Opened in 2002 as the Fifth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, this 918-metre crossing carries the regional highway high above the Gabkhan Channel. The canal, excavated during the British era to link the Sandhya and Sugandha rivers, is often called the Suez Canal of Bengal and carries heavy inland cargo vessels, paddle steamers, and oil tankers. From the pedestrian footpaths atop the bridge, visitors look down on tugboats navigating narrow river bends. Pedestrian walkways are open free to walkers.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- About an hour
- Cost
- Free to walk on; auto-rickshaw from town centre roughly ৳20–30
How to get to Gabkhan Bridge
Located 3 km west of Jhalokathi town along the highway toward Pirojpur. Rickshaws and easy-bikes from the town centre reach the bridge in under 10 minutes.
Jhalokathi town is about 195 km from Dhaka, around 4 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Jhalokathi guide.
More to see in Jhalokathi
Photo: Lonely Explorer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bhimruli Floating Guava Market ভীমরুলী ভাসমান পেয়ারা বাজার
A wholesale floating fruit market operating from hundreds of small wooden boats where three tidal canals meet.
- Best time
- July to August for guavas; September for hog plums
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Small boat hire roughly ৳500–800 for 2 hours; auto-rickshaw from town about ৳150–200
Photo: Dr. Emdadul Hoque Mamun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Kirtipasha Zamindar Bari কীর্ত্তিপাশা জমিদার বাড়ি
A 18th-century zamindar estate featuring ornamental brick halls, a Durga temple, and aged banyan trees in Kirtipasha village.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free entry; auto-rickshaw from Jhalokathi town roughly ৳40–60 each way
Hailakathi Shital Pati Village হাইলাকাঠি শীতল পাটি গ্রাম
An artisan hamlet in Rajapur where patikar families weave smooth cooling mats from green murta cane.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free to visit; transport from Jhalokathi about ৳80–120 each way