Located at the northern edge of Companiganj upazila, Sada Pathor is the delta where the mountain-fed Dholai River spills onto the plains of Bangladesh. Rushing turquoise currents wash across acres of naturally smoothed white limestone and basalt pebbles beneath the green Cherrapunji hill ranges. Visitors hire motorised country trawlers from the Bholaganj ten-number ghat to reach the rocky shallows. Wear water sandals to protect your feet on slippery river stones, and avoid venturing into deep river channels where currents run fast.
- Best time
- May to October
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Boat hire roughly ৳800–1,200 return per boat; shared auto or bus from Sylhet about ৳100–150 each way
How to get to Bholaganj Sada Pathor
About 35 km north of Sylhet city along the upgraded Bangabandhu highway. Take a BRTC bus or private CNG auto to Bholaganj ghat (1 to 1.5 hours), then a 15-minute boat ride.
Sylhet town is about 240 km from Dhaka, around 5.5 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Sylhet guide.
Strictly observe border demarcations; crossing the river boundary into Indian territory is illegal.
More to see in Sylhet
Photo: S M Mahfuzul Islam Rahat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Ratargul Swamp Forest রাতারগুল সোয়াম্প ফরেস্ট
A 504-acre freshwater swamp forest in Gowainghat where wooden canoes glide through half-submerged groves of koroch and hijal trees.
- Best time
- July to October
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Small canoe roughly ৳800–1,200 for up to four people; CNG auto from Sylhet city about ৳600–800 return
Photo: Farhan alvee, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Hazrat Shah Jalal Dargah হযরত শাহজালাল দরগাহ
The fourteenth-century tomb complex and mosque of the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Jalal, the spiritual center of Sylhet.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free entry; optional donation; rickshaw from central town roughly ৳30–50
Photo: Salim Khandoker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Lalakhal লালাখাল
A scenic stretch of the Shari River known for its clear teal water, tea garden ridges, and boat trips toward the Indian border.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Engine boat hire roughly ৳1,000–1,500 return for a group; bus from Sylhet city about ৳70–100 each way
Photo: Redmin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Malnicherra Tea Estate মালনীছড়া চা বাগান
The oldest commercial tea estate in Bangladesh, established in 1854 on rolling hills just north of Sylhet city.
- Best time
- October to March
- Give it
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free to enter and walk public estate paths; auto-rickshaw from city about ৳60–100 each way