The New Nation - Internet Edition

One of the lands of dreams in Bangladesh is Srimongol, Moulavibazar. The place is situated on the North-East side of Bangladesh in the Sylhet district. Srimongol is famous for its tea gardens, for which many tourists visit Bangladesh.

Srimongol is beautifully adorned with green tea-leaves on small hill-like structures known as 'Tila' in Bengali. The tea-leaves give a fresh feeling when we look at them and it is truly amazing to think how the people of Srimongol maintain an average size of all the tea-trees. The hills surround the roads which make traveling more heavenly. The tea-leaves are maintained by another powerful natural source, the rain. Incessant rainfall contributes the tea-gardens to withstand its ultimate beauty. The hills are naturally designed in such a way that when rain falls on the leaves. It does not stay long; the rain drains down underground because water staying long time on the leaves may harm them. 'Finlay' and 'Duncan' are two large tea projects of tea-cultivation in Sri mongol. As we go deep into the tea gardens, we can perceive lots of random muddy tracks, just like a huge maze where anyone can get lost.

It is amazing how the leaves turn into small bits which we have as tea. The leaves are first discharged into huge box-like structures where the leaves go through a process of five stages. During these five stages, the leaves are manufactured and crumbled. The fragments of the tea leaves are then blended in drum rolls. A huge drum is used which rotates at 360 degrees all the time to make the fragments more spherical. The spherical blended fragments are left to dry, where they change into their own natural color. Then there are more manufacturing machines designed for further flavor in the tea. One of the machines named 'Hybro-screen' has the ability to distinguish and produce seven to eight types of tea. Then the tea is packed and is ready to set off to its destiny.

Not only tea gardens in Srimongol make it famous; Srimongol also consist of the 'Sylhet Gas Field' where huge amount of gas is collected from beneath the earth and supplied widely. The night scenery of the gas field makes it more beautiful because of its outstanding lighting and construction. The area contains huge box-like chambers and mill-like structures which pump out fire into the open sky. The spectacular view may not last long because the tragedy elaborates that the gas can only be supplied for nine more years.

'Lawachara', an hour away from the 'Tea Resort' of 'Bangladesh Tea Board', is a national park built by the British, the time of their rule in this country. Now, it is a tourist spot where vast number of soaring trees surrounds the forest. The park occupies an area of 1250ha, and is named after a small narrow tributary, named 'Lawachara'. Its previous name was 'West Bhanugan'. Birds of different species are rarely found here and anyone can always trek along the adventurous mud stairs, carved into the hills, while listening to the continuous chirping of birds. It is also said that in the early mornings, one can be lucky enough to hear and even see a very rare species of monkey known as 'Ullook' in Bengali. A group of these monkeys lives in this forest together having their favourite fruit, 'Chamkathal' or 'Chapalish' in Bengali. Large spiders throw open thin, huge web and amazingly stay on it. The web is wide, clear and visible as it is attached to the neighboring trees. The spider beautifully adorns its web and replete the natural view with its shiny black or scarlet color. It is also known that in the deep, dark places of Lawachara, animals like leopard, wilebore and even King Cobra settle their presence.

The inhabitants of this area, widely known as 'Khashia', obtain their source of income by selling 'Panpata', a kind of leaf mostly eaten in South-East Asia. They use natural sources for healing their injuries; like they use a tree bark from the tree named 'Arjun' as a gastric medicine. Different types of trees make the natural view of 'Lawachara' more exciting and interesting. Some of the trees found here are of rare species like the 'Chlorophora Xsilsa' or 'African Ticock'. This tree is believed to get a person unconscious if they are around it for too long, but the chemical which made this possible is worn out. Another tree, the 'Iron Tree' is a very hard one and is often used in rail tracks. This species was brought to Bangladesh from Myanmar in 1947. 'Lawachara' consists of a huge bamboo forest. Among the bamboos, 'Jai Bash' is a bamboo which is very thick and very rare. These bamboos are not used in any purpose; it is kept in 'Lawachara' to its own natural process and beauty to preserve wildlife. 'Agor' tree is another excellent legend in 'Lawachara'. Perfume is collected from this tree; the perfume is strong but the process of collection is very hard because only one out of a hundred 'Agor' trees is likely to have fragrance. Other trees like Raktan, Erythrina Indica, Shegun, Orchid, Fishtail Palm, Dhootora, etc. are found in plenty in 'Lawachara'. All these trees combining with adorable flowers bring forth to the viewers a very good impression of true nature.

Another two and a half hour ride from the 'Tea Resort' is 'Madhavkunda' waterfall. Tiny brooks cut the hilly tracks and pass by leaving a snake's trail. After reaching the steep slope, it is a dazzling view. A huge waterfall of about fifty feet in length falls through the cracks of a soaring hill; plants and trees cover the steep slope. It seems like a valley surrounded with trees.

It can be taken for granted that there is no lack of beauty in the natural city, 'Srimongol'. People can really come out of their daily busy and noisy life and enjoy the outstanding, spell-bounding and spectacular nature of Srimongol. Once someone enters Sri mongol they become a part of its amazing paradise.

-Shadman Rabbi

Class- Nine, Siddiqui’s International School