Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - Trip to Sundarbans - day 2 - Boattrip + from Mongla to Khulna via Bagerhat

Stayed the first night in Mongla at a place recommended to us by a colleagues friend.

According to the Lonely Planet "the Parjatan Hotel also known as Hotel Pashur, is the nicest place to stay in Mongla. Rooms are bright and clean, with a small balcony overlooking Mongla River and the busy port beyond." This we can not agree with. :s 

Spent a horrible night - will not even get started on the food. :(

Well we survived so I will stop whining.

True however is "Rooms are sometimes full, so try to book ahead." Fortunately we had not booked ahead and could only stay for one night. Were so thankful to be able to escape - after a first look at the rooms. To be honest the staff was quite friendly and later offered to accommodate our first request to stay a second night.

Well from the outside it looks quite nice:

"It looks a little like an old colonial palace (though it is in fact a modern creation) and is set in peaceful gardens."

At the port close to the Hotel - setting of to our half day tour of the Sundarbans.

Unfortunately - due to no time - only able to see a tiny bit.

 

Overview map at the Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary.

At a pagoda spot being quiet listening to the birdies.

At a crocodile breeding station:

Sure - these guys are behind a wall. And me standing on it. :D

"Aw! So cute!" was yelled many times.

Palm trees! :D

Yeah guy - your ivories are sure impressive!

The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, most of which situated in Bangladesh and the remaining in India.

Had a guard on board - just in case...

The dominant mangrove species Heritiera fomes is locally known as sundri or sundari. Mangrove forests are not home to a great variety of plants. They have a thick canopy, and the undergrowth is mostly seedlings of the mangrove trees.

  

The beauties getting some sun - I got a cold... -_-

Impressions on the way back to the port:

 

 

Back at the Hotel - of to Bagerhat.

The Mosque City of Bagerhat

Originally known as Khalifatabad and nicknamed the "mint town of the Bengal Sultanate", the city was founded in the 15th century by the warrior saint Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan.

  

The historic city, listed by Forbes as one of the 15 lost cities of the world, has more than 50 Islamic monuments which have been found after removing the vegetation that had obscured them from view for many centuries. The site has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, "as an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble which illustrates a significant stage in human history".

  

A market leading up to one of the mosques.

Our driver with us.

Communication was not always easy - we grew very fond of him anyways.

First he though we wanted to look for a hotel in Bagerhat and not for the famous mosques...

We had to take of our shoes to get to this point.
Hoped to get into the mosque as well, which we were not allowed.
To top it of they asked us for a donation for the upkeep of the site.
Nearly lost my temper...

People taking a bath at the end of the day.

People taking a bath - is one of the common sights in Bangladesh.

People are bathing at any time of the day - wherever there is some water...

A sneak peak into a classroom:

Another crocodile. On the same lake shore as the people further up taking a bath.

So if Crocy was up for a snack...

But he would not have to bother getting over to them.

Here you see the sturdy defense fence between Crocy and his admirers:

Having dinner together - the cat made the catch of the day - securing the chicken drumstick. The dog is not chasing it but content getting some rice...

One of the ancient buildings:

Bangladesh Beauty:

Tourists enjoying the sights - us.

Cute as a button:

The Sixty Dome Mosque (Shaṭ Gombuj Moshjid) has been described as "the most impressive Muslim monuments in the whole of the Indian subcontinent."

  

Even had to pay an entry fee! ;) 

Locals pay 0,50 EUR - foreigners 2 EUR.

A pic for a pic:

This park is by far the nicest one I have seen in Bangladesh so far...

Special moments:

 

The length of the mosque is 160 feet and width is 108 feet. There are 77 low domes arranged in seven rows of eleven, and one dome on each corner, bringing the total to 81 domes. There are four towers

This guy allowed us to get into the building.

Of course we had to take the woman entrance at the side.

And take of our shoes + and pay a 'thank you' for showing us around. :D

Also even so he agreed that his picture may be taken - he did not wanted to be part of a group shot but insisted to be photographed separately by his glorious self. <3

Dressed properly:

In mid-15th century, a Muslim colony was founded in the unfriendly mangrove forest of the Sundarbans near the coastline in the Bagerhat district. The construction of the mosque was started in 1442 and it was completed in 1459.

  

By the way - mostly we were the attraction.

With crowds gathering to take our pictures:

Well the deal is that we wanted commemoration pictures as well. <3

Yeah - I love posing - by the way! :D

Finally made it to Khulna. The aim for the day.Even found a real nice hotel.

Out driver just asked a random cop on the street for a recommendation
where he could accommodate some bideshi like us...

Since the hotel is not finished jet - apart from the pool (:( ) also the driver accommodation is not finished - Hashem had to be accommodated a bit further in a guest house.

He was not happy leaving us all on our own. Super cute he advised us to not talk to strange men since they are rude. Later when we had dinner at the hotel he even came by to bring us some juice and biscuits. We had snuck out of the hotel for a quick walk without telling him. Our guess is that he was checking up on us making sure that all his baby-chicks are save and secure at the hotel.

Some Hindu shrine we came past during our evening stroll.