Nilgiri
নীলগিরি
A ridge-top resort on the Thanchi road where you can stand above a sea of morning clouds.
At a glance
- Where
- Bandarban district, Chattogram division
- From Dhaka
- 330 km to Bandarban by road, 8–11 hours by bus or car
- Entry / cost
- Small entry ticket; separate charges for vehicles
- Best time
- monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and winter (Dec–Jan)
- Time needed
- About 3 h
Times and costs are estimates from our planner and the prices we collected. Check before you go.
Nilgiri sits at roughly 2,000 feet on the winding road from Bandarban town to Thanchi, and is run by the army. On many mornings, especially in the rainy and post-monsoon months, clouds fill the valleys below the viewpoint so the surrounding hills look like islands. On clear days you can see ridge after ridge rolling toward the Myanmar border. The drive up, past Marma and Mro villages, is part of the experience.
How to get there
About 2 hours by hired jeep ('chander gari') from Bandarban town along the Thanchi road.
Good to know
Arrive early for clouds. Carry your NID/passport; there are army checkpoints on the road. Foreigners need prior permission to travel in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Check current government advisories before travelling.
Ready-made trips that include it
Common questions
Where is Nilgiri?
Nilgiri is in Bandarban district, Chattogram division, Bangladesh. Bandarban is about 330 km from Dhaka by road.
How do you get to Nilgiri from Dhaka?
First get to Bandarban, roughly 8–11 hours from Dhaka by bus or car. Then: About 2 hours by hired jeep ('chander gari') from Bandarban town along the Thanchi road.
How much does it cost to visit Nilgiri?
Small entry ticket; separate charges for vehicles.
When is the best time to visit Nilgiri?
The best time is monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and winter (Dec–Jan). Allow about 3 h for the visit.
More from Bandarban
District guide →
Place Nilachal
নীলাচলA hilltop viewpoint close to town, best at sunset when the valleys fade into blue layers.
Place Boga Lake
বগা লেকA deep, still lake high in the hills near Ruma, surrounded by forest and a small Bawm village.
Place Nafakhum Waterfall
নাফাখুম জলপ্রপাতA wide, roaring waterfall on the Remakri river, reached by boat and trek from Thanchi.
Place Buddha Dhatu Jadi (Golden Temple)
বুদ্ধ ধাতু জাদি (স্বর্ণ মন্দির)A shining Theravada Buddhist temple on a hilltop near town, built in Myanmar style.
Nearby
Hidden place ▶ Video Rijuk Waterfall
Bandarban · ঋজুক জলপ্রপাতA tall waterfall pouring straight into the Sangu, reached by boat from Ruma.
Place Boga Lake
Bandarban · বগা লেকA deep, still lake high in the hills near Ruma, surrounded by forest and a small Bawm village.
Place Keokradong
Bandarban · কেওক্রাডংOne of Bangladesh's best-known peaks, reached by a hill trek past Boga Lake and Darjeeling Para.
Hidden place ▶ Video Debotakhum
Bandarban · দেবতাখুমA long, narrow gorge of sheer rock walls and green water, explored by bamboo raft in Rowangchhari.