Unseen Bangladesh
Gazipur District · Dhaka Division · ভাওয়াল জাতীয় উদ্যান
Bhawal National Park travel guide
A park in sal and gajari forest; good for picnics, walks and birdwatching.
🗓️ Best time to visitOctober–March (winter is picnic season)
⏱ How long it takesHalf a day
💰 Estimated costSmall entry fee; picnic spots and cottages extra
History and background
About 5,000 hectares of sal forest were declared a national park in 1982. Tigers and leopards once lived here; now monkeys, jackals, many birds and butterflies can be seen. Inside are picnic spots, a lake and cottages.
How to get to Bhawal National Park
At Rajendrapur on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway; get off a Mymensingh-bound bus.
Gazipur is about 37 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 1–2 hours.
- 🚌 By bus: Gazipur/Sreepur-bound buses from Mohakhali or Abdullahpur, fare ৳50–120.
- 🚆 By train: Local and intercity trains from Kamalapur to Joydebpur, fare ৳30–100.
- 🚗 By road: 1–2 hours by private car or microbus (depending on traffic).
Where to stay
- Forest Department cottages inside the park (book ahead)
- Many resorts around
What to eat
Jackfruit (Sreepur-Kapasia), buffets at local resorts
Good to know
- Crowded with picnics on winter holidays — go midweek
- Don't go deep into the forest alone
More places to visit in Gazipur district
- Safari Park, Gazipur — Tigers, lions, zebras, giraffes and more in open surroundings; you can do a safari by vehicle.
- Nuhash Palli — Writer Humayun Ahmed's country retreat and grave; a peaceful place full of trees and artworks.
- Bhawal Rajbari — The Bhawal zamindars' huge palace, linked to the famous 'Bhawal Sannyasi' case.