Spirituality
Architecture
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MEET AN EXPERT
Our co-founder & CEO Catherine Heald has been in love with Asia for over 25 years and recommends Bangladesh's blend of contemporary and colonial architecture.
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Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
This fabulous tour of sacred treasures offers a window into modern and ancient Buddhism in Bangladesh. Explore standing and ruined complexes and marvel at the architecture, carvings and craftsmanship, and visit temples housing relics of various Buddhas. Plunge into the countryside to see local tribal villages and their places of worship and take time to enjoy the scenery with a boat ride on the beautiful Lake Kaptai. Your trip culminates with a visit to the lengthy stretches of beach at Cox’s Bazaar, where you’ll visit a Buddhist village and enjoy some time by the ocean.
After breakfast in Dhaka, it’s time to start the tour as you make your way to Paharpur. Enjoy the views as you drive nearly 200 miles - with a stop for lunch - to see Somapura Mahavihara and the most famous Buddhist viharas in southern Asia. Later, check in at your hotel in Bogra, where you can relax with dinner.
After breakfast, pay a visit to Mahasthangarh, the capital of Pala dynasty. Next, you’ll head to Rajshahi to see Puthia Temple City. Here, you’ll discover the authentic craftsmanship in the temples of Govinda, Shiva, Pancharatna and Jagaddhatri. After a local lunch, begin the journey back to Dhaka for dinner and an overnight stay.
More wonders await today as after breakfast you pay a visit to the Buddhist temple of Kamalapur, which houses the ashes of Atish Dipankar. Back on the road, stop at Shalban Vihara and the other ancient, sacred ruins in Comilla. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll head for Chittagong and the Nandan Kanon temple, where the hair of the Gautama Buddha is kept and displayed only once a year. After dinner in Chittagong, relax at your hotel.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel before beginning your journey to Rangamati, stopping along the way to visit the Buddhist temple in the surrounding countryside. Then, after lunch, climb aboard and set sail for a boat ride on the beautiful Lake Kaptai, surrounded by gorgeous hillside scenery. Arrive in Rangamati for dinner and check in to your hotel.
Rise early for breakfast before another day of adventure. Set your course for Cox’s Bazaar, with fascinating stops at the Golden Temple and the tribal villages in picturesque Bandarban. Grab a bite of lunch before you continue your journey. On arrival at the coastal town of Cox’s Bazaar, check in at your hotel before a hearty dinner.
Another early morning is well worth the effort for the sunrise on the beach. After you’ve breakfasted, visit the local Buddhist temple in Cox’s Bazaar and the Ramu Buddhist Village. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the afternoon at your leisure. Catch the sunset on the beach to round off the day before dinner and your final night in Bangladesh.
by LA Times 
by Departures Online 
