Plan your trip to Bangladesh

Bangladesh borders the Bay of Bengal, between Burma (Myanmar) and India. The low-lying country is vulnerable to floods and other natural disasters, but the soil is highly fertile, which drew an eclectic mix of cultures past; the area combines Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Mongol/Mughul, Arab, Persian, Turkic and western European influences. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal separated from India to form Pakistan. In 1955, East Bengal became East Pakistan, but seceded from the union with West Pakistan in 1971 to become Bangladesh. Today, virtually all of the population are ethnic Bengali and speak Bangla, though English is common in urban areas.

The country, while small in land and still faced with the hardships of a developing country, offers a variety of attractions for travelers. Cox’s Bazar, the most popular destination, is part of the world’s longest uninterrupted beach (74 miles). Mahasthangarh, the oldest archeological site in the country, is a fortified enclosure of Hindu temples and other ruins from the 3rd century B.C., and lies on the western bank of the Karatoa River. In the southwest, the Bengal tiger’s last wild home is the coastal tropical jungle in the Sundarbans. A cautious traveler (because, of course, these are tigers in their natural habitat) can witness the majestic animals along with other wildlife at the main sites in the region, Hiron Point, Katka and Tin Kona Island.