Patuakhali, Barishal

Kuakata Sea Beach

A long, open beach at the tip of the southern coast, one of the rare places where you can watch the sun both rise and set over the sea.

Local food to try

Fried fish and crab
Kuakata Sea Beach
Pick your fish or crab at a beach stall and have it fried on the spot; agree on the price by weight first.
Shutki
Kuakata Sea Beach
Dried fish from the shore, as bhorta with rice or to take home.
Green coconut
Kuakata Sea Beach
Sold all along the beach, the best drink in the heat.

Where to eat

Beachfront restaurants and stalls
Kuakata
Seafood, rice and tea within a few minutes of the sand.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Where to stay

Hotels and resorts near the beach
Kuakata
A wide range, from simple hotels to resorts; book ahead in winter and on holidays.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Culture

On Rash Purnima, the full moon of Kartik (around November), Hindu pilgrims bathe in the sea at dawn and a fair is held on the beach.
Rakhine villages near the beach keep their Buddhist temples and handloom weaving; woven shawls and cloth are sold in Kuakata.

History

Kuakata, called Sagar Kanya (“daughter of the sea”), is a long sandy beach facing the Bay of Bengal at the southern tip of Patuakhali. Because the beach faces south and curves along the coast, you can watch the sunrise over the sea from its eastern end and the sunset from its western end, which is rare anywhere in the region.

The name comes from the Rakhine people who settled here from Arakan in the late 18th century; tradition says they dug a well (kua) for drinking water. An old well and a Buddhist temple with a large Buddha statue stand in the Rakhine area near the beach, and Rakhine villages are close by.

For years Kuakata was hard to reach, but new bridges on the road from Barishal have made it a direct bus ride from Dhaka. Beyond the main beach, motorbike rides along the sand lead to quieter stretches, coastal forest, fishing camps and drying racks for shutki.

Tour plans

Sunrise to sunset at Kuakata

1 day

Step 1: Sunrise in the east
Leave before dawn by motorbike for the eastern end of the beach and watch the sun come up over the sea.
Step 2: Breakfast and the main beach
Come back for breakfast, then walk the main beach in the cool of the morning.
Step 3: Rakhine village and temple
Visit the old well and the Buddhist temple near the beach, and browse the Rakhine weaving.
Step 4: Seafood lunch and rest
Have fried fish or crab for lunch and rest through the hottest hours.
Step 5: Sunset in the west
Ride west along the beach in the late afternoon and watch the sun set over the bay.

Map

Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)View larger map (opens in a new tab)

Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to March for clear sunrises and sunsets and a calmer sea; around Rash Purnima for the festival

How to get there

From Patuakhali town, buses and CNGs run south through Kalapara to Kuakata in roughly 1.5–2 hours. Many Dhaka buses also go straight to Kuakata.

Getting around

Walk the main beach, or hire a motorbike with rider to go east for the sunrise and west for the sunset, and to the quieter stretches beyond.
Battery auto-rickshaws run between the hotels, the beach and the Rakhine area.

Travel tips

Ask locally where the sunrise and sunset are best seen that season, and go before dawn for the sunrise.
Swim only near the main beach in calm conditions and stay in shallow water; currents can be strong, and there may be no lifeguards.
Watch the weather: in the monsoon and whenever a storm signal is up, stay out of the sea and do not take boats out.
Agree on the route, stops and return time before hiring a motorbike, and ride only where the sand is firm.
Beware of the incoming tide on remote stretches, and carry water and sun protection.
Respect the Rakhine temples and villages: dress modestly and ask before taking photos.

Discover