Red water lilies turn Khagrachhari’s Hajachhara Beel into tourist attraction

A vibrant bloom of red water lilies across parts of Hajachhara Beel in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari is attracting growing numbers of visitors, opening up new prospects for tourism and local employment.

The flowers cover around four acres of the 10-acre beel in Merung Union, creating a picturesque landscape that draws visitors from nearby areas and beyond.

According to local residents, around 100 to 150 people visit the beel daily to enjoy the natural beauty. Some come with their families, others with friends, while many visit alone. Visitors can enjoy the sight of the red lilies from boats and take photographs and videos of the scenic waterbody.

Local boatman Ismail Hossain said visitors were arriving from different areas every day and he took them on boat trips around the beel.

He earns around Tk 700 to Tk 800 a day by taking visitors around the waterbody, he said.

Several visitors said they had learnt about the beel through photographs and videos on Facebook and found it even more beautiful in person.

Local residents believe Hajachhara Beel could emerge as a promising tourist destination in Dighinala if planned initiatives are taken.

They said more boats should be arranged through government or administrative initiatives to facilitate visitors. They also urged visitors not to pluck the water lilies or damage the natural environment to preserve the beel’s beauty.

Md Abul Khayer, a horticulturist at the Dighinala Upazila Horticulture Centre, said people from different parts of the country were already visiting the spot to see the red water lilies.

He said the place had the potential to develop into a tourist attraction and advised visitors to go to the beel early in the morning to enjoy the flowers at their best.