River, lake and haor, Bandarban
Boga Lakeবগা লেক
- Time needed
- One night, two with Keokradong.
- best months
- Nov–Feb
- Cost
- Jeep from Ruma ৳2,000–3,000; cottages ৳200–500 a bed; guide ৳1,000–1,500 a day.
A deep blue lake in a crater at about 1,250 feet in Ruma, held sacred by the Bawm village on its shore, the base camp for Keokradong: cottages by the water, a cold swim and a night under the stars after the jeep ride up from Ruma bazar.
At a glance
- Height
- About 1,250 ft
- Area
- About 15 acres
- Registration
- Army checkpost at Ruma; guide required
About
Bagakain, the "dragon lake" of the Bawm legend, is about 15 acres of water with no visible inlet or outlet, ringed by hills. Boga Lake para on its bank has cottages and kitchens run by the villagers, where trekkers stay before and after Keokradong. The road from Ruma bazar was finished in the 2010s, so the old day-long walk is now an hour in a jeep, but the army still registers every visitor at Ruma and a licensed guide is required beyond the bazar. The water is cold, clear and very deep; the night sky is the best in the country.
Getting there: Bandarban → Ruma bazar by jeep or bus (2–3 h) → register and take a guide → jeep to Boga Lake (1 h).
Things to do
- Swim at noon, watch the stars at night, climb Keokradong next morning.
Good to know
- Carry several photocopies of your ID for the checkposts; the lake is sacred, so no soap in the water.
