The waterfalls of Bangladesh sit in three hill regions: the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari), the Sitakunda and Mirsharai hills north of Chattogram, and the Sylhet division on the border with Meghalaya. The most beautiful include Nafakhum and Tinap Saitar in Bandarban, Khoiyachora in Mirsharai, Madhabkunda and Hum Hum in Moulvibazar, and Panthumai, which pours off the Meghalaya hills into Sylhet. Most are at their fullest from June to September, when trails are also at their muddiest and most dangerous.
Planning more of the trip? Start with our guide to the best places to visit in Bangladesh.
This guide covers 15 waterfalls with the details that decide whether a trip works: where the trail starts, how long the walk is, whether you need a permit and which season suits it. For a wider plan of the hill districts, see our guides to Bandarban and Sylhet, and our honeymoon in Bangladesh guide for gentler options.
How this guide was checked: We kept every waterfall from the earlier version of this article, removed details that could not be confirmed, and checked locations, trailheads and travel restrictions against district portals, Wikipedia's waterfall records and Bangladeshi press reports in October 2026. Heights for most Bangladeshi waterfalls have never been officially surveyed, so we give them only where sources broadly agree. Security rules in Bandarban have changed several times since 2022, and the box below explains what that means for your trip.
Read this before you plan a Bandarban or Rangamati trek: Tourism in Ruma, Thanchi and Rowangchhari, the upazilas that hold Nafakhum, Amiakhum, Jadipai and Tinap Saitar, was suspended for long periods between 2022 and 2025 because of armed conflict. Bandarban authorities lifted the Ruma and Thanchi ban in June 2025, although Thanchi officials said in late 2025 that the separate ban on Nafakhum was still in force. Elsewhere, visitors must use registered guides, register with police or army camps and stick to approved areas.
Foreign nationals need prior permission to visit the Chittagong Hill Tracts, arranged through the district administration and usually applied for by a registered tour guide or operator several days in advance. Some governments, including the UK, advise against all but essential travel to the region. Check the latest position before you book.
Waterfall hiking trails near Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet
Every fall in this guide is a trip from one of three cities. Dhaka has no waterfalls of its own; the nearest trails are in the Mirsharai and Sitakunda hills, where buses on the Dhaka to Chattogram highway stop at the trailhead bazars, so no flight or hill-tract permission is needed. Sylhet and Sreemangal cover the falls of the north-east, and Chattogram is the gateway to the lake and hill districts.
The tables below give the trail details for each fall: where the walk starts, how long it is, how hard it is, when there is water and what paperwork you need. The difficulty grades are ours, based on the routes described in each section further down.
The map pins 12 of the 15 falls at the positions recorded on OpenStreetMap, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Panthumai, Sangrampunji and Shuvolong have no published position we could confirm, so they are left off; all three are reached by boat from a named ghat, given in the tables. The Tinap Saitar pin is approximate.
From Sylhet and Sreemangal
| Waterfall | Trailhead | Walk | Difficulty | Water | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthumai | Hadarpar boat ghat | No hike; viewed from the riverbank | Easy | June to October | None |
| Sangrampunji | Jaflong Zero Point | Boat across the Piyain, then a short walk | Easy | June to September | Border guard rules apply |
| Madhabkunda | Madhabkunda Eco Park gate | Paved path; Parikunda is 15 minutes further upstream | Easy | July to September | Entry ticket |
| Hum Hum | Kalabonpara | Three hours or more each way | Hard | July to October | Local guide |
From Chattogram: the Mirsharai and Sitakunda hills
| Waterfall | Trailhead | Walk | Difficulty | Water | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitakunda falls | Sitakunda, on the highway | Short walks from the road | Easy to moderate | July to September; most dry from December | None |
| Napittachora | Noyduar bazar | About 15 minutes to the stream; four to five hours for all three falls | Moderate | July to September | Baroiyadhala National Park ticket |
| Khoiyachora | Baratakia bazar | 4.2 km east of the highway; the lowest fall is an easy walk | Moderate; upper tiers hard | June to September | None |
From Chattogram into the Hill Tracts
| Waterfall | Trailhead | Walk | Difficulty | Water | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuvolong | Reserve Bazar or the tourist jetty, Rangamati | No hike; boat across the lake | Easy | July to September | Foreigners: Hill Tracts permission |
| Richang | Roadside, 11 km from Khagrachhari town | 235 steps down to the slab | Easy | June to October | Foreigners: Hill Tracts permission |
| Muppochora | Bangalkata, by boat from Kaptai ghat | Forest walk with a steep finish | Moderate | June to September | Foreigners: Hill Tracts permission |
| Dhuppani | Uluchhari | Two and a half hours to Dhuppani Para, then half an hour | Hard, two days | July to October | Army camp checks |
| Nafakhum | Remakri | About three hours along the stream | Hard, two to three days | September to November | Registered guide, police and army registration |
| Jadipai | Ruma bazar, by jeep towards Boga Lake | 1.5 km beyond Keokradong, steep final descent | Hard, two to three days | October to November | Registered guide and army registration |
| Amiakhum | Thanchi | Boat to Remakri, walk via Nafakhum to Jinapara | Very hard, four to five days | October to November | Registered guide, police and army registration |
| Tinap Saitar | Rowangchhari police station | Close to 40 km through hill villages | Very hard, three days or more | October to November | Police registration and guide |
The last four rows need the most checking before you plan. A bdnews24 report, last updated in August 2026, quoted the Thanchi upazila administration as saying that the ban on tourist entry to Nafakhum, imposed at the end of 2022, was still in force and that visitors could travel only as far as Tindu. Since the Amiakhum route passes Nafakhum and Remakri, treat both as closed until the Thanchi administration or police confirm otherwise.
The 15 most beautiful waterfalls in Bangladesh
Panthumai in Sylhet and Madhabkunda in Moulvibazar are the easiest to visit, while Nafakhum and Tinap Saitar in Bandarban need multi-day treks with a registered guide. In between sit Khoiyachora and Napittachora near Mirsharai, Shuvolong on Kaptai Lake and Hum Hum in the Rajkandi forest, each with its access, effort and permit rules.
Panthumai Waterfall
Panthumai, also called Fatachhari or Barhill falls, drops off the Meghalaya hills in India just beyond the border, and you watch it from Panthumai village in West Jaflong union of Gowainghat. The Piyain River runs past the village, and in the monsoon the falls show as a wide white curtain against green hills. You cannot walk to the base, because it lies across the border, but the view from the riverbank is one of the most photographed in Sylhet.
The boat ride there runs through river country and is part of the trip. Combine it with Bichanakandi or Jaflong the same day. In winter the falls shrink to thin threads.
The trip is road from Sylhet, then the boat. As an easy monsoon day out from Sylhet it is hard to beat; leave early, since afternoon storms are common, and stay on the Bangladeshi side of the border.
Shuvolong Waterfall
Shuvolong is in Barkal upazila, about 25 km from Rangamati town across Kaptai Lake. The water pours down a rock face close to the lakeshore, and the only way there is by boat. The ride, past forested hills and fishing villages on the lake, is as memorable as the falls.
Hire a boat for the day and combine Shuvolong with the lake's floating markets and island restaurants. Water flow drops sharply after the rains. Our Rangamati guide covers places to stay.
If you would take a boat ride over a trek any day, this is your waterfall. Sharing the boat with other travellers cuts the cost.
Muppochora Waterfall
Muppochora is in the Bangalkata area of Bilaichhari upazila. It has a single stream, but it is one of the widest falls in the country, spreading over a broad rock face into a pool.
Trawlers and hired boats make the lake crossing to Bilaichhari. Start very early from Kaptai if you plan to return the same day. The surrounding forest and Marma and Chakma villages make the walk worthwhile.
The rocks near the falls are slippery, so bring sandals with good grip.
Sangrampunji Waterfall
Sangrampunji, also written Sengrampunji, falls in steps through rock and forest at the foothills of the Khasi-Jaintia hills, just over the border from Jaflong Zero Point.
It gets fewer visitors than Jaflong itself. Because the falls sit on the border, Border Guard Bangladesh and Indian BSF rules apply, and access can be closed without notice. Follow guards' instructions and do not climb beyond the permitted area.
Fold it into a Jaflong day, carry ID and check on the morning that access is open.
Sitakunda Waterfalls
The Sitakunda hills, north of Chattogram city, hold several small falls. Sahasradhara and Suptadhara are the best known, while the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco Park sits at the foot of the range. Chandranath hill, a Hindu pilgrimage site, rises above the town.
These are easy, half-day falls that work well with the Sitakunda coast: Guliakhali and Bashbaria beaches are close by. Expect crowds of students on weekends in the rains.
Any bus on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway will drop you in Sitakunda. For a short trip out of the city it works well; our Chittagong guide lists nearby sights.
Richang Waterfall
Richang is in Matiranga upazila, a short way off the main road. At the bottom of the steps, water slides over a wide, tilted rock slab, around 100 feet high according to most sources. Local children use the slab as a natural slide.
It is the easiest waterfall in the Hill Tracts to reach and a good half-day trip. The rock is very slippery; sit and slide only where locals do, and never in heavy flow.
A CNG or jeep from town gets you there; our Khagrachhari guide covers the district. Families do well here, though the climb back up is long; a weekday morning avoids the crowds.
Napittachora Waterfalls
Napittachora is a stream in the Mirsharai hills with a chain of three falls along it. Much of the walk is spent wading upstream.
Hire a local guide at the bazar; the stream splits and the route is not marked. Wear shoes that can get wet, and turn back if the water rises after rain, because the narrow gorge floods quickly.
For a first proper trek this is a good one, and it pairs with Khoiyachora over a weekend.
Khoiyachora Waterfall
Khoiyachora, in the Khoiyachora union of Mirsharai, has seven main cascades and many smaller steps, the most of any waterfall in Bangladesh, which earned it the nickname "queen of falls". The trail crosses fields and bamboo before following the stream.
Climbing to the upper tiers involves steep, wet rock, and accidents happen every monsoon. Climb only with a guide and with shoes that grip, and stay off the rock when the flow is strong.
A bus to the bazar and then a CNG get you to the start of the walk. Photographers love it in the rains; go early on a weekday, because weekends are packed.
Hum Hum Waterfall
Hum Hum, also called Ham Ham or Chita falls, is hidden in the Rajkandi reserve forest of Kamalganj upazila. Estimates of its height range from about 135 to 160 feet. There is no infrastructure at all.
Kalabonpara is reached by CNG from Sreemangal or Kamalganj, and the trek from there runs through streams, mud and bamboo, with leeches in the rains. Stay in Sreemangal the night before and start early. Our Sylhet division guide covers Sreemangal's tea gardens nearby.
Pack salt for the leeches, a dry bag and more water than you think you need.
Dhuppani Waterfall
Dhuppani, whose name means white water, is in the Oracchari area of Farua union, Bilaichhari. It falls straight down a cliff in a single drop into a forested pool. The area is remote and quiet, close to the Rijuk and other falls.
The journey takes most of two days: bus to Kaptai, boat to Bilaichhari, onward boat to Uluchhari, then on foot through Dhuppani Para to the falls. Carry ID and travel with a guide who knows the current rules.
Experienced trekkers should plan a night in a village homestay along the way.
Madhabkunda Waterfall
Madhabkunda, in Barlekha upazila, is one of the tallest waterfalls in Bangladesh, with heights quoted between about 160 and 200 feet. It is also the easiest to visit: the falls sit inside the Madhabkunda Eco Park, with a Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation rest house and restaurants.
Parikunda, upstream, is a smaller fall with fewer people. Khasia villages, betel leaf gardens and tea estates surround the park. Water flow is thin in winter. Swimming in the plunge pool is risky and discouraged.
The park is a drive from Sylhet or Moulvibazar town, which makes it the obvious choice for families and anyone short on time.
Amiakhum Waterfall
Amiakhum is deep in Thanchi upazila near the Myanmar border, a powerful fall pouring into a rock basin. Satbhaikhum, a narrow gorge, lies close by. It is the most remote waterfall on this list.
The classic route spends a night at Jinapara and makes an early, steep climb to Amiakhum the next morning. Access depends on the current security rules, which have closed this area for long periods.
The Bandarban district administration can confirm the latest access rules.
Jadipai Waterfall
Jadipai lies near Keokradong, one of the highest hills in Bangladesh, below Jadipai Para in Ruma upazila. The fall is unusually wide for the country, spreading across a dark rock wall.
Most people combine it with Boga Lake and Keokradong on the same trek. Ruma was closed to tourists for long periods until June 2025, so confirm that the route is open before you book.
Wear proper boots; the descent punishes trainers.
Nafakhum Waterfall
Nafakhum is where the Remakri river drops over a wide ledge in a roar of foam, and it is the best-known waterfall in Bandarban. It is not tall, but the volume of water is huge in the rains, and on sunny days spray often throws a rainbow.
The boat up the Sangu from Thanchi to Remakri runs through rapids and rocky gorges, and the walk on from Remakri crosses the stream again and again. Most groups sleep in a village homestay at Remakri or near the falls. Visitors who arrived without registration and a guide have been turned back.
As a first Bandarban trek it makes sense. Avoid peak monsoon, when the Sangu boats may stop running.
Tinap Saitar
Tinap Saitar, on the Paindu canal in Bandarban, is the largest waterfall in Bangladesh by water flow, according to the Rowangchhari upazila portal and other sources. "Saitar" means waterfall in the Bawm language.
There are two approaches. Rowangchhari is about an hour from Bandarban town. The alternative from Ruma requires army permission and a jeep to the trailhead. Rowangchhari reopened to tourists after a long ban; check the current status before going.
Only take it on with solid trekking experience.
More waterfalls in Bangladesh worth knowing
Beyond the fifteen above, the hill districts hold many smaller falls that are known mostly to trekkers. In Bandarban, Rijuk falls is near Ruma, and Faipi and Baklai are reached on longer treks. Patang Jhiri, Shoilo Propat near Bandarban town, and Himchari's seasonal falls near Cox's Bazar are easy stops. Many of these flow only in the rains.
Around Chattogram, Ruposhi falls in Mirsharai sits in the hills of Purba Polmoghora, close to the Khoiyachora and Napittachora trails. Treat all of these as rainy-season sights: by the dry months several shrink to a thin trickle over bare rock, and local paths are rarely signposted, so hire a guide from the nearest bazar.
How to reach the main waterfall regions from Dhaka
The waterfall cards above explain the last stretch to each fall. Getting to the right base town first is what shapes the trip, because the waterfall regions sit in different corners of the country and do not combine easily in one short holiday.
| Base town | From Dhaka |
|---|---|
| Sylhet (Panthumai, Sangrampunji) and Sreemangal or Moulvibazar (Madhabkunda, Hum Hum) | Domestic flight to Sylhet, intercity train to Sylhet or Sreemangal, or bus |
| Sitakunda and Mirsharai (Sitakunda falls, Napittachora, Khoiyachora) | Bus on the Dhaka to Chattogram highway, getting off at Sitakunda or Mirsharai; or travel to Chattogram and come back north |
| Bandarban (Nafakhum, Amiakhum, Jadipai, Tinap Saitar) | Overnight bus to Bandarban town, or fly or take the train to Chattogram and continue by bus |
| Khagrachari (Richang) | Overnight bus to Khagrachari town |
| Rangamati and Kaptai (Shuvolong, Muppochora, Dhuppani) | Bus to Rangamati, or via Chattogram |
Sylhet is the easiest region for a first trip: transport is frequent, the falls are mostly day trips and no special permission is needed. The Chittagong Hill Tracts reward more time but need more planning. Arrive in Bandarban or Khagrachari the evening before, book your guide ahead through your hotel or a registered operator, and leave room in the schedule for checkpoints and sudden closures. Foreign visitors should arrange Hill Tracts permission through a registered tour operator well before the trip.
Best time to visit waterfalls in Bangladesh
Water flow peaks from June to September, during the south-west monsoon. That is when Madhabkunda, Khoiyachora and Panthumai look their best. It is also when trails are muddiest, leeches are out, streams flood fast and boat routes such as the Sangu may stop. Late September to November is the compromise for Bandarban: the falls still run, trails dry out and skies clear. From December to April many smaller falls dry to a trickle, though the treks are at their easiest.
Timing within the week matters too. Bangladesh's weekend is Friday and Saturday, and the easy falls near Chattogram, Sylhet and Sreemangal fill with day-trippers on those days. The busiest spells are the Eid holidays, expected around 9 to 10 March 2027 for Eid al-Fitr and around 16 to 17 May 2027 for Eid al-Adha, depending on the moon. Visit on a weekday morning if you can, start early to finish a trek before afternoon storms in the monsoon, and plan to be off the trail well before dark, since most falls have no lighting or shelter.
How to choose a waterfall by time and fitness
With one day from Sylhet, choose Panthumai or Madhabkunda. With one day from Chattogram, go to Khoiyachora or Napittachora, or the Sitakunda falls. With a day in Rangamati, take a boat to Shuvolong; with a day in Khagrachari, Richang is on the doorstep. Hum Hum fills a long day from Sreemangal for fit walkers.
For Nafakhum, Jadipai, Amiakhum, Dhuppani and Tinap Saitar, you need several days, a registered guide and clearance to enter. Book with an operator who knows the current rules; our tours page and Bandarban resorts guide help with planning.
Hum Hum lies in the Kurma beat of Rajkandi Reserve Forest.
Safety tips for waterfall trekking in Bangladesh
- Wear proper footwear. Wet rock and moss cause most injuries. Use trekking sandals or shoes with grip, and never climb falls barefoot.
- Watch the water. Streams rise within minutes after rain upstream. If the water turns brown or fast, move to high ground and wait.
- Hire a registered guide. Guides are mandatory in Bandarban and strongly advised at Hum Hum, Napittachora and Khoiyachora's upper tiers.
- Carry ID and copies. Army and police checkpoints in the Hill Tracts ask for national ID or passport, and foreigners need their permit papers.
- Pack for leeches and mosquitoes. Long socks, salt, repellent and a small first-aid kit make monsoon treks bearable.
- Leave no trace. Many falls have no bins. Carry out plastic and food waste, and respect village customs on the way.
Most accidents happen above the first pool. At Khoiyachora, for example, the higher tiers are reached only by scrambling up wet, mossy rock. Decide in advance how far the group will go, turn back if anyone is struggling, and never jump into a plunge pool whose depth you have not checked.
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