Blossoms adorn the hills: Bandarban welcomes tourists with symphony of colours

In the hilly paths of Bandarban, vibrant red, yellow, blue, and golden flowers are now in full bloom — as if nature itself is greeting the arriving tourists. The view is so enchanting that travelers may feel as though someone adorned like a bride waits silently at the foot of the hills, ready to receive them.

From the entry points of the district to its inner roads, Bandarban appears dressed in floral splendor, like a mountain maiden adorned in bridal attire. A ground visit reveals that from the Holudia area on the Bandarban-Chattogram highway to various roads within the district town, colorful blooms line both sides of the roads. Trees like krishnachura, radhachura, ashok, sonalu, jarul, champa, and koroi are now in full bloom, each flaunting its color, shape, and fragrance.

In this blazing summer, the hill roads of Bandarban appear to be touched by flames of red, blue, and golden hues — but these flames carry no heat of destruction. Rather, they represent the fiery beauty of nature. The stunning red of krishnachura trees captivates many, evoking images of a bride in a red benarasi saree waiting for her beloved. The sight is spellbinding, turning the town of Bandarban into a living canvas painted by flowers.

Visitors to the area are mesmerized. Tourists Sharmin, Shayela, and Sajjad shared their impressions. “We came to see the natural beauty of the hills and found Bandarban decorated with flowers — it’s simply extraordinary. The golden glow of the sonalu and the fiery red of the krishnachura are indescribable. Their beauty is overwhelming. It’s a unique expression of hilltop summer — one must see it to truly understand it.”

According to officials, the floral beautification effort began in 2003 when the then Deputy Commissioner Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan and Divisional Forest Officer Avanibhushan Thakur took the initiative to plant flowering trees along approximately 11 kilometers of road from Holudia to the town center. Since then, under the joint efforts of the local administration and forest department, flower trees have been planted every year along the main roads and within the municipality. The initiative has also been extended to roads leading to Ruma, Thanchi, and Rowangchhari. Over the years, the growing trees have transformed the familiar landscape of the hill town during spring and summer.

Jasim Uddin, General Secretary of the Bandarban Residential Hotel Owners’ Association, said, “The long-held dream of turning Bandarban into a city of flowers has now become a reality. This initiative has amplified the natural beauty of the region. From afar, it feels as though the colorful trees are welcoming tourists. Not just the roads — even the tourist spots and hotel resorts have been adorned with flower trees to attract visitors.”

Sultan Titu, Range Officer of the Divisional Forest Headquarters, said that the forest department plans to plant more trees along both sides of the Bandarban-Chattogram highway and internal roads this year. Many of the previously planted trees have died, and those empty spots have been identified for replanting.

Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ara Rini emphasized that the administration is actively working to enhance the beauty of this tourist district while also protecting its natural environment. She added that local residents must also become more aware and involved in maintaining and preserving the beauty of Bandarban.