20 match's found in 'Hills' category -

Long walk to Keokradang

The most charming adventure tour in Bangladesh is to explore Keokradang, the highest peak of the country. Our team consisted of only two persons -- Rahul and I. So the tour was more of an adventure for us. Many suggested us not to go on this venture, but defied them one by one.

Riding The Snows

It's an irresistible color, white. It tugs at the heartstring and beckons one to Himalayan heights every winter, the freezing cold notwithstanding. There is plenty you can do with the crisp white flakes as they descend lightly from the laden skies: just scoop them up in handfuls and play ball, and hop onto a sledge and let the sledge man run down the hill side with you, or put on a pair of skies and zoom down to slopes at 60 miles an hour.

Beautiful Darjeeling

A hundred divine epochs would not suffice to describe all the marvels of the Himalaya, a Sanskrit proverb says. The Himalayan range lays claim to being one of the most fascinating and spectacular natural wonders on earth.

A book and a trip to Mainimukh

"This is stirring stuff,” Khosru reached into his bag to produce a green A4-size book with a sky blue jacket.

The elephant trail

It is a beautiful rest house in the middle of nowhere. Standing high on concrete stilts, the white-walled, tile-roofed building looks alluring on a hilltop. Two huge balconies were just waiting for us to slump. The breath-catching scene made us forget our journey fatigue.

Kasalang chronicle

We were once again cruising. First, we crossed the lake into the creeks and then we found our way into the Kasalang river.

Mountfort's bird paradise

A Flight of steps up the steep slope led to the Pablakhali bungalow. We toiled up it, carrying our backpack and camera equipment. We passed a small pond by the woodland and then the white structure came into view. It is just a copy of the Mainimukh bungalow -- the same design, the same wide balconies. On the sofas laid out in the shaded balconies, we sat down to have tea.

The enchanted forest

In the mild afternoon sun, we wanted to take a better look around. to feel the changes that have taken place since Guy Mountfort, the famous wildlife expert and WWF trustee, visited this place and recorded his fantastic observations. But even before we set out we knew not much of the forest is left today: the land has gone through a lot of stress by humans -- first by building the Kaptai dam that had flooded and destroyed the forest land, and secondly, by illegal loggers.

Korerhat Part-1

A forest, untrodden, depleted but vibrant

Stretching down to the south-eastern corner of the country the hill forests of Chittagong north division is among the least known scenic tract of the country. On our return trip to Dhaka from Pablakhali wildlife sanctuary we saw a fantastic patch of forest along the Ramgarh-Dhaka highway. Although some of the hilltops are depleted of plants but the valleys were still clothed with dense vegetation.

Korerhat Part-2

Barking Deer, an eves dropper's glimpse

We got up very early in the morning, anticipating our guides (two forest guards) to join us. But they did not turn up till the sunrise. They had promised to show us Barking deer, one of the most elusive creatures in the wild. The rest house was built on the western foothills of the Korerhat Hill range, which obstructed the incoming sunlight from reaching the western slopes where we were.

Kaptai-1

Hornbill's way

"Ah, we will have a nice night," Khasru scanned the sky above and said. A half-moon was hanging out there, pale and almost translucent against the deep blue afternoon sky. Still looking sleepy, waiting to wake up but unable to make up its mind. The cool winter breeze whipped our face. Long shadows of the teak and shal trees lay lazily on this hilly precipitous road. On our right and left, the green-canopied hills looked like some giant prehistoric lizards sucking up the last rays of the sun.

Kaptai-2

Hornbill’s way

“Wake up! Look at the sight outside," somebody tucked at my jacket. Slowly I opened my eyes, they focused on Khosru's. "It's Japanese paining! Look at the miracle," he sounded excited.

Kaptai-3

Hornbill’s way

The Kaptai Khal lay before me -- wide and winding, mysterious and forbidding -- shriveled in the winter. The shores on the banks were now wider than the flow itself. Huge stones carried down by the mighty monsoon streams shone in the sun like some sunbathing giant turtles. Huge bamboo rafts were stationed in front of the forest bungalow -- the bamboo traders had called a halt here. Away, thick forests stood silently. From high up here, it looks so mysterious.

Kaptai-4

Hornbill’s way

Khorsu broke the silence. "Ok. There's no point in going any further." We headed back to the river and found an engine boat waiting for us.

Elephants of the sylvan shadows

It was another dreary morning. The rain continued in its endlessly monotonous beat. The moistness in the air was gone and it was feeling rather cool. I checked the time -- 6:30am. We should have left the bungalow half an hour ago, but the forest officials told us it was no use going in this weather. Even four-wheelers would not be of any use in the hills, they said.

Part 1

Journey to a bat cave

As far as I can recollect, the mountains have always fascinated me. I still can vividly recollect my first trip to the mountains of Beluchistan in Pakistan at the age of four. When my uncle called my name aloud to the mountains, the mountain replied back my name. It was a sheer magic to me. Then he explained what an echo was.

Part 2

Journey to a bat cave

Next morning we resumed our journey at the first light of dawn. Towering peaks and emerald green forest patches lined the riverbanks. As the river was very shallow and the rapids very swift, we had to walk most of the way while Aung-shoy and Kong-la dragged and pushed the boat up the stream.

Scaling dizzying heights

Mountaineering- for Bangladesh it is a new concept. To hold on to a dream of getting higher and higher, to have a look at the world below from a place where very few people have ever been is something very tough here in Bangladesh. Geographically, we are inhabitants of a mostly flat alluvial region. So, one can easily understand how hard it is for someone to find a way to accomplish his dream of climbing snowy ridges; to be higher than anyone. But the exception is a few people who dare to stick to their cherished dream against all the odds for their mother land. And sometimes, it pays off.

The Hilly Bangladesh

Three consecutive holidays were ahead from February 21 to 23. I sat over a map and chalked out a plan to take a detour of the hill districts. I phoned Shaer to arrange a vehicle. Shaer requested few friends and Monzoor responded quickly.

Trekking to the Everest base camp

Himalayas. The name itself explains a lot about this colossus mountain range -- the madness, exhilaration, excitement and most importantly the spiritual chasm. Home to some of the world's most infamous mountains plus the highest peak of the world Everest, Himalayas dwarfs all other mountain ranges by far. It is solitary in every sense.