Shahpari Island – Cox’s Bazar

ShahPari/ Shapuree/ Shahpori/ island situated in The southernmost part of Teknaf that is very close to the mainland. On the left side of Shah Pari Island “Naf River ” is flowing which is bordered by Burma/Myanmar. Shapuree Dbip a village of Sabrang Union and the colossal island of impeccable beauty of mountains and sea. Though it was an island in backdays but with the flowing time and climatic changes the island has become a part of the mainland & the distance from Teknaf Upazila town to Shahpari Island is about only fifteen kilometers.

It is alleged that the island was named Shahpari’s Island after Shahsuja’s wife Paribanu’s ‘Pari’ and Shahsuja’s ‘Shah’ besides there’s also a different opinion that the island is named after Shah Farid Auliya. There are many more such naming histories prevalent among the locals.

The three beaches of Shahpari Island can make you a witness of the bewitching beauty of the sea. An immense beauty of moonlight can be seen on the secluded island of Golar Char. From here you can see the province of Maungdaw in Myanmar, The mountains of Arkan and the Burmese army outposts in the uninhabited villages. Once there was a flow of life in those villages but now it’s not the same. From a little distance St. Martin’s Island can be seen from the front portion; there are also BDR depots and watch towers.

The lifestyle of people Living in a small hut in Jalepara will not only make you speechless but will give you more of a feeling of motivation to survive and move forward with courage than you would think. Besides living so close to the sea, people have no fear, no apprehension, no tension. What a life! A small flow of wind can make their hut fall but still they are constantly fighting with the sea and these worn-out people are winning with pride. The natural beauty of this island flows the eternal form of aesthetic beauty.

There is no facility of lifeguards on these beaches. So there is no signpost about the tide. That’s why before jumping down onto the sea, find out about the tides at your own risk. Under no circumstances should you go into the sea at low tide. You can enjoy the scene of the tidal water hitting the road and the trees on the side of the road are half submerged in salty water. This scene will be mesmerizing as long as you watch it.

Salt fields are exactly next to Jalepara. There is Saltfield wide over the horizon. In the distance, at the far end of the water, the villages are like the brush strokes of an artist lying on the sky. Here, next to the salt fields, there are small curved rivers through which salt water rises from the sea during the high tide. Gangchils, storks or guest birds flock there in search of small fish.
On the way, you can visit Adhibasi Para (Indigenous neighborhoods), Rohingya slums, mountain caves and Mathin Kup in Teknaf. If you want you can roam in from St. Martin’s Island by trawler or by rentalboat .

Where can you stay?

The best place to stay in Teknaf is “Motel Ne Tong of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation ” (Phone: 03426-75104, AC Double Room Tk. 1900, AC Suite Tk. 3100 and General Double Room Tk. 1300).
The tourist motel is outside of Teknaf city. In the town area of Teknaf there’s some standard hotels as well. Rooms will be available at these hotels for 300-1500 TK. In addition, if you want, you can pitch a tent on Shahpari Island.

How to get to Shahpari Island

Hino AC bus of St. Martin Service (01711321143, 01823004488) goes directly to Teknaf from Dhaka. Rent 1150 TK. Besides, non-AC buses i:e: Shyamli, S Alam, Saudia, Hanif etc. are routed from Dhaka to Teknaf. Rent 650-800 TK. You can easily reach Teknaf by any bus from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar. From Cox’s Bazar city , several buses including local microbus move toTeknaf. Rent 120-250 TK.

Buses from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf depart from the inter-district bus terminal and microbuses depart from the city’s Kalatali and Teknaf bypass junctions. From Teknaf city you have to take a jeep or CNG to Shahpari Island.

If you have more information or any correction in this information please comment here.

Translate By Sadman Sakib,
Updated: September 14, 2021

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