Cox's Bazar, Chattogram
A hilly island a short boat ride from town, home to the Adinath temple.
Maheshkhali is an island just across the channel from Cox’s Bazar town, and the only hilly island in Bangladesh. Low green hills run down its middle, and mangroves, salt pans, shrimp farms and betel-leaf gardens fill the flat land around them.
On the hill called Mainak stands the Adinath temple, an old temple to Shiva and one of the important Hindu places of pilgrimage in the region. Nearby are Buddhist pagodas and Rakhine monasteries, and a mosque, so the island’s faiths sit side by side.
Maheshkhali is also famous for its betel leaf (paan), sold all over the country, and the boat ride across through the mangrove channel is a pleasure in itself. It makes a relaxed day trip, very different from the beach.
Cross in the morning through the mangrove channel and land at the Maheshkhali jetty.
Climb Mainak hill to the temple and look out over the island and the sea.
Visit the Rakhine monasteries and pagodas nearby.
Eat at the market and try the famous paan.
Pass the salt pans and betel gardens on the way to the jetty, and cross back in daylight.
November to March, when the crossing is calm; the Adinath fair is held around Shivratri in February or March
By speedboat or trawler from Kasturi Ghat (6 No. Jetty) in town; the speedboat takes about 15–20 minutes.
