Nijhum Dwip, Noakhali
Photo: Md Saiful Islam Khan (Aopu) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Noakhali District · Chattogram Division · নিঝুম দ্বীপ

Nijhum Dwip travel guide

An island at the mouth of the Meghna; herds of spotted deer in the keora forest and a deserted beach.

🗓️ Best time to visitNovember–February (best for deer and migratory birds; the sea is calm)
⏱ How long it takes2–3 days (including the trip from Dhaka)
💰 Estimated costFrom Dhaka ৳5,000–10,000 per person (launch cabin, stay, food, local transport); boat trip to Chowdhury Khal/Kobirajer Char ৳1,500–2,500

At a glance

Area
About 163 sq km (with the nearby chars)
National park
Declared in 2001
Deer
4 pairs of spotted deer released in 1978
Location
Hatiya upazila, mouth of the Meghna

History and details

Nijhum Dwip is made up of a group of chars that rose from silt at the mouth of the Meghna in the 1940s–50s — Ballar Char, Kamlar Char, Char Osman, Char Muri and others. Fishermen were the first to settle. In the 1970s former minister Amirul Islam Kalam, struck by its solitude, named it 'Nijhum Dwip' (silent island).

In the 1970s the Forest Department planted a coastal forest of keora, gewa and baen here. In 1978 four pairs of spotted deer were released as an experiment; in good conditions they multiplied, and are now thought to number several thousand. The island was declared a national park in 2001.

In winter thousands of migratory birds come here from Siberia and the Himalayan region. Chowdhury Khal, Kobirajer Char and Namar Bazar beach are the most popular spots. Electricity, mobile signal and modern comforts are limited — the solitude is the island's real charm.

Things to do

  • Go by boat to Chowdhury Khal at dawn or in the afternoon to see herds of deer
  • Watch the sunset at Namar Bazar beach
  • See migratory birds at Kobirajer Char in winter
  • Watch local fishermen at work
  • Enjoy the starry sky at night

How to get to Nijhum Dwip

From Hatiya across Moktaria Ghat to the island; or the launch from Sadarghat to Tamaruddi.

Noakhali is about 170 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 4–5 hours.

  • 🚌 By bus: Ekushey, Himachal, Sugandha from Sayedabad; fare ৳400–600.
  • 🚆 By train: Upakul Express from Kamalapur (Noakhali), fare ৳250–550.
  • 🚢 By launch: For Nijhum Dwip, the overnight launch from Sadarghat to Tamaruddi on Hatiya.

Where to stay

  • Nijhum Resort (Abakash Parjatan Ltd)
  • A few basic hotels and cottages at Namar Bazar (৳1,000–3,000)

What to eat

Noakhali's coconut naru, buffalo-milk yoghurt

Good to know

  • To see deer, go by boat to Chowdhury Khal or Kobirajer Char at dawn or before dusk
  • Launches from Sadarghat to Tamaruddi Ghat on Hatiya usually leave in the afternoon — book a cabin ahead
  • Electricity on the island is limited (solar/generator) — bring a power bank
  • There are hardly any ATMs — take enough cash
  • The Meghna is rough in the monsoon (June–September) — avoid travelling then

More to see nearby

  • Chowdhury Khal and Kobirajer Char (by boat)
  • Kamlar Dwip
  • Moktaria Ghat, Hatiya
  • Kamlar Dighi on Hatiya Island

More places to visit in Noakhali district

Location on the map