Pirojpur, Barishal
Guava orchards and a floating market on the canals near Swarupkathi, where farmers sell the harvest from small boats in the monsoon.
Atghar and Kuriana are neighbouring villages of Nesarabad upazila, better known by its old town name of Swarupkathi. Together with Bhimruli in Jhalokati and the villages around them, they form the heart of the region’s guava country — orchards on long ridges between narrow ditches, crossed by canals.
In the season, farmers paddle their boats to the canal markets, and wholesalers buy the guava by the boatload to send on by road and river. The market at Kuriana is among the largest, and the canals around it are lined with orchards, coconut palms and village homes.
The canals also lead on towards Bhimruli, so a full day by boat can take in both floating markets and the orchards between them.
Hire an engine boat at the Swarupkathi ghat at first light.
Watch the boat-to-boat trading while the market is busy.
Switch to a small boat for the narrow canals, and visit an orchard with permission.
If time and tide allow, continue by canal to Bhimruli in Jhalokati.
Return for a late lunch, and see the timber market by the river.
July to August, into September; early morning for the market
From Pirojpur town, take a bus or CNG to Swarupkathi (about an hour), then an engine boat or auto-rickshaw to Atghar and Kuriana. From Barishal, Swarupkathi is about 1–1.5 hours by bus.
