Barisal Tourist Spot: Barisal district is known as the Venice of Bengal. There are many best places to visit in the Barisal district.
Among all of them are Lakutia Zamindar House, Durgasagar Dighi, Guthia Masjid, Floating Guara Bazar, Satla Shapla Village, Bibir Pukur, Brajmohan College, Jibananda Das’s House, Oxford Mission Church, Bangabandhu Park (Bells Park), Barisal University, Shwetpadma Pukur, Mukund Das’s Kalibari and Sher-e-Bangla Museum, etc. are the most visited and notable tourist spot in Barisal.
Best Places To Visit In Barishal District
Barisal is one of the best places to visit in Bangladesh. Here I have compiled 9 best tourist attractions in the district of Barisal:
How to go to Barisal
Dhaka to Barisal by bus or road
It takes about 6 to 8 hours to travel from Dhaka to Barisal. From Gabtoli bus terminal in Dhaka, buses regularly travel from 6 am to 10 pm to Barisal.
Buses usually pass through Paturia Ghat to Barisal, but some buses pass through Mawa Ghat towards Barisal. Buses from Dhaka stopped at Natullahbad bus stand in Barisal city.
Hanif Transport (01713-049559), Eagle Transport (02-9006700), and Shakura Transport (01729-556677) are among the buses plying on Dhaka to Barisal route.
The fare for AC and non-AC buses to Barisal is Rs 500 to Rs 700 (5.89$-8.25$). It is best to avoid these buses to save time by plying several local buses on this route. These buses cost Rs 250 to Rs 300 (2.95$-3.53$) to Barisal.
Dhaka to Barisal by boat or launch
From Sadarghat in Dhaka, the Sundarbans 7/8, Surabhi 8, Parbat 11, Kirtankhola 1/2 launch leave for Barisal between 8 pm and 9 pm. And if you want to go in the morning, you can go to the Greenline launch.
The night launches reach Barisal around 5 am. The deck fare for these launches is Tk. 150 (1.77$), double cabin fare is Tk. 1600 (18.85$), and VIP cabin fare is Tk. 4500 (53.01$).
1. Shankar Motth/শংকর মঠ – A Historical Place in Barisal
Shankar Motth (Shree Shree Shankar Motth) is located in the Barisal district’s new market area. Born on August 12, 1884, in Galachipa, swami Pragyananda Saraswati, the anti-Partition movement leader, founded the ashram called Shree Shree Shankar Motth in 1912.
Swami Pragyananda Saraswati’s real name is Satish Chandra Mukherjee.
Swami Pragyananda’s role in the anti-British movement was unforgettable even after the ashram was established. Shankar Motth was open to freedom fighters even in the great liberation war of 1971.
At the top of the three domes, Shankar monasteries are metal-made ‘Om’ symbols and a Trishul. There are three rooms inside Shankar Motth. The main room of the monastery is kept with a stone shiva linga.
And in one room on either side is the vigraha of Shankarananda, and the other is the samadhi temple of Swami Pragyananda Saraswati.
Where to stay near Shankar Motth
There are some excellent quality residential hotels in Barisal where you can easily spend the night. Residential Hotels in Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698), Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318, 01917-458088), Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686, 01724-853590), Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233) are notable.
2.Bibir Pukur/বিবির পুকুর – Barisal Tourist Place
Bibi’s Pond (Bibir Pukur) is a traditional water body located in Barisal’s heart. Bibir Pukur is one of the best places to visit in the Barisal District. In 1908, Jinnat Bibi dug this pond to alleviate the water woes of the people.
Bibir pukur on the eastern side of Sadar Road is 1850 feet in length and 400 feet in width. Later, after Jinnat Bibi, the centenary pond became known as (Bibir Pukur) Bibi’s Pond.
Since then, the canal linking bibi with the Kirtankhola river has flooded the pond and river regularly.
In the early 1600s, some Christian missionaries arrived in Barisal. In continuation of this, William Carey Barisal, the father of Bengali printing literature, stayed in the 1800s.
William Carey rescued Jinnat Bibi from Portuguese bandits and took charge of raising herself. Jinnat Bibi’s residence was the house of undivided Bengal minister Hashem Ali Khan.
After establishing the Barisal Municipality, Bibir Pukur was renovated and re-excavated at various times. The pond is decorated with hanging parks, seating benches, fountains, and lighting.
Besides, an open entertainment center, Public Square, has been constructed near Bibi’s pond, called Hiran Square.
How to go to Bibir Pukur
You can reach the launch ghat or bus stand in Barisal and take the rickshaw to see bibi’s pond on Sadar Road’s eastern side in the city.
Where to stay near Bibir Pukur
There are some outstanding residential hotels in Barisal. Hotel Grand Park (01777-735172), Hotel Athena International (01712-261633), Hotel Sedona, and Hotel Ali International.
Where to eat near Bibir Pukur
Different quality food in Barisal You don’t have to get any speed to find other quality food in Barishal. You will get lots of food items, and you can eat any food you want.
3.Miabari Jame Masjid/মিয়াবাড়ি জামে মসজিদ – Barisal Tourist Spot
Kadapur Miabari Jame Masjid (Mia Bari Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in the Barisal district. It is a good tourist place to visit in Barisal. According to local legend, the mosque was built in the 1800s.
The main mosque was built on a high-rise rectangular basement. And the basement rooms below are currently being used for madrasa students to live in.
A wide staircase from the second floor has come down to the ground to enter the Miabari mosque. And the roof of the mosque adorns three lovely domes built on the location.
There are also eight minarets, each in front and rear walls of the mosque. The huge pond on the east side of The Kadapur Miabari Mosque adds a different dimension to the mosque’s beauty.
How to go to Miabari Masjid?
An easy bike can be easily accessed at Miabari Masjid, about 9 km from Chaumatha, adjacent to Hatem Ali College in Barisal city.
Where to stay near Miabari Masjid
It is possible to stay at a good quality residential hotel for the night in Barisal. Hotel Grand Park (01777-735172), Hotel Athena International (01712-261633), Hotel Sedona, Hotel Ali International. Etc., are the notable ones.
4. Oxford Mission/অক্সফোর্ড মিশন – Historical Place of Barisal
A church named Oxford Mission is located on Bogragami Road in the Barisal Division of Venice, famous in the East. Oxford Mission Church, one of the most artistic church architecture artifacts in Bangladesh, is considered the 2nd largest church in Asia. It is a famous place in Barisal.
Although the ancient church was called the Epifani Church, it became known as the Oxford Mission. The church’s construction, designed by Sister Edith, began in 1903 and was completed in 1907 under Father Strong’s guidance.
The Oxford Mission Church looks one-story, but it is equal to a 5-story building in height. The beautiful church is built in imitation of the Greek architectural style.
As soon as you cross the wall, you can see green grass fields, playgrounds, ponds, Oxford Mission Primary School and high school, libraries, hospitals, student hostels, flower gardens, and various medicinal plants.
There is a huge cross placed on the main altar. Built on about 35 acres of land, the Oxford Mission Church has wood-carved designs and marble floors.
The Oxford Mission Church has a huge pleasant prayer room; the surroundings are very calm and smooth, with rows of pump trees. Next to the church are Father’s House and Mother’s House.
The Oxford Mission Church has an exciting bell, considered the biggest bell in Asia. This bell is played seven times a day. Numerous corridors and arches built in the church have strengthened the main structure.
There is an opportunity to visit the Oxford Mission Church easily with permission. The church is open for visitors from morning till 4 pm.
How to go to the Oxford Mission Church?
You will get CNG, autorickshaws, and rickshaws to visit Oxford Mission Church in the divisional city of Barisal.
Where to stay in Barisal?
There are some excellent quality residential hotels in Barisal where you can easily spend the night. Residential Hotels in Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698), Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318, 01917-458088), Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686, 01724-853590), Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233) are notable.
5.Lakutiya Zamindar Bari/লাকুটিয়া জমিদার বাড়ি – Famous Place in Barisal
You have to visit the Lakutiya Zamindar House (Lakutia Zamindar Bari) in Lakutiya village, 8 km north of Barisal city. In 1700, Rupchandra Roy’s son, Rajatantra Roy, took over the hand of a 400-year-old Lakutiya zamindar bari in brick and mortar. There is a spectacular monastery, huge dighi, grounds, and carved zamindar houses.
It is heard that even in the 19th century, zamindar Rajchandra Roy’s zamindar bari was the focus of cultural activities in the region, but today it is all about memory.
Rajchandra College and Pushparani School have been built in Barisal with the contribution of these zamindar family members. At present, Lakutiya Zamindar Bari is under the supervision of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation.
Apart from the almost destroyed two-story edifice of the zamindar Bari, more than one building has been constructed among the Lakutiya Zamindar Bari structures.
How to go to Lakutiya Zamindar Bari?
From Nathullahbad bus stand in Barisal city, it will cost Rs 15 (0.18$) to go to Lakutiya Zamindar’s Bari on an autorickshaw, tempo to Lakhutiya Babuhat.
Where to stay near Lakutiya Zamindar Bari
Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698), Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318), Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686), Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233), and others are notable.
6.Vashoman Peyara Bazar (Floating Guava Market)/ভাসমান পেয়ারা বাজার
The largest guava garden on the Asian continent has been built in the border areas of Jhalkathi, Barisal, and Pirojpur. It is a beautiful place in Barisal to visit.
Bhimruli, about 15 km from Jhalkathi district city, has Bangladesh’s largest “Vashoman Peyara Bazar” (Floating Guava Market).
Sitting on the edge of the canal from three sides, this floating guava market in Bhimruli. July and August is the pair’s season, but sometimes the market runs till September.
August is the most useful time to see the floating guava market. After 11 am, the Guava Market crowd continues to decline, so it is best to go to the market before 11 am.
You can also enjoy the enchanting look of houses, schools, bridges, and roads along the canal by visiting the backwater. You can walk along the canals hand-in-hand if you want to, and if it rains, it becomes more beautiful with earthly beauty.
On the way, make no mistake in tasting the hot rosgulla of Rituparna shop in Kuriyana Bazar, and you can eat lunch at bhabhi’s hotel in the market. You can visit Guthia Masjid and Durgasagar Dighi on your way to Barisal from floating Guava Bazar.
Where to eat in Vashoman Peyara Bazar?
White and red sweets from Bhimruli Bazar, hot sweets from Rituparna shop in Kuriana Bazar, lunch at Bhabhi’s hotel, and guthia Sandesh are all food items that anyone should try while there.
You can also eat Rasmalai, Rosgulla, or Chana of Haque in the Puran Bazar area of Barisal city, Soshi’s Rasmalai in the Bottola area, Sponge Sweets of Nitai Dessert Store at Nayabazar Mor, Chutney near Bibi’s pond bank, Curd, Ghor-curd, ghol and ghol-muri mixed.
Accommodation around Vashoman Peyara Bazar
You can spend the night at Dhansiri Rest House, Halima, and Arafat Boarding in Jhalkathi city from Rs 100 to Rs 250 (1.18$-2.95$). But you have to come to Barisal city to spend the night in a good quality hotel. There are several residential hotels of different quality in Barisal city.
Tour Plan
Tour plan for floating Guava Bazaar tour (1)
Backwater and floating guava market visits with boats or trawlers from Barisal or Swarupkathi. Spend the night in Jhalkathi after having lunch in the afternoon at bhabhi’s hotel in Kuriana Bazar and traveling backwater.
In the morning, from Jhalkathi to Guthia Masjid, Durgasagar dighi is a journey to Barisal. Then you can tour around Barisal city and return to Dhaka at the launch.
Tour plan for floating Guava Bazaar tour (2)
Backwater and floating guava market visits with boats or trawlers from Barisal or Swarupkathi. After lunch at Bhabhi’s hotel in Kuriana Bazar, in the afternoon, visit Guthia Masjid in Banaripara.
Besides, Narayankathi can be easily accessed from Kuriana Bazar at an auto fare of Rs 15 (0.18$) per person. Another auto can easily go to Guthia Masjid at a fare of Rs 10 (0.12$) per person.
Don’t forget to eat Sandesh near Guthia Masjid, then come to Barisal city by bus after seeing Durga Sagar Dighi just two kilometers away. If there is enough time in hand, spend the evening on Bibir Pukur and return to Dhaka after a quick launch or bus ride.
Floating Guava Market Travel Tips
- Do not pollute water by dumping dirt in the water.
- It is better to group floating guavas on a market trip.
- Traveling by bus to launch is much more comfortable and convenient
- Of course, don’t forget to eat sweets.
- Use a life jacket.
- If you want to eat something from the garden, take the gardener’s permission.
7.Shapla Gram (Lotus Village), Satla/শাপলা গ্রাম, সাতলা
Shapla village Satla (Shapla Gram Satla) is like a shapla (Lotus) kingdom. Thousands of red shapla blooming in the water of the beel can also beat the red glow of the sun. It is a wonderful tourist spot to go to with family and friends.
The distance from Barisal Sadar to Satla village is 60 km. The beels in Satla village of Ujirpur Upazila of Barisal are known to the locals as Shaplar Beel.
Although it is not known when the shapla has started blooming here, it is known that there are three types of red, white, and purple shaplas. But red shapla is most common.
Shapla was born in about 10,000 acres of wetlands in Satla village. Most of the residents of Shapla village are therefore associated with Shapla marketing. Shapla flowers are supplied to different parts of the country from Shapla village Satla. Satla is an ideal place for photographers to take pictures of Shapla.
When to visit Shapla Village Satla?
Typically, the three months from August to October are the months when Shapla blooms here. During these months of the year, if you go to Shapla village Satla, you will see thousands of shapla.
And to see Shapla, you must go early in the morning because the evening progresses, the shapla flower traders take the flowers to the market to sell as the evening progresses. So it’s best to leave the village one night in the morning and go to Shapla Beel.
How to go to Shapla Gram, Satla?
Barisal to Satla
You can come to Shikarpur by bus from Barisal and hire an auto and go to North Satla. While traveling from Dhaka to Barisal by bus, you can get off the Nutanhat bus in Ujirpur and go directly to see the Satla Shapla Beel.
Or you can reach your destination in 2 hours by direct bus service from Nathullahbad bus stand in Barisal to Satla and Bagdha villages. Mahendra will also be able to travel from Barisal to Shapla village Satla by car.
Where to stay in Shapla Gram, Salta?
If you want to stay the previous day or night in Satla village, you can spend the night talking at Satla’s school or local home. The people of Satla village are happy.
There are some good quality residential hotels in Barisal where you can easily spend the night. Residential Hotels in Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698), Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318, 01917-458088), Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686, 01724-853590), Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233) are notable.
8.Durga Sagar Dighi/দূর্গা সাগর দীঘি – A Historical Tourist Spot in Barisal
Durga Sagar Dighi is located in Madhavpasha on Swarupkathi-Barisal road, just 12 km from Barisal city. In 1780, King Shiva Narayan dug a large dighi in Madhavpasha to fix the water crisis for the area’s people and named Durga Sagar after his mother, Durga Devi.
The historic dighi has a wetland area of 27 acres and a total area of 45.42 acres, including banks and land. The district administration is currently in charge of maintaining Durgasagar Dighi.
There are 3 ghatalas on three sides of Durga Sagar Dighi and a smaller island between Dighi. Durga Sagar is also widely known to the locals as Madhovpasha Dighi.
There is a large ghat on the north side of Dighi surrounded by coconut, supari, children, and mahogany trees. You can visit Durga Sagar Dighi at any time of the year, but migratory birds arrive in Durga Sagar in winter.
Thousands of birds of about 6 species, including sarails and Balihash, are surrounded by collars. Numerous people came to see the beauty of the traditional Durga Sagar Dighi, which is about 250 years old.
How to go to Durga Sagar Dighi?
If you take the bus from Barisal to Chakhar, you’ll get in front of Dighi. Also, the battery-operated leguna from the launch ghat leave for Durga Sagar Dighi. You can reserve CNG or autorickshaws and travel around Durga Sagar if you want.
Where to stay near Durga Sagar Dighi
There are some excellent quality residential hotels in Barisal where you can easily spend the night. In residential hotels –
- Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698)
- Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318, 01917-458088)
- Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686, 01724-853590) and
- Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233) is notable.
9.Gutia Masjid/গুটিয়া মসজিদ – Visiting Place in Barisal
Gutia Masjid (Guthia Mosque) is one of the largest jame mosques in Asia, located in Changuria village of Guthia Union of Ujirpur police station in Barisal division.
The huge mosque was built on 14 acres of land 11 km from Barisal city. Although known as Guthia Masjid, it is called Baitul Aman. The Gutia Union’s mosque and Eidgah complex construction began on December 16, 2003. The construction of the Gutia Masjid and Eidgah complex was completed in 2006.
Inside the Gutia Masjid complex are a mosque, a lovely minar, an Eidgah maidan with a capacity of 20,000 people, a dak bungalow, an orphanage, car parking, ponds, lakes, and flowers gardens.
The mosque can offer about 1500 Muslim prayers at a time, and the minar of the mosque is about 193 feet high. The mosque’s construction cost around Rs 21 crore, and the mosque’s construction style can be traced to the imprint of the prestigiable mosques in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The mosque uses elevated glass, frames, and Bose speakers. 30 employees are constantly engaged in the supervision of the Guthia Mosque. The mosque provides for women to offer separate prayers.
Thousands of visitors visit this unique Guthia Mosque every day to see and pray. The mosque complex also preserves the Kaaba Sharif, jamjam well water, arafar maidan, Jabal Rahmat, Jabal Noor, nabiji’s birthplace, mother Hawa’s cemetery, caliph cemetery, other famous mosques, and famous places that visitors can see.
How to go to Gutia Masjid?
To see the mosque, you have to come first to the divisional city of Barisal. You can go to Guthia Masjid, 11 km from Barisal, via CNG or autorickshaw.
Where to stay in Gutia Masjid?
Barisal has some quality hotels where you can stay the night. Residential Hotels in Hotel Hawk International (01718-587698), Hotel Grand Plaza (01711-357318, 01917-458088), Hotel Paradise to International (01717-072686, 01724-853590), Hotel Athena International (0431-65106, 0431-65233) are notable on you should stay in.
Where to eat
The Barisal region has an excellent reputation for hosting seafood. Also, desi and local food are available in local restaurants.
Conclusion: Best places to visit in Barisal
In conclusion, Barisal offers a delightful array of attractions that cater to various interests. From the serene beauty of Durga Sagar to the cultural richness of Kuakata, and the historical significance of Durgasagar Dighi Fort, each place adds a unique charm to the region.
The lush landscapes, tranquil waterways, and warm hospitality of the locals make a visit to Barisal a truly enriching and memorable experience. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a history buff, or simply seeking a peaceful getaway, Barisal’s best places to visit have something special for everyone to enjoy.