It was the third day of our whole trip. Last night we had a heavy rain. The weather was like a rainy season weather. After Visiting the Rono Bijoypur mosque we have moved forward for the floating market which is located at the Bhimruli bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার). Though it was not the proper season for visiting this place (rainy season is the best time). But still we had a try our chance as it was on our way and we have came so far from our home.
Initially our plan was to go there using a different route. But we have found few local guys on there who wanted to help us and explore the place with us. It was on our day-1 when we met the Kirtipasha Jomidar Bari. So before leaving Bagerhat town we have informed them over the phone and they were waiting for us there. Our journey was procrastinated by the ferry crossing on our way. But anyway, we have reached at the Kirtipasha union (কীর্তিপাশা ইউনিয়ন) around the midday.
The local guys were waiting for us there. We have parked our car at there and hired a boat from under the bridge. There were only one boat for the day and we have hired that for 800 or 1000 Taka. I forgot the actual amount. After that we have started our journey to explore the guava garden (পেয়ারা বাগান). We were lucky that the weather was cool. We didn’t have any umbrella with us and we were fearing to get drenched by the rain at any moment. But again, luckily we hadn’t any rain that day.
This place has lot of canals and they are dividing into the branches again and again. And like any other village area in Bangladesh, this place is not famous for cultivating paddies or similar crops. Rather here the farmers are interested in cultivating Amra (আমড়া), Guava (পেয়ারা), Lemon (লেবু), etc fruits. And even yet they are not satisfied. They are also cultivating pumpkin, gourd, tomato, potato, etc crops in between the gardens to utilize the maximum land. I am really amazed by their thinking and planning. They are not leaving an inch space unused!
After several minutes of boat riding we have anchored our boat beside a garden and we have started to explore the place. It was a guava garden (পেয়ারা বাগান) and it was empty (no fruits). Because the fruits are available during the rainy season. During the winter the whole garden looks pale and nothing we could find there. We knew that would gonna happen. So we were mainly exploring the area and observing how they have planned the cultivation and how they are managing the irrigation system. Everything were nicely arranged as if they are an agriculture engineer (of course they are).
The Amra (আমড়া) garden was totally in pity to watch. The leafs were gone. And only the skeleton like branches were available on there. And there were no fruits on the tree. Still someone from us exuberantly climbed a tree and brought down few Amra (আমড়া) for us. We were missing the salt while tasting the sour fruits. They were fresh, and having a different smell that we don’t get from the bought fruits here in Dhaka. We have also explored the lemon garden and I didn’t find any flower on the lemon tree. Probably it was also not the right season.
After having a short exploration, we have started our boat again and this time we have anchored it at the Bhimruli bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার). This place is famous for it’s floating market (ভাসমান বাজার). During the rainy season the local villagers use to gather here with their harvested guava (পেয়ারা) on their boats. And they use to do the selling from their floating boat. This is the largest floating market from Bangladesh, and got popularity amongst the tourists recently.
But it was winter and we didn’t find any such activities there. So we wanted to explore the area. We were having a walk beside the canal and exploring the area. We have seen how local people are utilizing their space during farming. They have planting the fruiting trees and organized nicely with the proper irrigation. In between the trees they have planted several season vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, potato, egg plant, gourd, pumpkin, etc.
There were also a lot of coconut trees and battle nut trees in between. Those opportunistic cheerful lads were always looking for the green coconut on the trees. And they have found a tree and one from them climbed the tree like a monkey! It was unbelievable as how he has climbed the tree. He has stolen few fresh coconuts from there and served us to drink. It’s been a long time since I taste a stolen coconut!
The time was running quickly and we didn’t notice that. We have gone so far and now it was time to return back. So we have decided to walk back to our boat as we have a plan to visit the Guthia mosque. Wile returning, we have had a pause at a temple from a nearby house. For the first time I have seen a statue of Debi Monosha (মনসা দেবী). I have only heard about this goddess but never seen her statue. She is the goddess of snakes. And this area is prone to the snakes. That’s why the people use to do the worship of this goddess so that she can protect them from the snakes. I forgot to mention that most of the villagers from this area are Hindu by religion.
It was afternoon when we started our boat for the starting point. I was planning to come here again during rainy season while we were returning back. We have thanked those local lads. Without their help we couldn’t make our day any better than this. It was a lovely experience to pass a day and enjoy with unknown people. We have boarded ourselves on our car and started for the Barisal (বরিশাল) town.
How to go:
There are several routes to visit this Bhimruli bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার) and the guava garden. You can follow any of those. But for my case I have explored the area from the Kirtipasha union (কীর্তিপাশা ইউনিয়ন) of Jhalokathi Sadar Upazela (ঝালকাঠি সদর উপজেলা). I have hired the boat from under the bridge near the bazaar. The GPS coordinate of the bridge is (22°40’51.63″N, 90°10’16.81″E).
After that We have explored the proximity area wherever we wanted, and finally we have reached at the Bhimruli Bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার). The GPS coordinate of the Bhimruli Bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার) is (22°42’48.34″N, 90° 9’45.52″E) [I have lost the actual GPS record, this one can be wrong but its near here].
Where to stay:
There are few low facilitated hotels available at the Jhalokathi (ঝালকাঠি) main town. But it is possible to return back to the Barisal (বরিশাল) town within the day. So I’ll suggest you to stay at Barisal (বরিশাল) town. I have stayed at the Hotel Athena there and it was handy for staying (even with families).
It was the day-3 of our four days trip at Southern Bangladesh. We have traveled Barisal (বরিশাল), Jhalokathi (ঝালকাঠি), Pirojpur (পিরোজপুর), Bagerhat (বাগেরহাট), and Khulna (খুলনা) on those days.
Bhimruli Bazar (ভীমরুলী বাজার),
Union: Kirtipasha (কীর্তিপাশা ইউনিয়ন),
Upazela: Jhalokathi Sadar (ঝালকাঠি সদর উপজেলা),
District: Jhalokathi (ঝালকাঠি জেলা),
Country: Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ),
GPS Coordinate (22°42’48.34″N, 90° 9’45.52″E)
[GPS record can be wrong as I have lost the actual record.]
This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog https://alonelytraveler.com/
