Overview

Khulna Division is the home of the Bangladeshi side of the Sunderbans, the country’s premiere draw and most pristine nature wilderness. Here, it’s absolutely fascinating to ponder the presence of predatory Royal Bengal Tigers, some of whom stalk humans as prey. The Sunderbans, along with nearby Bagerhat (described below) make up two of the three World Heritage sites that Bangladesh has. The region is also interspersed with rivers all throughout, making it extremely lush and verdant all throughout; more so than the north-western dry regions of the country north of the Padma River.

The area is also home to another cultural asset of Bangladesh in the form of Baul people. The long-haired, marijuana-smoking community espouse a philosophy of humanism that carries a large currency among the people from all classes in Bangladesh. Free of religious barriers, the Baul people believe that the real god of man lies within. While there’s a lot more that could be written here about the philosophy, suffice to say that Baul culture touches something very deep in the heart of Bangladeshi and that’s what makes Kushtia, their spiritual home, worth a visit.

Finally, Bagerhat is a must-see for its historic value. The ancient mosque-city was built in the 15th century by a pioneering Mughal saint named Khan Jahan Ali. Today, a few of his historic buildings have been restored and provide an excellent introduction to the early Mughal influence over the area of Bengal.

Highlights

• Cruising the Sunderbans in a private boat and pondering the presence of tigers in the forest
• Hearing and feeling the deep cultural significance of a Baul musical performance in Kushtia
• Arriving or departing by rocket paddle steamer, the country’s most historic and enjoyable boat journey

Kushtia
Home of Baul music culture and also a historic home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Best enjoyed with at least a full-day visit, but upscale accommodation options are limited. Two major Baul festivals are held here each year, where thousands come to pay homage to Lalon Shah, the patron saint of the Baul people.

Khulna
Base for all Sunderbans/Bagerhat trips and relaxed riverside city. Also the place to embark on a Rocket trip to Dhaka, if you’re at all interested in travelling on Bangladesh’s most historic river journey. The city itself is quite relaxed compared to the other divisional capitals.

Bagerhat
Ancient Mosque city and key destination for all those wishing to look deeper at the Bangladesh’s Mughal roots. Bagerhat means ‘abode of the tigers’, a name that likely reflects the sentiments of the region’s earliest settlers, as this region used to be part of the Sunderbans. The main attraction is the Shait Gumbaj Mosjid, which means ‘sixty-domed mosque’, even though there are 77 domes!

Jessore
Gateway airport for trips to Sunderbans and land gateway from Kolkata. The city provides a great introduction to Bangladesh and its easy-going ways (vs. Kolkata’s urban sprawl). The nightly markets in the city are an excellent place to explore and get your first taste of Bangladeshi hospitality, culture and most importantly, tea!

Khulna and Barisal Divisions