Miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare conch shells, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and  tribes, delightful  sea foods - this is Cox's bazar, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. Having the world's longest (120 km.) beach slopping gently down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, Cox's Bazar is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the country.

Located at a distance of 152 km. south of Chittagong, the leading seaport of Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar is connected both by air and road from Dhaka and Chittagong.

Adjacent to the Chittagong Hill Tracts , runs south down the coastline to the Myanmar border. The population of the region is about one million and is mix of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. The culture  here is less overtly Muslim, or even Hindu for that matter, having a more Burmese-Buddhist atmosphere.

Visit to Cox's Bazar is for nothing but to enjoy holiday. Lots of attractions are there. Picnic spot at Himchari, Teknaf-southern most tip of Bangladesh - and nearby islands of Sonadia and Moheskhali are memorable experiences of a lifetime. The Cox's Bazar Holiday Complex of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the National Tourism Organization is an ideal tourist resort having a number of facilities for the visitors.

The evergreen  and semi-evergreen tropical rainforest bordering this stretch of beach is still some of the best in the country, despite the recent heavy pressure from the Rohingya refugees and others who have settled in the area.

Beaches  

The main reason to come to Cox's Bazar is to visit the beach. This is the longest and shark-free beach in the world. Though a tourist town, Cox's Bazar has very little directed specifically to tourists. The Handicraft emporium at karupannya Cottage Industries at Motel road has a variety of excellent handicrafts. Saris, Lungis, Shawls and Kurtas are beautiful to buy and collect.

The colorful Buddhist Water Festival takes place from 13th to 18th April every year. To attract the tourist , The Government , in 1994, began construction of a road along the beach from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf. As of late 1995 it had reached beyond Himchari Beach.

The evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical rainforest bordering this stretch of beach is still some of the best in the country. Inani Beach is considered the world's longest and widest beach.It's 180m at the narrowest at high tide and 300m at low tide.Inani is some 30 km south of Cox's Bazar.

Himchari is the nicest beach near Cox's Bazar. Malumghat, an hour north of Cox's Bazar, is well known for the Baptist missionary hospital. Ramu, 14 km east of Cox's bazar, is noted for her Buddhist Khyangs.The interesting Burmese Bara Khyang, 50 km north-east in the Hill Tracts, in Lama Bazar has the country's largest bronze statue of Buddha.

Islands in Cox's Bazar

Sonadia, 4.63 sq.km, is noted for its bird life act as a temporary sanctuary for migrating birds-petrels, geese, curlews, snipe, shanks, lapwings, ducks and the waterfowl. Maheskhali, some 6 km north-west of Cox's Bazar, is a nice place for a daily trip. People are poor but friendly. St Martin's island is 8 km south-west of Badarmokam and 48 km from Teknaf.It's the only coral island in the country with no vehicles, one singal road, and genuinely friendly people. Named after a British provincial governor, and called Narikel Jinjira by the locals, the dumbell-shaped St.Martin's has an area of about 8 sq.km, which reduces to 5 sq.km. during the high tide and becomes four islnads-Jinjira, Galachira, Ciradia and Uttarpara.

Teknaf

Teknaf, a small town, is on the southern tip of the narrow strip of land adjoining Myanmar, 92 km south of Cox's bazar. The Naaf River forms the Bangladesh-Myanmar border here. The main reason to come to Teknaf is to visit St. martin's Island. Other possibilities include a walk west to Teknaf Beach and a ride south to Badar mokam at the tip of the peninsula. Particularly nice at sunset, the white sandy beach at Badar mokam is deserted.