Mohamaya Lake (মহামায়া লেক)

Mohamaya Lake (also spelled Mahamaya) is an irrigation reservoir completed in 2009 in Durgapur Union, Mirsharai Upazila, Chattogram District, south-eastern Bangladesh. Hills surround it on all sides, kayaks are for hire, and it suits day-trippers from Chattogram and Feni looking for water and forest an hour or so off the Dhaka to Chattogram highway.

An irrigation dam on a hill stream

The Mahamaya irrigation project began in the 2007 to 2008 financial year. A dam with a regulator structure across a hill stream holds back the water, which irrigates about 3,360 hectares of farmland. The project cost about 230 million taka, was finished in 2009 and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 29 December 2010. It is described as the second largest man-made lake in Bangladesh after Kaptai Lake.

Kayak hire and walks to waterfalls and caves

Narrow arms of water reach back into the forest, and casuarina trees line parts of the shore. Kayaks can be hired by the half hour or the hour to explore the inlets. Visitors also walk to the Mohamaya waterfall and to hill caves nearby. Khoiyachora waterfall, another Mirsharai sight, can be combined on the same trip.

Camping in Mohamaya Eco Park

The area around the lake is run as Mohamaya Eco Park, where overnight camping is allowed. The project included recreation areas for visitors, and the government plans a 50-kilowatt mini hydroelectric plant.