Fatrar Char Patuakhali

The extended portion of the Sundarbans is the Fatrar Forest or Fatrar Char (Fatrar Char) spread over an area of ​​9,97,507 acres to the west of Kuakata. Known as the second Sundarban, Fatra has many mangrove plants like Gewa, Sundari, Keora, Fatra, Garan, Golpata, Bain etc. and animals and birds like monkeys, pigs etc. There are also several reptiles such as snakes and snakes in this pasture. Like the Sundarbans, the Fatra plains are flooded twice a day by the tides.

As soon as you enter the Fatra Char canal, you are mesmerized by the dense green forest on both sides. Entering the Char, the first thing you see is a well-built pond and a rest house of the Forest Department. This pond is the source of fresh water for the temporary residents of Char. Generally, people do not live permanently in Fatra pastures except the forest guards of the forest department. There is a small beach on the eastern side of Char, at low tide you can easily swim at this beach.

From November to March, grazing permits are available for just two hours.

If you want to see Fatra Char, you have to come to Kuakata first. A number of trawlers ply from Kuakata daily for Fatra Char at a fare of Tk 250 to Tk 400 per person (the fare depends on the season). Or you can reach Fatra forest in 2 hours with trawler reserve. Kuakata can be reached from Dhaka by river and road. Launch from Dhaka Sadarghat to Kuakata via Patuakhali or Barisal. And if you want to go by bus from Dhaka to Kuakata via Barisal. But considering the easiest and most comfortable, the river route is the best to go to Kuakata. From Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka, you can go to Patuakhali by launch and from there you can go to Kuakata by bus. Or you can go to Barisal by launch from Sadarghat and from there you can go to Kuakata by bus.

Due to the lack of passengers due to the launch of the Kuakata Padma Bridge from Dhaka, good service launches are not running from Dhaka's Sadarghat as before. So if you want to go to the launch, you have to search in advance whether there is a good launch on the day of your travel.

A launch for Patuakhali departs from Sadarghat every evening and reaches Patuakhali around 7 am. Launch deck rent 400-500 taka, single cabin 1300 taka, double cabin 2400 taka, VIP cabin rent 7000 taka.

From Patuakhali Launch Ghat, take an auto to the bus stand and take a local bus to Kuakata. It will take about 2 hours to go, and the bus fare is 150-160 taka.

Besides, several launches leave for Barisal from Sadarghat in the evening and reach Barisal in the morning. Buses to Kuakata are available from Barisal Launch Ghat to Rupatali Bus Stand. It will take about 3 hours to go by bus, the bus fare is Tk 180-250.

Dhaka to Kuakata by bus The distance from Dhaka to Kuakata via Padma bridge is about 294 km. It will take about 6-7 hours to go by bus. From Sayedabad, Abdullahpur, Arambagh or Gabtali bus stand in Dhaka, buses from Sakura Paribahan, Shyamoli, Greenline, Euro Coach, Hanif, TR Travels and many other transport companies go directly to Kuakata. Non-AC bus fare from Dhaka to Kuakata is Tk 750-900 and AC bus fare is Tk 1100-1600.

There is no accommodation in Fatra Char, but you can stay overnight at the forest department's rest house with permission. However, Kuakata has various quality residential hotels. According to the quality and category, you can stay in these hotels for 400-5,000 rupees. Cost will be less if shared. There is no need to book the hotel in advance except for the season and public holidays. And of course take the price.

It is best to take light food with you while visiting Fatra Char as there is only one shop here. And in this shop there is not much available except coarse rice and chicken meat.