Ratalgul:

Ratargul is the only 'freshwater swamp forest' in our country. The distance from Sylhet to this country's only recognized swamp forest is about 20 kilometers. The location of this water forest is Khadimnagar union of Sadar Upazila of Sylhet district and Fatehpur union of bordering Upazila Gowainghat.

The Goain River, which flows down from Meghalaya in the north, has a huge haor in the south. In the middle of the 'Jalaban' Ratargul. According to Wikipedia, there are only 22 freshwater wetlands in the world. There are two Indian subcontinents, one in Sri Lanka and the other in our Ratargul.

Amazon is the only one that can be compared with this beautiful forest. Although known as the Rain Forest, the Amazon is the largest freshwater swamp forest in the world. This freshwater forest is our Ratargul just like the Amazon swamp.

In the local language of Sylhet, murta or patigacha is known as 'Ratagacha'. The name of this forest is Ratargul after the name of that idol or Ratagachera. Like the Amazon, most of the vegetation stays underwater for four to seven months a year. The waters of Meghalaya in India flow into the Goain River, and a narrow tributary of the Chengi Canal floods the entire Ratargul wetland. There is almost always water in the forest during the monsoon season (May-September). In winter, of course, it happens, and like ten forests, it is a dry land with fallen leaves. And the small canals become footpaths. And then the aquatic fauna is sheltered in the big lakes dug by the forest department.

The state of this water is very strange in the rainy season. Up to the waist of a tree is submerged in water. Those that are a little smaller, they are half submerged in water again. Fishermen are getting fishing nets somewhere. The whole forest seems to be dark because of the dense vegetation. Occasionally the tree stalks will block the path. They have to be removed by hand. However, in the rainy season, you have to be very careful in this forest. Because Ratargul is the arena of snakes. In the rainy season, snakes take their place on the trees.

According to the forest department, the area of this forest is 3325.61 acres. Of these, 504 acres of forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983. There are about 25 species of water tolerant plants in this huge forest. Although it is a natural forest, the forest department has planted various species of water tolerant trees including cane, kadam, hijal and murta. In the Ratargul forest, there are many venomous species of snakes, including non-venomous guisap, jaladhora and gokhra. When water enters the forest in the rainy season, these snakes fall on the trees.

Many species of wild animals including fish tigers, squirrels, monkeys, otters, wild cats, beji and foxes roam in the forest. Tengra, khalisha, ritha, pabda, maya, ayr, kalbaus, rui and many more species of fish are found in this forest. Birds include white buck, kani buck, mashranga, tia, bulbuli, pankauri, dhupi, pigeon, kite and falcon. In winter, all the vultures come from time to time. And after crossing a long path, various species of birds including sand ducks come to the base. In the dry season, if you go inside with a dinghy, flocks of birds will fly away and make their way to you. This scene is really rare!

There are more trees here. Hijle has hundreds of fruits. Bots will also catch the eye from time to time. And south of the forest is the predominance of murta (patti) trees. The forest department has commercially installed sculptures in a large part of Ratargul. The idol is cooled. There are more idols on the opposite side of the river. Besides, there are two big haors named Shimul Beel Haor and Neva Beel Haor.

Wonderful Underwater World :

The experience of seeing the trees submerged under the clear water of the haor in the rainy season is wonderful. In winter again the forest is different. As soon as the water receded, the idol and the cane garden woke up. That beauty is different again! Forests are thus submerged in water for four to seven months of the year. Another look can be seen as soon as the rain stops. Then the small canals inside the forest will turn into footpaths. You can walk that path effortlessly.

Ratargul has to enter the forest by dinghy boat. Once the boat enters the forest, there is no more talk! It only takes a couple of words to express your feelings, you will probably say - "I'm fascinated"! And as a bonus you will find a wonderful way to go to Ratargul through the Goain River, especially in the rainy season. Apart from this, you can see the high green hills of Mizoram in India with the view around the river.

How to Get There :

From Amberkhana Point in Sylhet you have to take CNG to reach the motor ghat (via Saheb Bazar), it will take about an hour. Then you can take a dinghy boat directly from the motor ghat to the forest. The time and cost of traveling to our union is the least.