Tanguar Haor(Sunamgonj,Sylhet)

Sunamganj: Tanguar Haor(টাঙ্গুয়ার হাওর) 

Tanguar Haor

 Tanguar haor (Bengali: টাঙ্গুয়ার হাওর), (also called Tangua haor), located in the Dharmapasha and Tahirpur upazilas of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh, is a unique wetland ecosystem of national importance and has come into international focus. The area of Tanguar haor including 46 villages within the haor is about 100km2 of which 2,802.36 ha2 is wetland. It is the source of livelihood for more than 40,000 people. The Government of Bangladesh declared Tanguar haor as an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999 considering its critical condition as a result of overexploitation of its natural resources. In 2000, the hoar basin was declared a Ramsar site - wetland of international importance. With this declaration, the Government is committed to preserve its natural resources and has taken several steps for protection of this wetland.

Tanguar haor plays an important role in fish production as it functions as a 'mother fishery' for the country.
Every winter the haor is home to about 200 types of migratory birds. The haor is an important source of fish. In 1999-2000, the government earned 7,073,184 takas as revenue just from fisheries of the haor. There are more than 140 species of fresh water fish in the haor. The more predominant among them are: ayir, gang magur, baim, tara, gutum, gulsha, tengra, titna, garia, beti, kakia etc. Hijal, karach, gulli, balua, ban tulsi, nalkhagra and other freshwater wetland trees are in this haor.
Tanguar Haor(টাঙ্গুয়ার হাওর) is possibly the second largest Haor(হাওর) from Bangladesh(বাংলাদেশ). This is declared as the motherland for fishes of Bangladesh(বাংলাদেশ). Lot of Beel(বিল) and swamp area all together are called as Tanguar Haor(টাঙ্গুয়ার হাওর). Local people say this as Tangua Haor(টাঙ্গুয়া হাওর).
Plenty of rivers and canals passed through this massive haor. Most of those rivers were originated from the Indian hills. If you go there during winter then you have to go through the Baulai river(বাউলাই নদী).

Basically you will go there to watch the migratory birds(অতিথী পাখি) from the haor. Lot of such birds used to come from Siberia during winter. Unfortunately my timing wasn't good. It was almost at the end of winter. You should go there winter.

There is a temporary Ansar camp(আনসার ক্যাম্প) at the middle of the Haor. Also there is an organization available which is controlling the fishing at the Haor. Possibly it is morning 9 to afternoon 3 is the period of catching fish from Haor. After that, no fishing.

How to Go:

This is for the trip during winter. Rainy season will be different.

1. Using a bus from Dhaka you can easily come at Sunamganj Town(সুনামগঞ্জ টাউন). Best services are Mamun(মামুন), ENA(এনা) Shamoli(শ্যামলী), etc. Bus fare is 550 Taka. It will take around 6-7 hours during night journey.

4. From the Nothun Bridge (নতুন ব্রীজ), hire motor bike to come at Tahirpur Bazar(তাহেরপুর বাজার). Each one will cost around 250-300 taka. Two person can ride on bike after the driver. GPS of the Tahirpur(তাহেরপুর) is (25° 5'54.73"N, 91°10'35.72"E). It will take around 40-50 minutes. Alternately you can use the CNG three wheler  if you taking female travelers with you.

4. Using a bike from the town, come to Solman Ghat(সলমান ঘাট), GPS is (25° 5'16.82"N, 91° 6'55.94"E). It will be 50-60 taka per bike and a 30 minutes ride.

5. Hire a boat from the Solman Ghat(সলমান ঘাট). A small engine boat will cost around 800 to 1000 taka per day. From the Ghat, it will take around two hours to reach at the middle of the Haor.

Where to Stay:

You can stay at the Tahirpur Upozila Guest House(তাহেরপুর উপজেলা গেস্ট হাউস ) or Tahirpur Dak Banglo(তাহেরপুর ডাক বাংলো, ) during the trip. This is the nearest possible accommodation from the Haor. We have hired two rooms from the Upozila Guest House(উপজেলা গেস্ট হাউস), each of the room were 100 taka per night. Contact number of the Dak Banglo(ডাক বাংলো) is 01724968161.
If you planned to stay in Haor area  you have to manage a room from local village . Cost will be 100 to 200tk. But my suggestion to stay in boat at night so that you can enjoy the sunset and sunrise from the middle of the Haor and belive me it will be a great experience for you because Haor looks so heavenly at those time. You will be able to see the both incident parallel of your eyes and at the night you can enjoy the moon light or can watch the shooting stars (possible in clear sky). There is a small island in the middle of Tanguar Haor near at Tanguar Haor rest house( now Ansaar use this as their camp)and few families live there. This island have the sanitary facilities and you can pass the night near to it .It is the safer place from anywhere of the Haor. 
Sunamgonj Town
In Sunamganj there are few hotels and room rent will be 200 to 500 tk.
It will better if you stray in sunamgonj town. Taking some times rest then you start journey to Tanguar Hoar to visit. After visiting Tanguar Hoar you will back to in hotel and taking some time rest then your go to your destination by bus in night. You will be find many hotel near bus stand.In Sunamganj there are few hotels and room rent will be 200 to 500 tk. Some comfortable and good hotel also has here.
Hotel & Guest house in sunamgonj
Lotifa Guest House-01799462607
Suncread  Guest house 01710927314
Surma vally Residential resort-0183360333

What to eat (food):

There are so many restaurant in Sunamganj and food price is very reasonable. In Tahirpur the restaurant facilities is not well enough. If you plan to stay night at boat you have to buy foods from Tahirpur local market. Discuss with your boatman and tell him to manage cooking facilities at that island. Local people of that island is very friendly and they can cook for you. You can also do BBQ at there if you have all necessary things for it.

Tips:

** Along with the engine boat, hire a small boat or two. Tie the boat behind the engine boat. You can use that to observe the birds more closely. At the middle of the Haor, you may find difficulties to hire such boats.

** There are lot of shako(সাকো) will be on your path, to cross by feet, it will be 2 taka per person. To cross using your hired bike, it will be 10 taka per bike. So during hiring bike, make sure about who will pay the bill.
*Take a life jacket. It is must if you do not know swimming.
*Be aware of malaria, use mosquito repellent (Odomos) when you will pass the night near at that island.
*Be very careful at bargaining.
* Use umbrella for sun/ rain.
* Take poly thins to save your electronics devices .
*Take first aid kits and band aids.
*At the time of sun rise/sun set and night there is possibility to be attacked by millions of tiny white insects . They are not harmful but too much annoying. Cover your face if you see them.
* Be careful at scuba diving because inside Haor there are so many plants and invisible net(current jal).
*Do not go there only for fishing.
*Using current jal is totally banned there.
*Best time to go there is winter.
*Best place for wildlife photography because of thousands migratory birds.
*Do not hunt the birds.
*Do not drop any waste material and poly thins in Haor.
*Keep the Haor clean.