Sylhet 

With its serene landscapes and peaceful atmosphere, Sylhet had promised us a trip full of natural beauty and feelings. We had planned to travel on the Upaban Express, a night train from Dhaka to Sylhet. We were all excited at the station on time, but we lost track of the train’s schedule in our excitement and haste.

Only when the train’s horn blasted and started to move did we realise our train was leaving without us. Panic set in as we ran after it but we missed it despite our best efforts. Breathless and disappointed, we stood on the platform watching our well-laid plans go down the drain. We didn’t want this to ruin our adventure so we quickly regrouped and headed to the airport bus station. We took a bus to Sylhet from there. As the bus passed through quiet towns under the starry night sky we felt sad. But we reminded ourselves that the journey is part of the adventure. Soon we felt better.

We munched, chatted and gazed out of the window, finding joy in the unscheduled detour. By the time we dozed off to sleep, the excitement had come back. Waking up to Sylhet’s morning beauty was the perfect start of the journey; we learned that even detours can be beautiful. When we reached Sylhet, we checked into a nearby hotel, freshened up and got ready to explore. By late morning, we set out for Shada Pathor, a place famous for white stones and crystal clear water. A short ride in a Leguna and a boat ride brought us to this wonderland.

Surrounded by hills and stones in the sun, Shada Pathor looked like a scene from a dream. We walked along the river bank, waded into the cool water and looked at the sky on the surface. Some of us collected souvenirs, some took pictures. We topped it off with chilled coconut water from a local vendor, which was perfect for the afternoon sun. As the sun set, painting the sky orange, we went back to the hotel and had a big dinner of parathas, dal and traditional fish curry at a nearby restaurant.

On the second day of our Sylhet adventure we set out to explore Jaflong, a place of breathtaking natural beauty and cultural importance. Located on the Bangladesh-India border Jaflong is where the green hills meet the blue waters creating a scene so divine it’s like a painting come alive. After breakfast, we hired a leguna and started our journey to Jaflong. The drive was beautiful with winding roads surrounded by tea gardens and tall ancient trees. The morning air was crisp and the locals going about their day added to the charm.

As we approached Jaflong the scenery became more and more beautiful. The Dawki River, famous for its transparent water, welcomed us with its serenity. We rented a boat to explore the river and it was surreal. Looking down we could see the river bed clearly as if the water was made of glass. The reflection of the hills and the blue sky above was a sight to behold.