ExploreBangladesh
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Place

Maheshkhali Island and Adinath Temple

মহেশখালী ও আদিনাথ মন্দির

A hilly island a short boat ride from town, crowned by the old Adinath Shiva temple and fringed with mangroves.

Maheshkhali is the only hilly island off the Bangladesh coast. The Adinath temple, dedicated to Shiva, sits on a hill named Mainak and is a major pilgrimage site, especially during the Shivaratri fair. The island also has Buddhist temples, salt fields, betel-leaf gardens and mangrove-lined channels. The speedboat ride across from Cox's Bazar's 6 No. Jetty is short and lively.

How to get there

Speedboat or trawler from the 6 No. Jetty (Kasturi Ghat) in Cox's Bazar, then a rickshaw or easy-bike to the temple.

Good to know

Wear a life jacket on the speedboat and avoid crossings in rough weather. Remove shoes at the temple.