Panthumai Waterfall, Sylhet
Photo: S.M.Tanim · CC BY-SA 4.0

Sylhet District · Sylhet Division · পান্থুমাই ঝর্ণা

Panthumai Waterfall travel guide

A big waterfall coming down from the Meghalaya hills, seen from the river.

🗓️ Best time to visitJune–September
⏱ How long it takesHalf a day (with Bichanakandi)
💰 Estimated costBoat ৳500–1,000 extra on a Bichanakandi package

History and background

A big waterfall (also called Borhill Falls) coming down from the Meghalaya hills beside Panthumai village in Gowainghat. The waterfall is on the Indian side, but you can see it up close from a boat on the Piyain River in Bangladesh.

How to get to Panthumai Waterfall

In Panthumai village, Gowainghat; by boat.

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

  • Because of the border you can't get very close to the waterfall
  • You can come by the same boat from Bichanakandi

More places to visit in Sylhet district

  • Ratargul Swamp Forest — The country's only freshwater swamp forest; boat among the trees in the monsoon.
  • Jaflong — The Piyain River, stones and clear water below India's Meghalaya hills; Khasia punjis nearby.
  • 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).

Location on the map