Chittagong
Assalamu Alaikum, I hope everyone is well. This blog of mine will give some accurate information about Chittagong district.Chittagong is a large city and commercial capital of Bangladesh. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and is famous for its natural beauty and port city.
Chittagong has beaches, mountains, and many historical sites. It is home to an international port, Cox's Bazar, Naubihar, and a mix of different cultures.Chittagong was declared the commercial capital of Bangladesh in 2017. Surrounded by mountains, sea, and valleys, Chittagong is known as the Queen of the Orient for its natural beauty. It is the busiest seaport on the Bay of Bengal.[8] The population of the greater Chittagong region was over 8.2 million in 2022. The city is home to many large local businesses, which play an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. It is the third largest city in the Bengal region after Dhaka and Kolkata.
History of Chittagong
The first mention in history is probably the Periplus written by the Greek geographer Pliny. According to historian Nalinikanta Bhattasali, the place named Kris is described in it as present-day Sandwip. Historian Lassen believes that the Pentapolis mentioned there is actually the original name of Chittagong. The connection with the Mauryan Empire is not certain, but a Brahmi inscription of a statue from the Mauryan era was found in Silua in eastern Noakhali.
A book by Tibetan Buddhist historian Lama Taranath mentions the rule of the Chandra dynasty, whose capital was Chittagong. It is also mentioned in the inscription of the Sithang temple in Arakan. Taranath's book mentions a king named Gopinath Chandra in the 10th century. At that time, Arab merchants arrived in Chittagong. Historians are now fairly certain that the port named 'Samundar' described by Arab geographers was actually Chittagong port.[19] At that time, Dharmapala was the king of the Pala dynasty. After the Pala dynasty, several small kingdoms were formed in this region.
In 953, the Chandra dynasty king Su-la-taing-sandaya of Arakan came to Chittagong on an expedition, but for some unknown reason he did not advance far and built a pillar. On it was written 'Chet-ta-gaung' which means 'it is not appropriate to fight'. From then on, this area became Chaittagong, as written in the Arakanese manuscript 'Rajawang'. From this Chaittagong, the spellings Chattigram, Chatgaon, Chittagong, Chittagong, etc. have come to be.
After the Chandra dynasty, some historians mention the Lal dynasty and a few kings after it, but according to historian Shihabuddin Talish, the history is unclear until the conquest of Chittagong by Sultan Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah in 1338. As a result of this conquest, Chittagong was included in the independent Sonargaon kingdom. At that time, around 1346 AD, the famous Moorish traveler Ibn Battuta came to Chittagong. He wrote - “The city of Bangladesh that we entered was Sodkawang (Chittagong). It is a large city located on the shores of the ocean, near which the Ganges River - where the Hindus make pilgrimages and the Yamuna River merge together and from there they flow into the sea. There were numerous ships on the banks of the Ganges River, with which they fought the people of Lakhnauti. I left Sodwang and headed towards the Kamru (Kamrup) mountains.”
In 1352-1353, Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, the first independent Sultan of Bengal, killed Ikhtiyaruddin Gazi Shah, the son of Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, and seized the throne of Bengal, and Chittagong also came under his control. During his time, Chittagong was established as the main port of Bengal. After this, the Hindu king Ganesh and his descendants ruled Chittagong. Then the Habshi dynasty was established in Bengal. In 1492, Alauddin Husain Shah became the Sultan of Bengal. He had to fight with King Dhanmanik of Tripura from 1413 to 1417 to capture Chittagong. However, after the death of King Dhanmanik, Husain Shah's kingdom expanded to northern Arakan. During his time, Shrikar Nandi translated an episode of the Mahabharata into Bengal under the patronage of Chuti Khan, son of Parabagal Khan, the Naib of North Chittagong.
Location of Chittagong
It is located in the southeast of Bangladesh, between 20°35' and 22°59' north latitude and 91°27' and 92°22' east longitude. It extends along the coastal foothills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Karnaphuli River flows along the southern bank of the Chittagong city and its business district. The river flows into the Bay of Bengal and extends 12 km to the mouth of the Chittagong main city. Chittagong is bordered to the north by Sylhet Division and the Indian states of Tripura and Mizoram and the Meghna River, to the south by the Bay of Bengal, to the east by the Indian states of Mizoram, Tripura and Myanmar, and to the west by the Meghna River, Dhaka and Barisal Divisions. Chittagong is also bordered by the hill districts to the east and Cox's Bazar district to the south. Chittagong city extends to Faujdarhat in the north, Kalurghat in the south and Hathazari in the east.
Batali Hills is the highest point in the city, with an elevation of 85.3 metres (280 ft). Chittagong has many lakes and reservoirs, many of which were created during the Mughal period. In 1924, a team of engineers from the Assam Bengal Railway excavated Faiz Lake here.
Culture of Chittagong
The influence of the Arakanese Mughini has been noticeable in Chittagong since the beginning of history. As a result, it has a considerable influence on rural culture. At that time, the kings here were Buddhists, so their influence was also considerable. There were constant wars with the Arakanese during the Sultanate, Afghan and Mughal periods. As a result, the influence of the Mughini did not disappear in the end. In addition, the people of Chittagong are famous for their hospitality.
The current culture of Chittagong emerged after the introduction of permanent settlement by the East India Company in 1793. As a result, there was a radical change in the social production and distribution of wealth in the Indian subcontinent. Like other places, a new middle class emerged in Chittagong. In the meantime, the British introduced English education. The middle class began to get acquainted with the West through English education.
The history of regional songs in Chittagong is rich. Shefali Ghosh and Shyam Sundar Vaishnav, created by the renowned singer, composer and lyricist MN Akhtar, are called the emperor and empress of Chittagong's regional songs. And Abdul Gafur Hali, the composer of numerous regional songs and Maizbhandari songs, is known as Geet Dariya or Sea of Songs in the greater Chittagong region. Regional songs, Maizbhandari songs and Kabiyal songs are one of the traditions of Chittagong. Kabiyal Ramesh Shil is a famous legendary artist. Popular bands Souls, LRB, Renesa, Nagarbaul were born in Chittagong. Ayub Bachchu, Kumar Bishwajit, Robi Chowdhury, Naqib Khan, Partha Badua, Sandipan, Nasim Ali Khan, Mila Islam are children of Chittagong. The history of Chittagong is worth remembering in dance. Runu Biswas is a famous dance teacher at the national level. Famous cultural organizations of Chittagong are Drishti Chittagong, Bodhan Abritti Parishad, Proma, "Angan" Chittagong University, Alauddin Lalit Kala Academy, Prapan Academy, Udichi, Abritti Samyani Parishad, Phulki, Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, Raktakarabi, Arya Sangeet, Sangeet Parishad. Model stars Nobel, Moutusi, Purnima, Sravasti were born in Chittagong. Cultural activities are conducted at the District Shilpakala Academy, Muslim Hall, Theater Institute.
Chittagong tourist attraction
Patenga Beach
You may know Patenga quite well. But recent changes have literally transformed it into a mini Cox’s Bazar.
The large old rocks that had become a bit dangerous over time have now been replaced with steps leading down to the water. While some prefer to dip their feet, others prefer to let the waves roll over them.
Across the road, there are countless rows of stalls selling seashell jewellery, beach slippers, pickles and toys for children; much like the Burmese market in Cox’s Bazar.
If you want to experience Patenga to the fullest, go early in the morning or late at night. Both times have very comfortable temperatures and small groups of people are scattered around the sea. Apart from that, piaju and fried crabs are two things that you definitely cannot miss while visiting Patenga.
National Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology is one of the most culturally enlightening attractions in Chittagong. Situated in a prime location in Agra, this place not only preserves the past but also documents the present for future generations.
The museum's eleven galleries bring to life the cultures of different groups of people through fascinating paintings, models, habitat reconstructions, maps, photographs and various other objects.
Bhatiari
Bhatiari is a popular day trip destination for locals. It is located about 13 km from Chittagong city. Bhatiari Lake is an incredibly beautiful recreational spot; the serene environment and old springs will surely rejuvenate your mind. The beautiful blend of green and blue colors makes this place perfect for a picnic. There is also a golf course of the Bangladesh Army here. The fresh air, sparkling surroundings and the green environment here will give you peace of mind.
Finally, you can end your day with a wonderful sunset viewing experience at Bhatiari Sunset Point..
Bashakhali Ecopark
Bashakhali Ecopark is a natural ecopark located in Bashakhali Upazila of Chittagong District, Bangladesh. The ecopark is made up of high and low hills, clear water lakes, forests, and the extensive coastline of the Bay of Bengal.
Parki Beach
Parki Sea Beach or Parki Beach is a 13-kilometer-long sea beach located in Anwara Upazila, 20 kilometers south of Chittagong city, Bangladesh.[1] Parki Char is located just across the Karnaphuli River from the Naval Academy or airport area of Chittagong.
Khoyachhara Falls
Khoyachhara Falls is a waterfall located in the hills of Mirsarai, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Compared to other waterfalls in Mirsarai Upazila such as Kamaldaha Falls, Napittachhara Falls, Sahasradhara Falls, Jharjhari Falls, etc., Khoyachhara Falls and its jhiripath are one of the largest.
Khoyachhara Falls has a total of 9 large waterfall steps (i.e. cascades) and many isolated steps. The waterfall is named "Khoyachhara Falls" due to its location in Khoyachhara Union of Mirsarai Upazila..
Butterfly Park
Butterfly Park is a park located on Patenga Naval Academy Road in Chittagong city, Bangladesh.
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Spread over an area of about 6 acres (2.4 hectares), the park is home to approximately 600 species of butterflies. It is believed to be the first butterfly park in the Indian subcontinent.
Last words
I have shared some accurate information about Chittagong district with you. I hope you liked the blog. Thank you.
