To leave the cacophony and materialism of Dhaka, we decided to go to Lalakhal in Sylhet. The train tickets were bought! Remember, it’s better to buy the tickets two days in advance.
For the Lalakhal train journey, train tickets from various classes are available: AC, non-ac, cabin, economy etc.
From Sylhet, one can have to go to Sarighat, about an hour away on the bus to Jaflong. From Sarighat, Lalakhal is twenty minutes by a three wheeler taxi.
Lalakhal is surrounded by mountains, the water of the stream is transparent – it’s like a painting. Coming from a concrete jungle, Lalakhal will appear to be a paradise.
Boats can be hired for short trips. On the boat, we stopped near a betel nut plantation.
The lanky trees looked rejuvenated by the fresh rain; glimpses of the hill through the leaves added to the sense of contentment.
At a distance, mountains kissed the sky above; local people collect coal from water flowing in from India. Coal collecting is the main livelihood here.
From there, we went to the tea garden nearby. To discard the grimes of city life, took dips in the reinvigorating water of the lake.
The boat ride will also take you to Zero Point, giving you mesmerizing glimpses of the far away mountains beyond the border.
If you want to return to Sylhet town then come back to the main highway and take a bus.
Stay in Sylhet or return to the pandemonium of the capital is up to you.
For those who want to visit Lalakhal, there’s a Facebook platform; you can join the Chuti Digonte Travel Group and when urban madness seems unbearable, decide to go back to nature, not too far away.