Sreemangal and Lawachara: tea country and the hoolock gibbon's forest
Bangladesh's tea capital sits next to one of its most important rainforests. What Lawachara National Park protects, and how to visit it well.
Sreemangal, in Moulvibazar district, is known as the tea capital of Bangladesh: rolling estates of clipped tea bushes under shade trees. A few kilometres away, the landscape turns wild. Lawachara National Park is one of the country's best-known patches of rainforest, and home to its only ape.
Lawachara at a glance
| Location | Kamalganj upazila, Moulvibazar; about 8 km from Sreemangal |
| Area | About 1,250 hectares, within the West Bhanugach Reserved Forest |
| Protected since | 1996 |
| Flagship species | Western hoolock gibbon |
| Species recorded | About 460, including 246 birds and 20 mammals |
The gibbons
The western hoolock gibbon is listed among the world's most endangered primates. A 2007 census counted 62 gibbons in 17 groups in Lawachara and the surrounding reserve, described as the largest surviving population in Bangladesh. Early mornings are the best time to hear their calls. Other residents include Phayre's leaf monkey, capped langur, Bengal slow loris and barking deer.
Visiting well
- Go early and walk quietly; animals keep away from groups and noise.
- Stay on marked trails and consider hiring a local guide.
- Don't feed wildlife or play music in the forest.
- Combine the visit with a walk through Sreemangal's tea estates, which are working farms: ask before entering.
FAQ
How far is Lawachara National Park from Sreemangal?
About 8 km.
What animals live in Lawachara National Park?
It is best known for the western hoolock gibbon, and also shelters Phayre's leaf monkey, capped langur, Bengal slow loris, barking deer and around 246 bird species.
When was Lawachara declared a national park?
In 1996.
Sources
- Lawachara National Park, Wikipedia
