Your Complete Guide to Exploring Patenga Sea Beach in Bangladesh - 2025

Location

Patenga Sea Beach is a favorite destination for travel enthusiasts visiting Chittagong city. Located 14 kilometers south of the city’s Zero Point, this picturesque beach is situated near Shah Amanat International Airport. The distance from the city to the beach is approximately 22 kilometers.

One-Day Trip to Patenga

If you wish, you can visit Patenga along with a few other places and return to Dhaka within a day. For this, you need to start your journey from Dhaka on a night train or bus. Upon reaching Chattogram in the morning, have breakfast and head straight to Patenga. After exploring the beach, return by midday for lunch. Later, take the Sonar Bangla train or a bus back to Dhaka.

Nearby Tourist Attractions:

1. Karnaphuli River.
2. Bangladesh Naval Academy.
3. Bangladesh Marine Academy.
4. Shah Amanat Airport.
5. Karnaphuli Tunnel – The only underwater tunnel in the country so far.
6. Deyang Hill  _ On this hill is the 200-year-old ‘Boro Uthan Mia Bari‘. The founder of this house was Raja Shyam ray. When the Nawab of Bengal, Shaista Khan, conquered Chittagong, his chief general was his elder son, Buzurg Umed Khan. Umed Khan’s companion in the army was Raja Shyam ray. Later, he converted to Islam and took the name Dewan Monohar Ali Khan. The family is over 360 years old. The 16th descendant of the family, Sajjad Ali Khan (Mithu), still lives in Chittagong city.
7. Mariam Ashram – This 500-year-old ashram is also located on Deyang Hill.

How to get there ?

To visit Patenga Beach, you must first travel to Chittagong from any part of the country. There are buses, trains, and flights available from Dhaka and Sylhet to Chittagong. For other parts of the country, buses or trains are the only available options. If you are traveling by air, once you exit the airport, you will immediately see the famous Patenga Sea Beach.

Surrounded by hills on both sides, with a river on one side and the deep waters of the sea on the other, the mouth of the Karnaphuli River is one of the most beautiful river mouths in the world. On this side, you’ll find the airport and the Naval Academy, which has been renovated. On the other side, you have Deyang Hill, Mariam Ashram, and the Marine Academy.

At night, the beauty of the confluence of the Karnaphuli River and the Bay of Bengal from the Naval Beach, next to the Naval Academy, is breathtaking. Along the shoreline, many food stalls with decoratively arranged chairs and tables, and shops selling chic items and jewelry made of seashells and conchs, are set up. The area is particularly crowded during weekends and festive seasons, like Eid. Tourists enjoy shopping and sightseeing in the area.

What to do ?

Along the beach and in the adjoining Zhou tree forest, various food stalls have been set up. Every afternoon and on holidays, Patenga Beach attracts a large crowd. If you want to catch the sunrise, you need to wake up early and head to the beach.

In the evening, if you wish, you can enter the water for a refreshing experience. However, keep in mind that the width of Patenga Beach is not very large, and swimming in the sea can be risky here.

For a more thrilling experience, you can ride a speedboat in the sea. Additionally, there are sea bikes and horses available along the shoreline for leisurely rides. These activities are available at fixed hourly rental rates. You can also spot ships navigating the sea or planes flying overhead.

Usually, as the afternoon progresses, the tide begins to rise. Before the high tide, the embankment may submerge partially, and the waves rush to the shore. The sunset at Patenga Beach is very scenic in the evening. Thanks to enhanced security measures, tourists can enjoy the beach and stay until sunset comfortably.

What to eat ?

Patenga is one of the best places for delicious and mouth-watering street food at very affordable prices. One of the popular dishes at the food stalls is spicy fried crab, served with a plate of chickpeas garnished with cucumber and onions. A Burmese market has also been set up at the beach, where you can shop for your favorite items while enjoying the surroundings.

Where to Stay ?

Since Patenga Sea Beach is not far from Chittagong city, you can opt to stay in the city itself. There is no shortage of 5-star hotels in the city. However, in recent times, several hotels have been established near Patenga Sea Beach. One such charming place to stay is Butterfly Park Rest House, with rates ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 BDT.

Karnaphuli River

“Karnaphuli.” _ means ear flower.

Once, the princess of Arakan fell in love with an indigenous Rajput prince. On a moonlit night, they went on a boat ride. While gazing at the reflection of the moon in the river’s clear waters, the princess’s ear flower fell into the water. In a rush to retrieve it, she jumped into the river. 

However, due to the strong current, the princess was swept away and disappeared. The Rajput prince, in an attempt to save her, jumped into the water as well but was unable to rescue her. Overcome with grief at the loss of the princess, the prince drowned himself in the river. This tragic story is the origin of the river’s name, “Karnaphuli.”

To witness the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Karnaphuli River, head to Patenga. At the point where the Karnaphuli River meets the Bay of Bengal, the difference in water color is easily visible. The unique beauty of the sea’s meeting with the river is something that can’t truly be described—you must see it with your own eyes.

Bangladesh Naval Academy

This is a national institution established for the basic training of naval cadets in the Bangladesh Navy. The Bangladesh Naval Academy was founded in 1976 with 14 cadets. In 1977, the academy was moved to Chittagong, to the main naval base, Ba-nou-ja Isa Khan.

With the guiding principle “Fight in the path of Allah,” the academy has been playing a remarkable role in training both domestic and foreign naval officers for over three decades. Starting from July 1998, the first batch of foreign naval cadets began their training at the Bangladesh Naval Academy.

Until 2009, a total of 36 foreign cadets from friendly countries such as Palestine, Maldives, and Qatar have graduated from the academy with commissions.

Marine Academy

Founded in 1962 in Chittagong, the Marine Academy was established to build a skilled workforce for commercial shipping. The academy provides training and facilities for cadets, deck officers, and marine engineers working on international commercial vessels.

Located near the confluence of the Karnaphuli River and the Bay of Bengal, this Marine Academy has been dedicated to maritime education since its establishment. To date, nearly four thousand cadets from the fields of nautical science and marine engineering have completed their training at the academy and are actively engaged in the professions of Master Mariners and marine engineering on commercial ships.

Tips

It’s better to go in groups when visiting the beach to avoid any uncomfortable situations. If you encounter any danger or have a complaint, you can report it at the beach’s mobile police station. It’s advisable to stay in areas with more crowds for your safety.

Whether you’re taking a speedboat, boat ride, or horseback riding, it’s recommended to inquire about the rates and ensure you understand the charges beforehand.

Conclusions

Travel enthusiasts visiting Patenga Sea Beach are greeted by the vibrant sounds of waves and the crashing surf of the blue waters. The beach is bustling every day with hundreds of visitors. From here, one can spot ships anchored at the outer harbor of the port. As evening sets in, these ships appear like bright lights on the sea, resembling a sparkling city. The sunset at Patenga Beach is also indescribably beautiful. 

The line of ships from various countries, flying different flags, creates a mesmerizing sight. It is rare to find a river mouth on this planet with such a full embrace of beauty as seen here.