Naikhongchhari Lake is a small hill lake park in the far south of Bandarban. Naikhongchhari Lake (Bengali: নাইক্ষ্যংছড়ি উপবন পর্যটন লেক), known locally as the Upaban Tourism Center, is a forested lake park in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Authorities built it in 1991 across about 6 acres, around 120 km from Bandarban town. Two natural lakes on the slopes of tall hills form its centerpiece.

Green forest wraps the whole site. Inside you will find rows of trees, a hanging bridge across the water, a “sky house” set up in the canopy, small rest huts, a watch tower, and traditional machang houses raised on stilts in the hill style. A winding paved road through the up-and-down terrain leads you in. Together these features make the place a popular eco tour and picnic spot in the southern hills.

How do you visit Naikhongchhari Lake?

You reach Naikhongchhari by first traveling to Bandarban, then taking a local bus south, or by coming up from Cox’s Bazar. The lake sits in the southern part of Bandarban district, close to the Myanmar border, so plan your route around Bandarban town or Cox’s Bazar.

Here is the route at a glance:

1. Get to Bandarban (by bus from Dhaka, or by train or flight to Chittagong and then bus), or head toward Cox’s Bazar instead.
2. From Bandarban, take a direct local bus to Naikhongchhari. From Cox’s Bazar, reserve a Chander Gari (the local jeep).
3. The lake park sits in the heart of Naikhongchhari upazila, so you finish the last stretch by road.

Before you set a date: Naikhongchhari upazila is open to domestic tourists, but it shares a border with Myanmar, where there is active conflict. Check recent local news first, stay inside the marked tourist area, and avoid the border zone. Foreign nationals need prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs to visit the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The most comfortable months to travel are November through February.

From Dhaka

Buses to Bandarban leave from Abdullahpur, Arambagh, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, and Sayedabad. Operators include S. Alam, Saudia, Saint Martin Paribahan, Unique, Hanif, Shyamoli, and Dolphin. Fares run roughly 700 to 800 BDT for non-AC and 1,000 to 1,600 BDT for AC, and the trip takes about 8 to 10 hours. These fares move with season and fuel costs, so treat them as a guide.

By train, then road

You can take a Dhaka to Chittagong train such as the Sonar Bangla, Suborno Express, Turna Nishita, or Mohanagar Godhuli, with fares from about 340 to 1,448 BDT depending on class. From Chittagong you then continue to Bandarban by bus. Flights from Dhaka to Chittagong are another option if you want to save the road time.

From Chittagong

From Bahaddarhat in Chittagong, two buses named Pubali and Purbani run to Bandarban for about 220 BDT per person. Buses from the Dampara bus stand cost roughly 200 to 300 BDT to reach Bandarban.

From Bandarban or Cox’s Bazar

Direct buses run from Bandarban to Naikhongchhari for about 220 BDT. If you start from Cox’s Bazar instead, you can reserve a Chander Gari and drive in. The Cox’s Bazar route is often shorter, because Naikhongchhari sits closer to that side.

How much does it cost to enter Naikhongchhari Lake?

General entry to the lake park costs 40 BDT per person. A 55-minute boat ride, or kayaking, needs a separate 100 BDT ticket. You can also buy a 120 BDT package (about $1, subject to the exchange rate) that covers entry, kayaking, the watch tower, and the kids zone. For most visitors the package is the simplest choice, since it bundles the main attractions in one ticket.

What can you do at the lake?

You can ride a boat, go kayaking, fish, and walk the hanging bridge and watch tower. Many visitors say the lake feels most attractive in the evening, so an after-dark visit is part of the draw here. Families also come for picnics, and small groups come for a calm day out among the hills.

If you like lake outings, the boat rides here stay gentle and close compared with the wide open water you get on the much larger Kaptai Lake further north. The scale is small, but the green setting makes it an easy half-day stop.

Is there a wildlife center near the lake?

Yes. Close to the lake, a government livestock research institute (প্রাণিসম্পদ গবেষণা ইনস্টিটিউট) spreads across about 162 acres. The center keeps gayal (the local mithun), more than a hundred deer, flocks of sheep and goats, and several kinds of jungle fowl. Seeing the animals adds an extra stop to a lake visit, and kids tend to enjoy it most.

Where can you stay near Naikhongchhari?

The lake area still has no proper lodging, so most visitors stay in Bandarban town. Options there include Holiday Inn Resort, Hill Side Resort, Hotel Four Star, and Hotel River View, along with many other resorts, hotels, motels, and rest houses. Rooms run from about 1,000 to 3,000 BDT a night (roughly $8 to $25, depending on the rate), so you can match the budget to your trip.

Where can you eat?

A few simple restaurants serve food right at the Naikhongchhari lake area. For more choice, Bandarban town has popular spots like Kazi’s Dine, Kotha Bondhu, New Porshi, Tajing Dong Cafe, Nilachal Restaurant, Choruivati, Tohzah, and Hill View Restaurant. I usually eat a full meal in town before or after the day trip, because the options at the lake itself are limited.

Is Naikhongchhari safe to visit right now?

Naikhongchhari upazila is open to tourists, but it borders Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where an armed conflict is active, so you must check the current situation before you go. Authorities reopened tourism in Naikhongchhari, along with Bandarban Sadar, Lama, and Alikadam, in late 2024 after an earlier security closure, and it has stayed open since.

The real risk sits at the international border line, not at the lake park itself. There have been landmine blasts and cross-border incidents along the frontier in recent months, including deaths near the border in 2026, and Border Guard Bangladesh keeps parts of the border red-flagged and on high alert. For that reason, stay inside the marked tourist area, do not walk toward the border or any restricted zone, and follow guidance from the local administration and the BGB.

Hill roads carry a separate, seasonal risk. Landslides are common in the Bandarban hills before the monsoon (April and May) and after it (October and November), so drive carefully in the rains and avoid the hilliest stretches during heavy downpours.

When is the best time to visit?

The cooler, drier months from about November to February are the most comfortable time for any Bandarban trip, including this one. Skies stay clearer, the hill roads hold up better, and the heat is easier to handle. Choosing the right months also helps you dodge the monsoon, when rain and landslide risk hit the roads in. Evenings are worth catching too, since regular visitors rate the lake highest after dark.

What else is worth seeing in Bandarban?

Bandarban has a long list of sights, so it is easy to pair the lake with other stops. Many travelers add the cloud-and-sunset views at Nilachal above Bandarban town, the mountain resort area at Nilgiri, and the golden Buddhist temple near the town center. The rocky stream and falls at Shoilopropat is another easy add.

For deeper trips, people head to Keokradong, Boga Lake, Nafakhum, Chimbuk, Marayon Tong, Tindu, Alir Surong (Ali Cave), Satvaikhum, Rijuk waterfall, Amiakhum, Milonchori, Dim Pahar, Damtua waterfall, Neel Diganto, the Meghla tourism center, and Sairu Hill Resort. Note that some of these sit deeper in the hills, need a guide and permits, and open or close with the security situation.

Travel tips for Naikhongchhari Lake

A few small things make the day smoother. Carry cash, because card payments are rare this far south. Pack light, breathable clothes plus one warm layer for the evening, and wear good shoes for the uneven paths. Bring mosquito protection as well, since the hill and forest setting brings out plenty of them, and my notes on keeping mosquitoes off on the trail apply well here. Keep your phone charged for the road, fill water before you head in, and start early so you finish the return drive before dark.

FAQs about Naikhongchhari Lake

Final thoughts

Naikhongchhari Lake works best as a quiet day trip or picnic, with easy boat rides, a hanging bridge, a watch tower, and an animal research center next door. Getting there means routing through Bandarban or Cox’s Bazar, then basing yourself in Bandarban town for food and a bed. The one step I would not skip is a quick check on the current border situation before you lock in dates, since the area sits so close to the Myanmar frontier. Plan for the dry season, carry cash, start early, and keep the day light.