Khagrachhari, Chattogram
A dark, narrow tunnel through a hill just outside Khagrachhari town, walked by the light of a burning torch, with a viewpoint over the valley above it.
Alutila is a hill on the edge of Khagrachhari town, and its cave — known locally as the “mysterious cave” — runs right through the rock. It is a narrow, pitch-dark tunnel, a few hundred feet long, with cold water running over the stones underfoot. Visitors go through by the light of a mashal, a burning torch, and come out blinking into daylight at the other end.
The name, local people say, comes from a famine long ago, when villagers survived by digging wild yams, like potatoes (alu), on this hill.
Above the cave, the Alutila hilltop is a popular viewpoint. On clear mornings, and often in the misty season, you look down over Khagrachhari town and the Chengi valley with ridges of hills stretching away.
Hire a CNG or jeep in town and reach the Alutila viewpoint early for the mist over the valley.
Get your ticket and a mashal, walk down the steps and through the tunnel to the far end.
Drive a few kilometres further to the Risang turning and walk down to the waterfall.
Return to Khagrachhari for a hill-food lunch.
October to March, when the cave floor is drier. Early morning for mist over the valley from the viewpoint.
About 7–8 km from Khagrachhari town on the main road towards Matiranga and Chattogram: 15–20 minutes by CNG or jeep. Buses from Dhaka and Chattogram pass the turning on the way into town.
