Close by Attractions
A few steps from the rooms, the Chimbuk viewpoint looks over a sea of ridges toward the Myanmar border region. Sunrise and late afternoon are the best times, when light and clouds move together across the valleys. The viewpoint charges a small entrance fee of around twenty taka for day visitors and has seating along the edge.
Walking down the road in either direction leads to Mro villages built of bamboo on stilts, with rice drying in the yards and children curious about strangers. It is advisable to ask permission before photographing people and houses, and to keep to the road rather than entering homes without invitation. A local guide arranged through the resort makes such a walk far more meaningful.
Twenty kilometres further along the Thanchi road, Nilgiri stands even higher and is famous for clouds rolling directly across the observation platform during the rainy season. It sits inside an army controlled area, so access rules can change. The drive between Chimbuk and Nilgiri itself is one of the most spectacular roads in Bangladesh.
On the way back toward town, Shoilo Propat waterfall drops over a rocky ledge beside the road, with Bawm women from Faruk Para selling woven cloth nearby. The water is strongest in the monsoon and the rocks become very slippery, so sandals with grip are wiser than sneakers. Buying directly from the weavers supports the village.
Closer to Bandarban town, the golden Buddha Dhatu Jadi temple crowns another hill in Burmese style and houses Buddhist relics. Shoes must be removed and modest dress is required. Meghla Parjatan complex, with its lake and hanging bridges, is popular with families but more ordinary.
Local food around Chimbuk is simple and interesting. Bamboo chicken, pork dishes from indigenous kitchens, hill vegetables and fruits such as papaya, pineapple and jackfruit in season appear at small stalls by the viewpoint and at the resort. The small canteen near the tourist centre serves breakfast and lunch to day visitors if the resort kitchen is fully booked.