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| Chittagong Hill Tracts |
The Chittagong Hill Tracts the only extensive hill area in Bangladesh lies in southeastern part of the country. The Chittagong Hill Tracts, with three districts, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. It was under the reign of the Tripura State , the Arakans and the Sultans in different times before it came under the control of the British East India Company in 1760. In 1900 the British offered independent status to Chittagong Hill Tracts recognising the cultural and language of the Hill Tracts population. The Hill districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari with their perennial forests, emerald-blue waters of Kaptai Lake (under Rangamati district), colourful tribal life and culture, attractive handicrafts of the artisans beckon one to a world of panoramic beauty. A pleasant and picturesque drive of 64 km from Chittagong brings you to a huge expanse of blue water ringed with tropical forests. It is the famous man-made Kaptai Lake (680 sq km) formed by damming the Karnafuli river. Only 3 km from Kaptai along Chittagong road lays the ancient Morong Buddhist temple having beautiful Buddhist status.
There are many tribes in Bangladesh and most of them living in Chittagong Hill Tracts; each tribe has its own unique culture. Most of them are Chakmas, they are the largest ethnic group of Bangladesh . They are concentrated in the central and northern parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, mainly Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts. Chakmas distinguish themselves from surrounding groups by their language (Indo-European). The vast majority of Chakmas are Buddhists and they form the largest Buddhist population in Bangladesh . There are also other Ethnic nationals include the Marma, Murong, Tripura, Boam, Tanchayanga, Chak, Khyang, Khumi, Lusai and the Pankho.
The average annual rainfall is 3031 mm and annual average temperature- maximum 35 ° C, minimum 13 ° C.
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Rangamati is the district headquarters of Chittagong Hill Tracts, a 77 km away from Chittagong . Rangamati has very spectacular natural scenery- thick forested hills, lakes and a wide variety of flowers, plants and birds. The township located on the western bank of Kaptai Lake . Noted rivers are Karnafuli; small; Thega, Horina, Kassalong, Shublang, Chingri, Rainkhiang and Kapti.
Bandarban mostly consists of forests and hills. Main rivers are Shankha (Sangu), Matamuhuri and Bakkhali. The four major mountain ranges of the district are the Meranja, Wailatong, Tambang and Politai. Bagakain or Baga Lake is notable. The British rulers declared Bandarban as a forest zone because of its vast forest area devoid of human settlement. The Arakanese were permanently settled in Bandarban after the British ascendancy in Arakan.
Khagrachhari The town was established in 1860 by Remrochai Chowdhury. The hills of this region are composed of folded sedimentary rocks. Notable hill Alu Tila, Bhanga Mura (417m), Matai Pukhiri (214m), Matai Lakho (274m); main rivers are Chingri, Maini, Feni and Halda; lake Mataipukhiri (Debotar pukur). Archaeological heritage and relics – Rajbari of the Mong Circle and Dighi (large pond) of Dighinala.
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