Cox's Bazaar - Bangladesh

Cox's Bazaar is the most popular tourist destination of Bangladesh. It became a district in the Chittagong Division in the year 1984. The Cox's Bazaar town serves as the district headquarters. The cross-section of people comprises of this place. This town is 150 kms south east of Chittagong and is about 400 kms from the capital Dhaka. Cox's Bazaar is famed as the longest undivided beach in the world, about 120 kms in length, the mud flats included. Cox's Bazaar also serves as a fishing port.

Earlier Cox's Bazaar was known as Panowa, which means a yellow flower. It was also known as Palongkee. It derives its present name from Lieutenant Cox, who served in the British Army and died in 1798, and who provided shelter to maghs, who were running away from the army of Burma in the 18th century.

The Mughals occupied Cox's Bazaar for a considerable length of time and it came under the control of Tipras and Arakanese after the Mughals. Thereafter the Portuguese took control of this area and then the British retained it till the independence of India in 1947. After 1947, and the partition of India, Cox's Bazaar became a part of East Pakistan. When East Pakistan fought against the government of West Pakistan, the wharf at Cox's Bazaar was used as a port by the Pakistan Army and that, along with the air-strip nearby was repeated shelled by the Indian Air Force. Thus now, it is a part of the Republic of Bangladesh.

Though the main attraction of Cox's Bazaar is the sea and the beach, however there are many quaint and interesting places to visit in and around Cox's Bazaar.

Himchari is about 18 kms south of Cox's Bazaar and has beautiful waterfalls. The road leading to Himchari is very picturesque with the hills on one side of the road and the sea on the other. A beautiful beach surrounded by coconut trees is the Inani Beach, in the Ukhia Thana, which, is 32 kms south of Cox's Bazaar. It has coral borders.

Aggmeda Khyang is a very important Buddhist Monastery. Laboni beach is the main beach of Cox's Bazaar as it is nearest to the town. There is a small island called Maheshkhali, near the coastline. It is very picturesque with small hills and mangrove forests. There is also a temple of Adinath or Lord Shiva here as well as a Buddhist Pagoda. Incidentally, Buddhism has a very strong influence here in this region that is Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts and adjoining areas.

Teknaf is a small hamlet situated near the Naaf River. The other side of the river is Myanmar. This is the southernmost part of Bangladesh and home to a variety of fauna. Ramu is also a small hamlet, about 16 kilometers from Cox's Bazaar. It is known for its handicrafts and hand made cigars of the tribal Rakhyne community

Places to stay in Cox's Bazaar are hotels like Seagull, Hotel Sea Place etc. Bangladesh Tourism has also put up Parjatan Motels here.

Two to three flights Biman, Bangladesh Airlines operate from Dhaka and Chittagong to Cox's Bazaar. Regular Coach Service from Chittagong, however is a better alternative.