Unseen Bangladesh
Sylhet District · Sylhet Division · জাফলং
Jaflong travel guide
The Piyain River, stones and clear water below India's Meghalaya hills; Khasia punjis nearby.
At a glance
- Location
- Gowainghat, about 60 km from Sylhet city
- River
- Piyain (from Meghalaya)
- Border
- Dawki, Meghalaya, India
- Best time
- October–March (clear water)
History and details
Jaflong lies at the foot of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills on the Piyain River. The area was once part of the Jaintia kingdom; the British took the kingdom in 1835. After Partition the border was drawn along the foot of the hills — so from Jaflong the hills you see are in India, while the river's sand and stones are in Bangladesh.
The main attraction is the stones of many colours under the Piyain's clear water flowing down from the Meghalaya hills. Across the river you can see the Dawki suspension bridge and several waterfalls coming down the hills. Years of stone extraction have harmed the area's environment; efforts are now under way to control it.
Across the river, the Khasia community's Sangrampunji shows betel-leaf gardens, areca groves and life in the matrilineal Khasia society. Mayabi Waterfall and Jaflong Tea Garden are nearby.
Things to do
- Take a boat near the zero point to see the Dawki bridge
- Visit Mayabi Waterfall (towards Sangrampunji)
- See the betel-leaf gardens in the Khasia punji
- Stop at Tamabil Land Port and Sreepur Tea Garden on the way
How to get to Jaflong
About 60 km from Sylhet city; by bus or CNG.
Sylhet is about 240 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 5–6 hours.
- 🚌 By bus: Green Line, Ena, Hanif, Shyamoli from Sayedabad/Fakirapul; non-AC ৳650–750, AC ৳1,200–1,600.
- 🚆 By train: Parabat, Joyontika, Kalni, Upaban Express from Kamalapur; fare about ৳375–1,100.
- ✈️ By air: Biman, US-Bangla, Novoair; one way ৳3,500–6,000, 45 minutes.
Where to stay
- Rose View Hotel
- Nirvana Inn
- Grand Sylhet Hotel & Resort
- Mid-range hotels at Dargah Gate and Zindabazar (৳1,500–3,500)
What to eat
Meat with satkora, bhorta-rice at Panch Bhai/Panshi restaurants, tea
Good to know
- Risk of slipping in the current — don't go into deep water
- Don't cross the border line; follow BGB instructions
- Ask permission before taking photos in the Khasia punji
More to see nearby
- Mayabi Waterfall (2 km)
- Tamabil Land Port (5 km)
- Sreepur Tea Garden (10 km)
- Lalakhal (20 km)
- Jaintia Rajbari and megaliths (25 km)
More places to visit in Sylhet district
- Ratargul Swamp Forest — The country's only freshwater swamp forest; boat among the trees in the monsoon.
- Bichanakandi — Clear water flowing down from the hills over a bed of stones; most beautiful in the monsoon and autumn.
- Lalakhal — A river of blue-green water and tea gardens; boat trips.
- Sada Pathor, Bholaganj — White stones and cold clear water from the hills at the mouth of the Dhalai River.
- Shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) — One of the country's main spiritual pilgrimage sites.
- Malnicherra Tea Garden — The subcontinent's first commercial tea garden (1854).
- Panthumai Waterfall — A big waterfall coming down from the Meghalaya hills, seen from the river.