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Bandarban, Chattogram

Boga Lake

A deep, still lake high in the hills of Ruma, ringed by forest and a Bawm village — the starting point for the trek to Keokradong.

Local food to try

  • Village rice meals

    Boga Lake

    Rice, dal, egg or chicken and hill vegetables, cooked by the village households for trekkers.

  • Bamboo chicken

    Boga Lake

    Can often be ordered ahead for the evening.

Where to eat

  • Village kitchens at the lake

    Boga Lake

    Meals are arranged with your room; tell them in advance how many will eat.

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  • Ruma Bazar

    Ruma

    Eat a full meal here before the last leg up.

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Where to stay

  • Cottages in the lakeside village

    Boga Lake

    Basic bamboo and wooden rooms run by Bawm families, arranged through your guide.

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Culture

The Bawm village by the lake is Christian, and Sunday is a day of church and rest. The Bawm are known for their weaving; shawls are sometimes sold in the village.

History

Boga Lake (Bagakain) lies high in the hills of Ruma upazila, about 1,200 feet above sea level. It is a natural lake, unusually round and deep, with no obvious stream feeding it, and its dark blue water stays still among the forested slopes. Geologists have suggested it may lie in an old crater or a sinkhole; local people have their own story.

In the Bawm and Mro telling, a dragon once lived in a cave on the hill and preyed on the villagers’ cattle and children, until they killed it — and the hill sank and filled with water. The lake is said to take its name from this tale.

A small Bawm village sits on the lakeshore, with its church and wooden houses, and offers simple rooms to trekkers. Boga Lake is also the usual overnight stop on the way to Keokradong, once thought to be the country’s highest peak.

Tour plans

Boga Lake from Bandarban

2 days

  1. Step 1: Early start to Ruma

    Leave Bandarban town early by bus or jeep for Ruma Bazar, after checking that the area is open to visitors.

  2. Step 2: Guide and registration

    Meet your registered guide, complete the registration with your ID, and eat lunch in the bazar.

  3. Step 3: Up to the lake

    Go on by jeep and on foot, reporting at the army camp on the way, to reach Boga Lake by late afternoon.

  4. Step 4: Evening and dawn by the water

    Watch the light fade over the lake, eat in the village and see the mist lift at dawn.

  5. Step 5: Back down, or on to Keokradong

    Return to Ruma and Bandarban, or, if permitted, trek on to Keokradong with your guide.

Map

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Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to March, when the jeep road is usually open and the trails are dry.

How to get there

From Bandarban town to Ruma Bazar by bus or jeep, about 2–3 hours. Register at Ruma with a local guide, then go on by jeep towards Boga Lake in the dry season, with a final steep walk; in the rains the road may be closed and the whole way walked. Access to Ruma has at times been closed to tourists for security reasons — check the current rules before planning.

Travel tips

  • Check the current rules first: access to Ruma and the trails beyond has been restricted at times, and foreigners may need separate permission.
  • A registered local guide is required; register at Ruma and at the army camps on the way with your national ID card or passport.
  • Do not swim in the lake: it is very deep and people have drowned here.
  • Bring good walking shoes, a torch, a power bank and some cash; there are no ATMs and little mobile signal.
  • Respect the Bawm village — ask before photographing people and keep noise down at night.

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