Keokradong is the fifth highest mountain in Bangladesh, located in the Ruma upazila of Bandarban district, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. Its height is 986 meters (approximately 3235 feet, obtained from GPS readings). The word keokradong comes from the Marma language. In Marma, ko means ‘stone’, kra means ‘mountain’ and dong means ‘highest’. That means Keokradong is the highest rocky mountain.
The most popular route for trekkers in Bangladesh is Boga Lake-Keokradong-Jadipai. With two or three days in hand, you will be able to bring some impossibly beautiful moments and great thrilling experiences.
This remote area is full of natural beauty, full of small and big hills, dense jungle, and various kinds of animals. You will be amazed by the natural beauty of this mountain. Keokradong is a different kind of attraction for adventurous people. In winter, many adventure-loving tourists come to see this mountain. From a distance, the peak of Keokradong seems to be in the air, but when you reach the top, the combination of mountain clouds will move you with magical attraction. Attractions include: the beauty of the green hills, the waterfalls, the winding mountain paths, and the lurking of clouds over the hills.
How to go:
If you want to go to Keokradong, you have to go to Bandarban first. Bandarban can be reached by bus from Dhaka or Chittagong. Ruma can be reached from Bandarban city by moon car (four wheel drive), bus, CNG. If you reserve a moon car / jeep, the rent will be around Tk 3000/4000,but in the season and the gathering of tourists the rent will be different.
And you can go to Ruma by service bus, the fare will be 100 taka per person. The bus seats are not of good quality. It will take about 2 hours to reach Ruma from Bandarban city. You will have to get off at Ruma and go to Ruma Bazar by service car, the fare is 30 taka per person.
According to the rules, if you want to go somewhere in the mountains from Ruma Bazaar, you have to take a guide, the guide service charge is 500 taka per day. There is a guide association in the market and you will get a guide only if you go to them. You have to go to the army camp with the guide and register your name, address, phone number etc. as per the rules. If you go to a large group, you can prepare a list in advance with everyone’s name, address, occupation, phone number and home contact number on a piece of paper.
Since you will be trekking in the mountains, especially on a rainy day, you must wear suitable trekking shoes or sandals. If you do not have enough shoes, you can buy suitable trekking rubber sandals from Ruma Bazaar. If you go to the store and say good sandals for climbing the mountain, they will take you out.
The road from Ruma Bazar to Keokradong is Ruma Bazar> Boga Lake> Keokradong. People usually go to Boga Lake from Ruma Bazaar in two ways. 1) By moon car 2) Walking on Jhiri road.
From Ruma Bazar you have to take a service car or reserve moon car as far as Boga Lake or near Boga Lake. In winter, the moon car goes as far as Bagalek, in the monsoon, the last destination of the moon car is Kamala Bazar. The rest of the way you have to walk, because it is not possible to drive on the slippery, hilly steep road at that time. If you reserve a moon car the rent will be 2200-2500 taka and a service car for 150-200 taka per person. After driving for about an hour and a half, you will reach Kamala Bazar
After that you have to walk (trek) to get to Bagalek. This climb is a bit of a hassle for those who are the first to climb the mountain, but it is also a pre-preparation for trekking on the way to Keokradong. You can trek for half an hour (1 hour if you walk slowly) to reach the impeccably beautiful Bagalek at the top of the hill. Tourists usually spend the night in Bagalek on this trip.
The guide will fix the cottage for you. The rent is 120-150 taka per person. There are different cottages, one storey and two storey. However, Siam Didi’s cottage has a good name. Your final mission will start very early the next morning. Wake up very early in the morning and leave with the guide for the purpose of Keokradong. Even if you walk a lot, it will take about three to three and half hours.
Where will you stay?
You can spend the night at Bagalek. The guide will fix the cottage for you. The rent is 120-150 taka per person. There are different cottages, one storey and two storey. However, Siam Didi’s cottage has a good name. And if you want to spend the night in Keokradong, you will find a restaurant before you get to the top of Keokradong. If you ask them, they will manage your room. The rent calculation is the same as Bagalek’s.
Where to eat
You can eat in the cottage where you live. Or if you ask the guide he will arrange you the chicken, you can cook it yourself. They take 100-120 taka per person for food. However, if they give to eat any meat called cow or khasi, it is better not to eat for Muslim. In my opinion, it is best to eat vegetarian food or bring chicken and cook it yourself. Apart from Bagalek, you can have lunch at Keokradong. You will also find some food stalls on the way from Bagalek to Keokradong. There you will also find some food stalls like tea, banana, bread and mountain fruit papaya, you can eat oranges.
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