Humhum Waterfall from Rajkandi

Hum Hum waterfall (which is also known as Hum hum waterfall) is a beautiful, slightly remote waterfall which is located inside the Rajkandi reserve forest in Moulvibazar district. This is a nice location for the tourists to do a day trip that covers trekking beside water stream, forest, and slightly hilly area. The trekking is not that much stressful, that’s why lot of tourists use to visit this waterfall during weekends. The waterfall can be inaccessible during rainy season, but most beautiful that time. Winter may make the waterfall dry but easy to access.

This time we were a group of four people. We’ve started our journey at 5:00am at morning and reached at Champarai bazar by 9:00am in morning. We were using a car, and we had our breakfast in Sreemangal town. We had the GPS trail with us and didn’t require any guide to go near the Hum hum waterfall. But local people from Champarai bazar wanting us to take a guide and was asking for 300 Taka per guide. Since we already knew the path, and we had the route loaded in our GPS navigator, we were reluctant to take any guides. But they were compelling us to hire one from them.

By paying 50 Taka somehow we have managed to escape. From the bazaar we were walking with moderate pace through the muddy road. Interestingly a local tractor (uses to transport tea-leafs and other stuffs for tea gardens) offered us a free ride. We enthusiastically accepted the offer. They have dropped us almost near to the Kolabon Para village (which was the last village near to the waterfall). Actual trekking begins after that village.

One of the guy from the village wanted to join us as a guide, but we have denied him politely and thanked him for the offer. Last time there were only one path to reach at the waterfall. But right now people made another twos, possibly shorter in distance. But we didn’t know that. We were walking over the new path, and our GPS was showing “Off trek”. We were expecting a shortcut but strayed from trail. So we’ve walked back and picked the right path.

Last time it was raining, so the whole road was packed with tons of blood sucking leeches. But this time it is clean sky with plenty of sunlights. The jungle was warm, and the trek was dry enough to retreat the leeches from the main course. It was very simple to walk on the non slippery trails.

When we have reached at the stream of the waterfall it was having water flowing, but not that much as we have seen last time. We were walking through the water stream cautiously. The water from the stream was not clean like Bandarban, too much murky. We have experienced the water height almost up to our waist at some places.

Possibly it was almost 2:00pm when we have reached near the Hum hum waterfall. I was excited by the picturesque beauty of the Hum hum waterfall, but equally was feeling hapless by the presence of hundreds of tourists who’ve gathered there. People made that place a picnic spot. They came here with ‘picnic lunch boxes’, but none of them were showing any interest to collect the leftovers. They were just messing that place with those urban stuffs and causing a serious damage over the natural value.

We had to return back to Dhaka by the night (as it was a day trip). So quickly we’ve jumped inside the water and had a shower for half an hour. It was terribly hot there, but the water from the waterfall usually be cold that soothe tiredness instantly. There wasn’t too much flow in the waterfall, but it was enough to make fun out of it. Some people have climbed to the top, but we didn’t want to.

From the village, this time no hitchhiking were available. So we had to walk the entire road until we reached the Champarai Bazar. We were messed by sweating and mud. There was a temple at the bazaar, and that had a large pond. People suggested us to use that one. It was a nice little pond (saw few snakes were crawling over water but who cares). Few local people also joined with us for the fun swim.

How to Go:

There plenty of buses run between Sreemangal and Dhaka (such as Hanif, Shayamoli, etc). Also there is a train service available between Dhaka and Sreemangal. You can use any of those to come at Sreemangal. From there you have to hire a private vehicle which would drop you at Champarai bazaar. This near the Champarai tea estate. From there you have to walk to reach at Kolabon para. Once you are there then start your trekking for Hum Hum waterfall. through the hills and jungle. Better take a guide from there so that you don’t get lost amid of forest.

Where to stay:

It is possible to make the Hum hum waterfall trip a day trip. Anyone can easily return back to Dhaka using the night coach (and sleep in bus). The nearest accommodation is available in Sreemangal town (for those who want to stay). Being a popular tourist destination Sreemangal has plenty of quality hotels.

Few notes about the naming of the waterfall:

** Few people are calling the waterfall as Hummum/Hammam Jhorna.
** Almost every local people are calling the waterfall as Humhum/Hum Hum/Ham Ham.

If you have time you can read my another article about my first time visit to the waterfall. We couldn’t make it due to adverse weather. But it was a remarkable experience for me. Rajkandi trekking (from this link you’ll find detail about how to go to the waterfall).

Hum Hum Waterfall,
Rajkandi reserve forest,
Sreemangal,
Moulvibazar,
Country: Bangladesh.
GPS Coordinate (24°10’03.3″N, 91°54’45.3″E).

This article has written by Lonely Traveler,
for the blog http://alonelytraveler.com/

Friday, 02 September 2011