Monpura Island, Bhola
Photo: Arman333 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bhola District · Barishal Division · মনপুরা দ্বীপ

Monpura Island travel guide

A green island in the Meghna; deer, mangroves and fishing scenes.

🗓️ Best time to visitNovember–February
⏱ How long it takes1–2 days
💰 Estimated costLaunch cabin ৳1,200–2,500; motorbike hire on the island ৳800–1,500 a day

At a glance

Area
About 373 sq km (upazila)
Location
Mouth of the Meghna, cut off from Bhola
Known for
The 2009 film 'Monpura'
Best time
November–February

History and details

Monpura is an isolated island upazila of Bhola district, at the mouth of the Meghna River and the Bay of Bengal. It is said to have been a hideout of Portuguese pirates about 400 years ago, and locals say shaggy 'Kana Portuguese' dogs can still be seen on the island.

In the devastating 1970 cyclone and storm surge a huge number of people on Monpura died — one of the biggest natural disasters in the country's history. Embankments and cyclone shelters were built afterwards.

Gias Uddin Selim's popular 2009 film 'Monpura' made the island known again. Deer can be seen in the Chowdhury Project and the mangroves on the chars in the south of the island; fresh Meghna hilsa and buffalo-milk yoghurt are the local specialities.

Things to do

  • See deer in the Chowdhury Project mangroves
  • Watch sunrise and sunset on the Meghna
  • Eat buffalo-milk yoghurt and fresh hilsa
  • Tour the whole island by motorbike

How to get to Monpura Island

By direct launch from Sadarghat or by trawler from Tazumuddin.

Bhola is about 200 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 6–8 hours (by launch).

  • 🚢 By launch: Launches from Sadarghat to Bhola/Ilisha, Char Fasson (Betua) and Monpura; deck ৳300–450, cabin ৳1,200–3,000.
  • 🚌 By bus: Via Barishal, crossing the Laharhat ferry to Bhola.

Where to stay

  • Monpura Tourism Centre/government rest house
  • Basic local hotels

What to eat

Buffalo-milk yoghurt, Meghna hilsa

Good to know

  • The Meghna is rough in the monsoon — avoid travelling then
  • Best chance of seeing deer at the Chowdhury Project

More to see nearby

  • Chowdhury Project
  • The southern chars (by boat)
  • Tazumuddin Ghat (by trawler)

More places to visit in Bhola district

Location on the map