Lengura: Nestled in the niche of nature
With a little backing by the government, Lengura can become an attractive tourist destination, which can also contribute to revenue
Highlights
- Two project proposals are in the process for development of tourist spots, including Lengura
- Besides the natural beauty, there are memorials related to the liberation war, Tonk and anti-British movements in the area
- But there is no hotel-motel, not even a standard food shop, which cause difficulties to the visitors
A view of a mountain range across the border, hilocks, rivers and simple lifestyle of ethnic minority peoples, and memorials of liberation war, Tonk and anti-British movements – all these make Lengura in Netrokona a lucrative tourist spot.
Ganeshwari, a river coming down from Garo hill, is flowing here. To its northeast is the Indian border with a row of high mountains.
Silica sand glitters in sunlight across the river in the dry season. And the source of clear water just beneath the sand layer surprises the visitors. Blue and white clouds keep floating all the while.
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And to the south-west is a small hilly Bangladesh border. Very close to the tilas (small hills) live different ethnic groups such as Garo, Hajong, Hadi, Koch etc.
But the scenic beauty of this place, which has a huge potential for tourism, has remained veiled from the beauty-thirsty tourists, thanks to lack of government initiatives.
Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan, chairman of Lengura UP, said there is no hotel-motel, not even a standard food shop, so the tourists who are attracted by the beauty of nature face a lot of difficulties.
With a little support from the government, Lengura can become an attractive tourist destination, which can also contribute to revenue, he added.
So far, no initiative has been taken to explore the potential of this place at Kalmakanda.
The Meghalaya hills catch the eye from a distance as soon as one reaches Nazirpur on the way to Lengura. At Nazirpur, there is a liberation war memorial.
Lengura also has some hillocks on the border of Bangladesh such as Momin's Tila, Chairman's Tila, Gazir's Tila etc. The River Ganeshwari descends from the Garo hills.
On the west of Momin's Tila, a memorial was built to commemorate the martyrs of the war for liberation. Adjacent to No Man's Land on the Indo-Bangladesh border is the mausoleum of the historical seven martyrs of 1971. There are also several old temples and churches in the vicinity of Lengura.
If anyone stays in Lengura for a while, he will witness the diverse lifestyle of small and ethnic groups such as Garo, Hajong, Hadi, Koch. Many Hajong women are seen fishing. Garo women are seen harvesting or planting paddy.
The Zila Parishad had prepared a development project profile (DPP) for Lengura with a plan to construct a motel, the seven martyrs' mausoleum complex, a wide road from Lengura to the mausoleum, benches and umbrellas on the tilas, hanging bridges on the Ganeshwari, picnic and shooting spots, eco park etc. But the plan made no progress.
Netrokona Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md Abdur Rahman said he discussed the matter with officials of the Bangladesh Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism.
Two project proposals are being prepared for other tourist spots at Kalmakanda and at Durgapur upazilas, including Lengura, he informed.
"However, we have a plan to do something locally to make the tourist spots more attractive, including accommodation, communication and security. Implementation of the plan will start soon," he said.
How to travel to Lengura
The distance from Netrokona district town to Lengura is about 50km. From the bus stand in the district town, one has to go to Kalmakanda first by bus, CNG-run auto-rickshaw or hired motorbikes.
Then comes the journey towards Nazirpur from Kalmakanda Sadar by motorcycle, CNG or battery-run auto-rickshaw, which will take around two hours.
Lengura Bazaar is along the Ganeshwari. There is a hundred-year-old temple at the end of the bazar. Then, after a five minutes' walk, one reaches Lengura.
