for a scenic
get-away. From the rain-forest in Srimangal to the waterfalls and rolling hills
of Jaintapur to the vast wetlands of Sunamganj, Sylhet is music to the
nature-deprived. Simply sit in your bungalow and watch as lightning strikes and
the tall Garjan trees sway in the cold winds. Srimangal is the perfect city for
monsoon, where you can read your favorite book and when you are famished--sink
your teeth in some warm khichuri topped with beef and Shatkora.
Mymensingh:
As you go North from Dhaka, the scene shifts from the busy
dust-riddled streets of Dhaka to towering stark-green Sal trees in Gazipur and
then on to the many myriad ponds serving as fish farms in the district of
Mymensingh. As you keep travelling north, you will reach Haluaghat. Mymensingh
locals say it rains almost every other day here and even in the stark summer
heat, you are sure to find rain-showers gracing the area. With the hills of
Meghalaya a constant company on side, Haluaghat is quaint and yet holds many
adventures. The small local bazaars, the green mossy hills and old churches and
the majestic Bugai River running through the town are simply breathtaking.
Cox’s Bazar:
Although primarily a winter destination, Cox’s Bazar takes
on an almost mythical quality as the monsoon arrives. The formerly
tourist-riddled city becomes a ghost town apart from the locals slowly making
their way about. As the sea becomes rough and the waves hit the shore harder-
the city becomes weary and the pace of life slows. It is worth a visit simply
to watch the rain fall on the busy murky-grey sea and to sink your feet in the
wet earth. And if nothing else, this is the perfect chance for a ‘Dhallywood’
like photography session!
Tetulia
Go North young man! My first view of Tetulia was in the
fading orange glow of dusk. With the clouds slowly setting, it seemed as though
the clouds gained momentum and with a renewed frenzy they slowly began to rain
upon this northern town. The faint light of the border lights of India danced with
the rain and casted eerie shadows on the tea garden running by the road. The
mornings here are similarly beautiful. Here, the Mahananda River runs by the
city, the restaurants are small establishments with tin thatched roofs and have
a simple rice, dal and beef curry on the menu.
And as evening falls, take a ride on the highway, famed to be one of the
most beautiful in the country.
Bangladesh is most beautiful during the rains. Even if you
are watching from the window of your home, there is nothing like the wonderful
rain washing over your city.
