Nikli Haor, Kishorganj
Photo: Hanif raaz · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kishorganj District · Dhaka Division · নিকলী হাওর

Nikli Haor travel guide

Popular for water stretching to the horizon in the monsoon, boat rides and haor sunsets.

🗓️ Best time to visitJune–October (monsoon)
⏱ How long it takesFull day
💰 Estimated costEngine boat ৳2,000–5,000 a day (less if shared)

At a glance

Location
Nikli upazila, 30 km from Kishoreganj town
River
Ghorautra
Special
Nikli embankment
Best time
June–October

History and details

Nikli is the gateway to the vast haor country in the east of Kishoreganj. In the monsoon the Ghorautra River and the surrounding haors merge into water stretching to the horizon; small villages stand like islands in the water.

Life in the haor changes with the seasons — fishing and travelling by boat in the monsoon, growing boro rice in the dry season. The Nikli embankment is a favourite with visitors in the monsoon, with views of the sunset and lines of boats.

In recent years hiring a boat from Nikli to explore the haor, going as far as Chhatirchar and Mithamoin, has become a popular weekend trip for Dhaka visitors.

Things to do

  • Hire a boat and explore the haor
  • Visit the koroch forest at Chhatirchar
  • Watch the sunset from the embankment
  • Eat fresh haor fish

How to get to Nikli Haor

Nikli is about 30 km from Kishoreganj town; take a CNG, then hire a boat.

Kishorganj is about 145 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 3.5–4 hours.

  • 🚌 By bus: Kishoreganj buses from Mohakhali/Sayedabad (Ananya, Jatayat), fare ৳250–350.
  • 🚆 By train: Kishoreganj Express and Egarosindhur Provati/Godhuli from Kamalapur, fare ৳150–400.

Where to stay

The district town has basic and mid-range hotels (roughly ৳800–2,500). Government circuit houses and dak bungalows can be used with permission.

What to eat

Fresh haor fish, Kishoreganj's palm-fruit pitha

Good to know

  • Don't get into a boat without a life jacket
  • If a storm blows up on the haor, head back to shore quickly
  • There's no water in the haor in the dry season (December–March)

More to see nearby

  • Chhatirchar (by boat)
  • Mithamoin (by boat)
  • Pagla Mosque, Kishoreganj (30 km)

More places to visit in Kishorganj district

Location on the map