Madhabpur Lake (মাধবপুর লেক)

Madhabpur Lake lies inside the Madhabpur Tea Estate in Kamalganj Upazila of Moulvibazar District, in the tea-growing region of north east Bangladesh. It is about 16 kilometres from Sreemangal, a drive of 45 minutes to an hour, and sits close to the hills along the border with the Indian state of Tripura.

The lake was formed when water was held back between low hills within the tea estate, and it takes a long, winding shape that follows the valleys. The surrounding hillocks are planted with tea bushes and shade trees, so the water is framed by green slopes for most of the year.

In the cooler months the surface is covered in places with purple and white water lilies, which make it one of the most photographed lakes in the Sylhet region. Paths and steps lead up the hills around the shore, giving views across the lake and the tea gardens, and visitors may see tea pickers at work. Birds such as kingfishers and herons are common along the edges.

The lake is part of a working estate, so visitors are expected to stay on paths, keep noise down and avoid damaging the tea bushes. Swimming and boating are not part of a normal visit.

A small entry fee is usually collected at the gate. Many visitors combine Madhabpur Lake with Lawachara National Park and the tea estates around Sreemangal on a day trip.

Bird watchers come for one species in particular. Madhabpur Lake is recorded as the only confirmed site in Bangladesh for the great white-bellied heron, one of the rarest herons in the world, so early mornings on the quieter northern arms are worth the effort. Blue lotus also grows among the lilies.

Sreemangal, the usual base, has direct road and rail links from Dhaka, and travellers flying in can land at Sylhet and continue by road.