Nafakhum| Thanchi,Bandarban| Mind blowing Waterfall of Bangladesh

Nafakhum is often called the “Niagra” of Bangladesh. It is one the most wonderful waterfalls in Bangladesh. People who have the zeal for adventure and trekking should have gone Nafakhum, mind blowing natural beauty of Bandarban, Bangladesh. Bandarban is a gift of nature with hilly terrain and art of natural beauties everywhere, flying clouds touching the hill tops, playing clouds in the blue sky, a wonderful natural environment, where rivers, hills, sky, clouds, fountains, waterfalls with forests everywhere make it a heaven on earth. Nafakhum is now becoming very popular to the tourists from home and abroad, which is not still overcrowded, pollution free, thus sometimes tourists called it as virgin waterfall. If you want to bind yourself in touch with virgin nature of Bangladesh, you have to go Nafakhum.

Where is Nafakhum:

Nafakhum, the biggest waterfall of Bangladesh in considering the volume of water flow, is located on the wild hilly Sangu River at a remote area called Remakri. Remakri is a Marma region sited at the upstream of the Sangu River in Thanchi Upazela under Bandarban District. From Remakri, it needs to walk about 2.5 hours to see the magnificent waterfall named Nafakhum.

How to go Nafakhum:

A Nafakhum waterfall is sited in Bandarban District. So at first you have to go Bandarban from Dhaka or any other district of Bangladesh. S.Alam, Soudia, Shamoli Poribahan, Unique Poribahan are the renowned bus services which can lead you to Bandarban from Dhaka and Chittagong. It may take 6-7 hours to go Bandarban from Dhaka. In this post I am elaborately describe you how to go Nafakhum from Dhaka. I hope this post will be helpful for quench your thirst about Nafakhum. I am trying to describe part by part about how to go Nafakhum.

Here are the Bus Services Schedule and fare:

From Bandarban to Thanchi:

Thanchi is about 82 km far from Bandarban town. It will take 3 hours to go Thanchi from Bandarban by Chander Gari (car). You can also go there by bus but it will take extra time than that of Chander Gari.

Remember Local buses Schedule:

From Bandarban: 8.00am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, and 2.30pm

From Thanchi: 8.00am, 10.00am, 12.00pm, and 2.00pm

Road to Remakri:

Tourists must enter their name and contact info at the Army camp of Thanchi. Then it is mandatory for a tourist or tourist’s team to hire a tour guide. After confirming guide, you need to go Remakri from Thanchi. From Thanchi you have to rent boat to reach Remakri. There are two options about the boat. One is engine boat and the other is rowing boat or push boat. This will be more exciting and adventurous journey for you. Especially on the rainy season, the tides of Sangu River are very risky. There are several step downs, sharp turns, and heavy flow in the place Boro Pathor, where speed of the boats must be controlled very carefully. Though Boro Pathor is a risky place indeed, but the scenic beauty of this place is truly mind blowing. It may take 4-5 hours to go Remakri from Thanchi by boat. It is easily understandable that when you reach Remakri, the sun will be ready for setting down. So you have to stay Remakri that night. There are some tribal cottages in Remakri. Your tour guide will help you where to stay at Remakri and also about your dinner.

Finally Nafakhum:

The next day, you have to start your journey very early in the morning. Using your feet is only option to go Nafakhum from Remakri. It will take 2.5 hours to reach the beautiful Nafakhum from Remakri. You can also find another glorious waterfall named “RemakriKhum” on the way to Nafakhum. Here you can see a vast of water falling from 30-35 feet height. A heavenly environment is created here. Wild hilly forest with magnificent waterfall of Nafakhum unquestionably creates a center of attention of your mind.

Travel back to Thanchi:

After spending 2-3 hours in Nafakhum, heavenly beauty on earth, you should go back to Remakri first and then travel back to Thanchi on that day. In time of returning Thanchi, boat moves along with the tide. So you may reach Thanchi on 4 hours from Remakri.

Stay Thanchi and Go back to Dhaka:

After 2.30 pm there are no buses or Chander Gari to move forward to Bandarban. So you have to stay that night in Thanchi. There are some hotels in Thanchi. Aftar staying that night, you can go Bandarban and then Dhaka.

Journey to Nafakhum- Take a Quick Look:

Start journey from Dhaka at night→Reach Bandarban at early morning (about 6am)àMove to Thanchi from Bandarban (it may takes 4.5 hours) →Road to Remakri from Thanchi by boat (it takes another 5 hours)àStay 1^st night at Remakri→Walking through Nafakhum very early in the morning (Takes 2.5 hours) →Get back to Remakri and then Thanchi→Stay 2^nd night at Thanchi→Travel back to Bandarban and then Dhaka.

Another Quick Look on Cost for Nafakhum Expedition:

*Dhaka to Bandarban (Non AC bus)-480 BDT

*Bandarban To Thanchi: Chander Gari-4000-4500 BDT, Local Bus 170-200 BDT

*Thanchi to Remakri: Engine Boat 4500 BDT for 2 days

*Guide will take 500 taka per day and you have to give another 100 taka to Guide committee. Another matter about the guide that after reaching Remakri, the guide you took from Thanchi will not go with you. Then you have to take another guide from Remakri and confer some extra money for guide!

* You can stay at Thanchi in hotels at a cost of taka 500 maximum for 5 persons. Stay at tribal house at night may cost 100 taka per person in Remakri. Meal per person also cost 100 taka at Remakri.

Important suggestions for tourists:

*Please inform in written to the local administration at Thanchi and Remakri.

*If you want to hire a Chander Gari or vehicle, fix rent before hand.

*Always carry drinking water and First Aid Box with you.

* Take national ID card or any kind of ID card.

*Please don’t litter the virgin place of Bandarban.

*Be polite, show positive attitude with local people.

*Use local bus, jeep, cars for travel. It is advised not to use any other car/jeep & driver who has no experience in driving on hilly roads.

* Do not take any picture or snaps of the locals without their permission.

Photo Credit: Neel Vomora (Blogger)