Unseen Bangladesh
Bandarban District · Chattogram Division · বগা লেক
Boga Lake travel guide
A natural lake about 1,200 ft up; you can stay here on the way to Keokradong.
At a glance
- Height
- About 1,246 ft
- Area
- About 15 acres
- Location
- Ruma upazila
- Depth
- Thought to be about 125 ft
History and details
Boga Lake (Bogakain Lake) is a natural lake on a hill in Ruma upazila. Bawm folklore tells of a dragon, from which the lake is said to get its name. Some scientists think it formed in the crater of an extinct volcano or from a meteorite strike; the water stays at about the same level all year, and its colour sometimes changes.
Beside the lake is a Bawm village with basic cottages for visitors. Boga Lake is the main stop on the way to Keokradong, so trekkers usually spend a night here.
Because of the security situation, visitor travel in the Ruma–Thanchi area is closed or limited at times; so it's essential to get the latest information from the administration and your guide before you go.
Things to do
- Spend a night in the Bawm village by the lake
- See the mist over the lake at dawn
- Trek towards Keokradong the next day
How to get to Boga Lake
From Ruma Bazar by chander gari or on foot; registering at the army camp and a guide are compulsory.
Bandarban is about 330 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 7–8 hours.
- 🚌 By bus: Direct Shyamoli, Hanif, S. Alam and Saint Martin Paribahan buses from Sayedabad/Kalabagan; non-AC ৳850–1,000, AC ৳1,500–2,000.
- 🚗 By road: About 2.5 hours by bus from Chattogram to Bandarban.
Where to stay
- Cottages in the Bawm village (basic)
What to eat
Bamboo shoots, bamboo chicken, hill vegetables and fruit
Good to know
- Registering at the Ruma army camp and a registered guide are compulsory
- The area is sometimes closed for security reasons — check before you go
- Swimming in the lake is not allowed
More to see nearby
- Keokradong (3–4 hour trek)
- Chingri Waterfall (on the way)
- Darjeeling Para
- Ruma Bazar
More places to visit in Bandarban district
- Nilgiri — About 2,200 ft up; at dawn you can see clouds below your feet.
- Nilachal — A hilltop near town; sunsets and views of ranges of hills.
- Golden Temple (Buddha Dhatu Jadi) — A golden Theravada Buddhist temple on a hilltop.
- Keokradong — One of the country's highest peaks; a favourite with trekkers.
- Nafakhum Waterfall — One of the country's biggest waterfalls, on the Sangu.
- Meghla Tourist Complex — A family outing with a lake, hanging bridges and a cable car.
- Chimbuk Hill — A high hill on the way to Nilgiri; Mro villages and views of clouds.
- Shoilopropat — A small waterfall right by the road; Bawm handwoven goods for sale.
- Debotakhum — A deep, cold pool between sheer rock walls; you float in on a bamboo raft.