Emerging from the Bay of Bengal in the 1950s as an alluvial sandbank, this southern island was later stabilized through extensive mangrove afforestation by the forest department. Today it forms a protected national park sheltering thousands of spotted chital deer, fishing cats, and huge flocks of overwintering migratory waterfowl. Visitors explore the dense keora woods at dawn with local boatmen to spot grazing herds before wandering the hard-packed sands of Namar Bazar beach. Bring all necessary medicines and sufficient cash, as automated banking facilities on the island are unreliable.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- A full day
- Cost
- Boat crossings roughly ৳50–100 each; local motorbike hire across Hatiya and the island about ৳500–700
How to get to Nijhum Dwip
From Maijdee, take a bus to Chairman Ghat in 1.5 hours, cross by sea truck or trawler to Nalchira on Hatiya, ride south to Mokter Ghat, then cross by small wooden boat to the island.
Noakhali town is about 165 km from Dhaka, around 4.5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Noakhali guide.
Offshore channel crossings can be rough or halted entirely during storms and monsoon squalls; always verify weather forecasts before crossing.
More to see in Noakhali
Photo: Kishorsopnoneel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Bajra Shahi Mosque বজরা শাহী মসজিদ
A grand 18th-century Mughal brick mosque in Sonaimuri, built by a local zamindar to emulate Delhi's Jama Masjid.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free to visit; CNG auto-rickshaw from Maijdee roughly ৳100–150 each way
Gandhi Ashram গান্ধী আশ্রম
A historic rural estate in Jayag dedicated to peace and rural development, preserving memorabilia from Mahatma Gandhi's 1947 visit.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry donation roughly ৳20; CNG from Maijdee about ৳200 each way
Photo: Iqbal45567, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Musapur Closure মুসাপুর ক্লোজার
A coastal closure dam and water regulator on the Little Feni river estuary, fringed by a planted mangrove forest and wide beaches.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free access; CNG auto-rickshaw from Maijdee roughly ৳250–300 each way