Kuakata Travel Guide: Sunrise and Sunset on One Beach, Getting There and Costs
Kuakata, the "daughter of the sea", where you can watch both sunrise and sunset from the same beach. How to get there from Dhaka via the Padma Bridge, motorbike tours to Gangamati, Lebur Char, Fatrar Char and Misripara, where to stay and eat, and a 2-day budget.
- From Dhaka
- About 270 km, 6–7 hours by bus via the Padma Bridge
- Bus fare
- Non-AC ৳700–900, AC ৳1,200–1,800
- How long
- 2 days, 1 night
- Cost
- ৳5,000–10,000 per person (2 days)
- Best time
- November–February
Trip ticket
Look east at dawn and a red sun rises out of the sea; in the evening, at the western end of the same beach, that sun sets into the sea. There's only one place in the country like this: Kuakata in Patuakhali, fondly called Sagarkanya, the daughter of the sea. Since the Padma Bridge opened, direct buses get there from Dhaka in 6–7 hours. It's less crowded and cheaper than Cox's Bazar. This guide covers everything from transport to costs.
Why Kuakata is different
Kuakata is in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district, on the Bay of Bengal. The beach is about 18 km long and faces south, so from one spot you can see the sunrise to the east and the sunset to the west.
Kuakata is also home to the Rakhine people, who settled here a few hundred years ago; the name "Kuakata" is popularly said to come from an old well (kua) they dug. Rakhine villages, Buddhist temples and handwoven cloth are part of the experience.
How to get from Dhaka to Kuakata
| Mode | Approximate fare and time |
|---|---|
| Direct bus (Sakura, Green Line, Hanif), non-AC | ৳700–900, 6–7 hours |
| Direct bus, AC | ৳1,200–1,800 |
| Launch to Patuakhali or Kalapara, then bus | Launch deck ৳300–500, cabin ৳1,200–3,000 |
Take an overnight bus and you arrive at dawn in time for the first sunrise. The launch adds a night river journey; read more about launches in Barishal: the launch journey and the floating guava market.
What to see in Kuakata
The main beach
The beach is a walk from the bus terminal. Stroll on the sand, ride a beach bike and eat green coconuts and fried crab. Umbrellas and chairs are for hire. At low tide the beach becomes very wide.
Gangamati Char: sunrise
About 10 km east of the main beach, the best spot in Kuakata for sunrise, with tamarisk groves, red crabs and an empty beach. Set off by motorbike at around 5 am.
Lebur Char and the west beach: sunset
About 6 km west of the main beach, where the river meets the sea. Sunsets are at their best here, and you'll see red crabs. On the way are tamarisk groves and coconut gardens.
Fatrar Char
Across the river west of the beach lies a mangrove forest, rather like the Sundarbans, about an hour from Kuakata by trawler. There are walking paths in the forest. Don't take a trawler in bad weather.
Misripara Buddhist temple and Rakhine villages
About 8 km from Kuakata, a Buddhist temple in a Rakhine village holds one of the largest Buddha statues in the subcontinent. In the Rakhine villages near town you can buy handwoven shawls and cloth. Dress modestly and take your shoes off at the temple.
Motorbike tours
The most popular way around Kuakata is a hired motorbike, with the rider as your guide. Two people fit behind the rider.
| Tour | Approximate fare (per bike) |
|---|---|
| Dawn sunrise at Gangamati (tamarisk grove, Kauar Char) | ৳400–800 |
| West side: Lebur Char, tamarisk grove, Rakhine village, sunset | ৳500–1,000 |
| Full day, all spots | ৳1,000–1,800 |
A 2-day plan
Day 1
- Arrive at dawn on the overnight bus and drop your bags at the hotel
- Morning: walk the main beach, breakfast
- Midday: check in, rest, lunch
- Afternoon: motorbike to the west side, the Rakhine village and sunset at Lebur Char
- Evening: fried crab and fish on the beach
Day 2
- 5 am: motorbike to Gangamati Char for sunrise
- Morning: Misripara Buddhist temple
- Before noon: a trawler to Fatrar Char if the weather is good
- Afternoon: night bus to Dhaka
Where to stay
- Sikder Resort & Villas, Hotel Graver Inn: good-quality resorts and hotels.
- Parjatan Holiday Homes: government-run, near the beach.
- Budget hotels: plenty around the beach, ৳1,200–3,000. Book ahead for holidays.
What to eat
- Fried crab and fish: fried in front of you at beach stalls in the evening; ask the price first
- Pomfret, coral fish, prawns: at hotel restaurants
- Rakhine food: at shops in the Rakhine villages
- Dried fish: to take home
A 2-day budget
Per person, group of 2–4:
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Dhaka–Kuakata bus (return) | ৳1,400–3,600 |
| One night in a hotel (shared) | ৳600–2,500 |
| Motorbike tours (shared) | ৳500–1,000 |
| Fatrar Char trawler (shared) | ৳200–500 |
| Food (2 days) | ৳1,000–2,000 |
| Total | ৳3,700–9,600 |
When to go
- November–February: a calm sea and clear skies, the best time for sunrise and sunset.
- March–May: hot but less crowded. April–May starts the cyclone season.
- June–October: a rough sea in the monsoon, risky trawler trips, and the sun often hidden by cloud.
Safety
- Check the tides and red flags before going into the sea; swimming in the outgoing tide is dangerous
- Stay off the beach and out of trawlers when a cyclone signal is up
- Don't go alone to empty parts of the beach at night
- Don't catch the red crabs or leave plastic behind
All of Patuakhali's places, transport and emergency numbers are in our Patuakhali district guide.
Questions and answers
Where do I watch sunrise and sunset in Kuakata?
Gangamati Char to the east is best for sunrise, and Lebur Char or the west beach for sunset. You can see both from the main beach too.
How long does it take to get from Dhaka to Kuakata?
Usually 6–7 hours by direct bus via the Padma Bridge.
How much is a motorbike in Kuakata?
Roughly ৳400 to ৳1,800 per bike depending on the spots and time, with two passengers behind the rider.
Which district is Kuakata in?
Kuakata is in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district, Barishal division.
When is the best time to visit Kuakata?
November to February, when the sea is calm and the sky clear.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
