Have you ever imagined traveling Barisal Backwater Village Tour with your like minded boyhood friends?
Imagine a place where every house is like an island, surrounded by small tributaries of rivers or canals. No roads at all. Everyone only uses waterways for transportation. Just imagine where every house having one or two boats instead of cars. Every morning, children rowing to schools in groups and not taking school buses. After the sunrise, people go to the local market to buy necessities; someone goes to meet the people in the next door. Everything is happening by using gondola or country boats.
Well, you must be thinking that this is a description of the city of Venice. In fact, it is a description of a cluster of villages in the southern part of Bangladesh in Barisal division. Vimruli Bazar is an unknowingly famous floating guava market which is getting popular lately. Although the description of Floating Guava Market is somewhat similar to that of Venice, the identity of the area continues to grow in its own right. Today you will hear about the story of Barisal, previously known as Barishal, Backwater Village Tour in detail.
Master plan of Barisal Backwater Village Tour
I was the initiator and planner of Barisal Backwater Village Tour. About three months ago before the trip, I formed a group of 7-8 like-minded boyhood friends. The biggest challenge on any tour is managing time, and we are no exception to it. In the end, four of us managed to visit this unspoiled tourist attraction of Bangladesh. Finally, we planned for 1 day and 2 nights for the trip which was good enough to get around. In addition to the floating guava market of Bangladesh, visitors can also visit the Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque Memorial Museum at Chakhar, the Fazlul Haque College which was established in 1940, the beautiful Guthia Mosque and Durgasagar Dighi on the same day way back to Barisal city from their floating guava market visit if they want. I strongly recommend visitors taking this tour as well because it’s worthwhile and doesn’t cost much.
As the main transport of this tour from Dhaka to Barisal and Barisal to Dhaka, there is a luxury launch service is available. The VVIP cabin is also there with the attached washroom. Our journey was customized by a local tour operator, Mr. Ontu, with a reference from my friend who is into the tourism business for a long time. Though our per capita cost was a little higher than other local tourists, we were okay to pay extra as our primary focuses were on travel security and comforts. Per head, we ended up paying around USD75 for the food, accommodation, transportation, and tips of the entire trip. All my friends were happy with the service of the tour operator. It was a big compliment for me. I believed in myself that I could give my friends a trip to cherish. Thanking my friends who entrusted me blindly.
11 July 2019: Memorable trip started from Sadarghat
Our journey started from Sadarghat on the night of 11th July. Since it was a one day Barisal Backwater Village Tour, I boarded with only 1 set of extra clothes along with my camera and laptop which is the two most must carry things in my every trip. I took raincoat as it was full monsoon, other daily necessities, and a backpack. From Sadarghat, many launches go to Barisal at night, most of which are luxurious. We went by Sundarbans-10. It is known as one of the best launches in the country. The launch left Dhaka at exactly 10 p.m. After being exhausted in the intense heat of Dhaka, the touch of cold air on the launch deck was great.
Overnight launch journey experience
After having a seafood dinner, we had a gossip till 1 a.m. and we fell asleep at 1.30 a.m. When I woke up, I saw that our launch had reached the Barisal river port at 4.30 a.m. Since I told the tour operator to come to receive us at 7.30-8 a.m. I rested for two more hours at the launch. When I woke up again at 6.30 a.m, I have given a wake-up call to my friends. Then I called the operator to receive us from the river port. After exchanging greetings, we all got out of the launch together in 15 minutes.
Good morning Barisal
We reached the Hotel Arena, on the main road of Barisal city. It took us only 5 minutes to the hotel by Alpha (local name of CNG, a 3-wheeler) because the road was empty in the morning. A double luxury AC room was booked from Dhaka. Since we will not stay overnight, this room was fine with us. We all had a hot water shower as we had an overnight journey. It was so refreshing when we all freshened up. We opted for desi style breakfast with paratha, vegetable, omelet, and tea. None of us had any complaints about the quality of the hotel and food. It was an awesome starting of the day just before hopping to a great backwater tour.
Way to Barisal Backwater Village Tour (Vimruli Bazar)
On July 12, we left the hotel at 9 a.m. by Alpha and reached Banaripara around 10.15 a.m. Our tour operator Mr. Ontu had already arranged everything. Life jacket, mineral water, snacks, seasonal fruits to name a few. As we embark in Banaripara, our trawler was ready because we booked the tour from Dhaka. However, to reduce your travel cost, you can hire trawler from Banaripara. One piece of advice, you have to spell out your tour plan with the trawlerman before onboarding for Barisal Backwater Village Tour. These days, knowing the route of your journey is not difficult. You have to google it or connect with some travel groups. Fixing the travel plan well in advance will give the travelers more room to craft their comfort. So I made the tour operator and all the arrangements ready from Dhaka so that no friend of mine could complain.
Pathway to Barisal Backwater Village Tour (Venice of Bengal)
Our journey to the guava market started at exactly around 10.30 a.m. As we were crossing the Shondha River into the creeks, the pristine beauty of our village started following. I was capturing every moment on camera. One thing I would advise for my visitors to carry bowl-knife-salt before getting on the boat. I read in a travel article not to miss this opportunity because having fresh guavas from the garden would give the traveler a great experience. Another thing you can do if you want to do is if you want to eat fresh guavas from the gardens, you can do it with prior permission. After taking about an hour and a half in the trawler, we reached the desired Vimruli Bazaar, the biggest guava market of Bangladesh via the Atghar-Kuriana route. This is a huge market area where buying and selling of fresh supplies take place.
Great bargain
We bought a basket of guavas and lemons for our houses. All were garden fresh. Bargaining has to be skillful with the seller that we leave up to our tour operator. I had this experience of buying and selling on the boat about 10 years ago in the floating market of Bangkok. Our tour was nicely composed of the weather that was filled with clouds, rain, and air. We didn’t feel any heat during the entire journey. It was raining while we were returning to Banaripara, an experience that I can’t describe in my writing. It is a highly recommended tour to enjoy the riverine beauty of Bangladesh.
Lunch at Shokal-Shondha (Boudir) Hotel
Good food always changes mood. We had pre-ordered our lunch menu to our tour operator from Dhaka. We had local cuisine with fried Rupchanda fish along with other desi menus in Atghar-Kuriana Bazar. Lunch ended with sweet curd. The taste was simply mouthwatering.
Popularity of Barisal Backwater Village Tour is increasing now
It is to mention that just a day before our tour, US ambassador in Bangladesh, Mr. Miller, visited this floating market in July 2019. This visit by the ambassador will encourage the development of our tourism industry. In connection to this travel, on the same year-end, passionate global traveler couple Kara and Nate from the USA also visited this floating market. It was wonderful to see them endorsing Barisal Backwater Village Tour as a great tourist spot in Bangladesh.
The floating guava market was relatively unknown compared to other tourist spots of Bangladesh. Even a few years ago, very few people knew about this place. However, due to social media, the floating guava market has become a well-known name for the tourists. Especially for those who are wondering where to go in the rainy season, “Barisal Backwater Village Tour” tour can be an ideal plan. In the coming monsoon season, you can easily visit this unknowingly famous market in Jhalokati district in southern Bangladesh with a group of travelers. It is a highly recommended tour to enjoy the riverine beauty of Bangladesh.
All well that ends well
Early morning of 13 July, we returned to our home with refreshing memories from Barisal Backwater Village Tour. I wish to travel again with my boyhood folks someday somewhere soon. Happy traveling.