Why Bhawal National Park Should Be Your Next Weekend Getaway

All you need to know about Natural Beauty, Boating, Fishing, ticket price, stay options, and what to explore at Bhawal National Park.

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Bhawal National Park is one of the eight national parks in Bangladesh. It is located just 40 kilometers north of Dhaka, in the Rajendrapur Forest Range of Gazipur.

This forest is mainly a dense habitat of Sal and Gajari trees. As the area is quite large, transportation inside includes rickshaws, vans, horse rides, and horse carts.

Although the title of “national park” is more recent, this forest in Bhawal is very old. It’s an ancient forest, and people can still enjoy nature here by riding horse carts.

Not too long ago, even in the late 19th century, the king’s officer used to travel through the forest in horse-drawn carriages.

History of Bhawal National Park

Around 1880, King Rajendra Narayan saw the poor condition of the forest under his rule and decided to protect it by dividing it into two parts — one as a reserved forest and the other as unclassified forest.

During British rule, the forest was owned by the Kazi family. Later, the ownership was transferred to King Rajendra’s family.

Over time, a part of Bhawal forest came under the management of the Dhaka Forest Department, while some parts still remain privately owned.

What Can You See?

Chitra Deer:

Go a little deeper into the forest, and you might spot the beautiful Chitra deer. A few years ago, wild elephants and tigers could also be seen here, and peacocks used to call from deep inside the woods.

But times have changed, and now the number of wild animals has decreased a lot.

Lakes and Ponds:

Besides various types of trees, Bhawal National Park has many lakes and ponds. These ponds are like gardens of blooming lotus flowers. You’ll also find pink water lilies, known by their scientific name Nymphaea nouchali.

Beautiful Rest Houses:

You can stay overnight in cozy rest houses surrounded by nature. If you like fishing, there’s also an option to fish with a rod, though you’ll need to pay a fee for it.

Rest Houses and Lakes:

Some rest houses are located right beside beautiful lakes. Four lakes were man-made, but over time they look just like natural ones.

You can even enjoy a boat ride. There are two types of boats, and the rental price depends on the size, charged per hour.

Watch Towers:

There are two watch towers inside the park, and they also help store water. Each is as tall as an 8-story building. From the top, you can enjoy a full view of about 950 hectares of forest.

Shopping

Inside the park, there’s a small area for kids to play. If you feel tired, you can take a tea break at one of the little tea stalls. You can also buy handmade crafts from the park.

If you enjoy music, flute players will play your favorite songs for a small fee.

Visitors

On weekends and public holidays, the park gets busy with visitors. Every year, about 2 million people come from across the country. During winter, around 15,000 to 20,000 tourists visit each day to enjoy games and fun with their families and friends.

The forest receives around 90 inches of rainfall each year, and the temperature usually stays below 100°F, so you can walk around comfortably.

Bhawal National Park is a great escape for anyone looking to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Bhawal National Park – Official Recognition

Bhawal National Park is home to about 64 species of animals and birds. It received national park status in 1976 and was officially listed in 1982.

Forest experts describe it as a tropical moist deciduous forest. The park is home to around 221 plant species, including Sal, Koroi, Jarul, Bohera, Neem, Polash, and Amloki.

National parks are defined as places where nature and wildlife live closely together, and Bhawal fits this description perfectly.

The park director explains: “This park is not just for enjoyment. Schools and universities in and around Dhaka also use it for education and research.”

Most of the trees in the park grow to heights of 10 to 20 meters and are deciduous. Around 90% of the trees are Sal or Gajari trees.

Locals often call it the Sal Forest because of the large number of Sal trees. The scientific name of this tree is Shorea robusta. “Robusta” means strong and solid.

People use its wood to make furniture, and its leaves and gum are known for their medicinal properties.

Originally, the forest covered about 5,000 hectares across 8 areas in Gazipur. However, the actual forest land now spans around 2,900 hectares.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

If you have time, you can visit the Bhawal Rajbari. It is located just 15 kilometers away from Bhawal National Park. Taking some time to explore this zamindar (landlord) house is a must to experience a piece of history.

This vast zamindar house is truly like a maze. You might find yourself lost while wandering through it.

Rare Plants and Wildlife at Bhawal National Park

The main tree in Bhawal National Park is the Sal tree. In total, the park has around 220 species of plants.

These include 43 types of trees, 19 shrubs, 3 types of palm, 27 kinds of grasses, 24 vines, and 104 medicinal plants.

In addition to the plant life, the park also has a rich variety of animals. There are around 13 species of mammals, 9 reptiles, 5 bird species, and 5 kinds of amphibians.

Because of the large number of Gajari (Sal) trees, many people also call this place the “Gajari Grove of Bhawal.”

The park covers a huge area of 5,022 hectares, and in 1982, the government officially declared it as a national park.

Moreover, the Forest Department has taken steps to protect not only the Sal and Gajari trees but also to grow fruit trees and medicinal plants.

One of the key attractions of the park is a 16-hectare garden filled with rare and medicinal plants.

How to Get There

Bhawal National Park is located just 40 kilometers north of Dhaka. It’s only 3 kilometers away from Gazipur Sadar. After you pass Joydevpur Chowrasta, drive a little further, and you’ll see the main entrance to Bhawal Fort on your right.

Car Parking and Entry Fee

You can visit Bhawal National Park from sunrise to sunset. The entry fee for the park is 20 Taka per person. This fee includes access to the children’s park, watch tower, mini zoo, and public toilets.

If you want to enter the park with a private car, microbus, or bus, you’ll need to pay 60, 100, or 200 Taka, depending on the vehicle.

Accommodation

Bhawal National Park has six rest houses and cottages, all named after flowers: Shapla, Bakul, Shiuli, Jui, Jasmine, and Shameli. You can rent these rest houses for a full day by applying in writing to the Divisional Forest Officer.

To book picnic spots or rest houses, you need to make advance reservations at the Forest Department’s office in Mohakhali.

You can also make bookings for Bhawal National Park at the Rajendrapur National Park Range Office.

Bhawal National Park contact number: 01781733000, 01713575055.