River, lake and haor, Rangamati
Kaptai Lakeকাপ্তাই হ্রদ
- Time needed
- A full day by boat.
- best months
- Sep–Feb
- Cost
- Boat ৳1,500–3,000 a day for a group.
The largest man-made lake in the country, about 700 km² of water behind the Kaptai dam on the Karnaphuli, filled in 1962: the whole district is organised around it, and a day in a boat on it is the Rangamati trip.
At a glance
- Filled
- 1962
- Area
- About 700 km² at full level
About
The lake drowned the old Chakma capital and about 54,000 acres of the best farmland in the Hill Tracts, and displaced a hundred thousand people; that history is everywhere in the district. What visitors see is green hills rising straight out of still water, islands with villages and monasteries, fishing boats, and the launches that are the only road to Barkal, Langadu and the far upazilas.
Hire a boat for the day from the town ghats: the usual loop is the hanging bridge, Rajban Vihara, Peda Ting Ting or another island restaurant for lunch, and Shuvolong falls and gorge, back by evening.
Getting there: Boats from Reserve Bazar ghat or Tabalchhari ghat in the town.
Things to do
- The day loop: bridge, Rajban Vihara, an island lunch, Shuvolong.
Good to know
- Life jackets on the boat; storms come up fast in April and May.
