Standard visit
Ratargul is a freshwater swamp forest on the Gowain River about 26 km from Sylhet, where koroch and other trees stand in deep water during the monsoon and visitors explore by small boat.
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Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন)
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One of 6 Things to Do in Sylhet
In short
Ratargul is a freshwater swamp forest on the Gowain River about 26 km north of Sylhet, where koroch and other trees stand in deep water during the monsoon and visitors drift between them in small boats. A boat for four or five people costs about Tk 750 for a few hours, plus a small government entry fee. It is at its best in the rainy season.
Ratargul Swamp Forest lies in Fatehpur Union of Gowainghat Upazila, about 26 kilometres north of Sylhet city in north east Bangladesh. It sits beside the Gowain River and is linked to it by the Chengir Khal channel. The forest belongs to a wetland of about 3,325 acres managed by the Forest Department, of which 504 acres were declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2015.
It was long described as the only freshwater swamp forest in Bangladesh, and is often called the Sundarbans of Sylhet. Other swamp forests have since been recorded in the country, but Ratargul remains the best known and the most visited.
Most of the trees are koroch, a water-tolerant species, along with hijol, barun and some cane and bamboo. In the rainy season the forest floor floods to a depth of 20 to 30 feet, leaving only the upper trunks and crowns above the surface, and the water stays around 10 feet deep through much of the year. The forest is home to monkeys, water snakes, monitor lizards and many birds, including kingfishers, egrets and herons.
Visitors hire small wooden boats with a boatman at the edge of the forest and are paddled along narrow channels between the trees. A wooden watchtower gives views over the canopy. The forest is at its fullest from June to September, while the water level falls in winter.
The trip from Sylhet takes about an hour by car or CNG to the boat point at Motorghat or nearby villages. Boat hire costs about Tk 750 per boat, and a life jacket is recommended.
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Key information
🌳Type: Freshwater swamp forest
📐Area: About 3,325 acres
🌧️Best season: June to September
🚣Access: Hired wooden boat
✦
Plan your visit to Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন)
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Type of attraction
- Forests
Where it is
- Sylhet
- Bangladesh
Tours & experiences
Guided tours and experiences that include Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন). See tours
Accessibility
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Age limits
Swimming is unsafe because of the depth and the snakes among the roots.
What to pack
A waterproof bag for phones and cameras in the monsoon
What to wear
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Not allowed
Throwing food, plastic or bottles into the water; loud voices
Amenities
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Tips for visiting Ratargul Swamp Forest
- Wear a life jacket on the boat.
- Carry insect repellent and a hat.
- Avoid loud music and littering inside the sanctuary.
Driving
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Public transportation
No public transport to the boat points: hire a CNG or car from Sylhet for the round trip. Combine with Jaflong or Bichanakandi, near Gowainghat, for a full day.
Address
Opening Hours
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Special events
No special events on record for Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন).
Best times to visit
A weekday morning; weekends and holidays bring crowds and boat queues on the main routes.
Best days to visit
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Best months to visit
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Admission tickets
Prices and how to get tickets.
Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন) admission ticket
Ticket prices
Boat hire about Tk 750 per boat (4–5 people) for a few hours, plus a small government entry fee
Opening hours
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Children and admission
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Groups
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Pets
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Photography
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Bags
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Smoking
Not confirmed yet. Please check with the venue before you visit.
Accepted payment
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General
It is in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District, about 26 km from Sylhet city, beside the Gowain River.
Because, like the Sundarbans, its trees grow in water, although Ratargul is a freshwater forest rather than a mangrove.
The wetland covers about 3,325 acres, with 504 acres declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2015.
Koroch trees are the most common, along with hijol, barun, cane and bamboo.
During the monsoon the water reaches 20 to 30 feet. Through much of the rest of the year it is around 10 feet deep.
Small wooden boats with boatmen are hired at the edge of the forest for a ride along the channels.
Monkeys, monitor lizards, water snakes and birds such as kingfishers, herons and egrets.
Yes, a wooden watchtower gives views across the forest canopy.
Explore the area on this page lists 5 places around Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন), with the distance to each.
Yes. Use "Ask a question" under "Travelers are asking" on this page. The bookingMentor team answers it, and the answer then appears on the page for other travellers too.
Timing & weather
June to September, when the trees stand in deep water and boats can go far into the forest.
Health & safety
Yes with care. Children should wear life jackets in the boats and stay seated.
Prices & payment
A boat for four or five people has been hired for about Tk 750 for three to four hours. Agree the price and time before you set off.
Getting there
You can reach Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন) by public transport. The route is described under How to get there on this page.
Osmani International Airport (ZYL) is the airport for Ratargul Swamp Forest (রাতারগুল জলাবন), about 7.8 km away in a straight line.