Bholaganj is another notable place of interest in Sylhet. Tourists come here every day to see the ropeways, stone quarries, and the monologue of the mountains. The distance from Sylhet to Bholaganj is only 33 kilometers. Shillong, the capital of the Indian state of Assam, was once used by people. The ropeway has been established here in the course of time. Name Bholaganj Ropeway. The largest Bholaganj stone quarry in the country is also located in this area. Tourists come here every day to see the ropeways, stone quarries, and the monologue of the mountains.
Table of Contents
When to go
from May to October is the best time to visit Bholaganj white stone area.
Places of interest in Bholaganj
The Bholaganj ropeway,
along with the Dhalai river, which descends from the Khasia Jaintia hills in India, brings down a lot of rocks every year during the monsoon season. There is also a huge deposit of stone at the bottom of the Dhalai river. The Bholaganj ropeway project was constructed at a cost of Tk 2.5 crore during the period 1984-1989. The British Ropeway Engineering Company implemented the project. Under the project, 120 tower excavation plants were constructed for the 11-and-a-half mile-long ropeway from Bholaganj to Chhatak. Four substations in the middle. The project also included the construction of two diesel-powered electric powerhouses at both ends, a railway colony in Bholaganj, a school, a mosque, and a rest house. Stone extraction was done automatically with the help of excavation plants till 1994 but at present, this method of stone extraction has been stopped. According to the sources, the excavation machine has been shut down for about 12 years due to a lack of adequate manpower, insufficient stone, and faulty engine. Earlier excavated stones were broken, washed, and divided into categories like sand, stone chips, and truck ballast, etc. according to the size of the piece. They were taken out individually according to the class and stored in steel buckets with rectangles hanging on the ropeway. The capacity of each bucket is 238 kg (about 120 feet). Buckets filled with stones were sent to the roof. Since the automated system was shut down, contractors have purchased boulder stones locally and broken them down into different sizes. It is then sent to the roof in a bucket. Interestingly, the area looks a lot like a delta island. The Dhalai River enters the Bangladesh part, divides into two parts, revolves around the plant, and reunites. The Dhalai River joins the Piain River near the Companiganj Upazila Sadar. The area of the ropeway is about one hundred acres. And this is why the place is so attractive to tourists.
Stone extraction scene
In the Bholaganj quarry, stones are mainly excavated during the dry season. In this method, the workers first remove the sand from the top of the quarry. Periodically dig holes and go down. After digging a hole 7/8 feet low, the water rises in the quarry. When the water rises, the workers remove the water from the quarry with a shallow machine and lift the stones. Apart from this, stones are lifted in the method of ‘Shiva’s boat’. The method of lifting the stone in this method is to put the engine of the shallow machine in an empty boat. The engine fan rotates underwater. As the fan is constantly rotating, the soil becomes soft and rocks come out. The survivors lifted the stones into the boat with the help of jhanki. In this method thousands of workers lift stones. The scene of lifting stones in this method is also very enjoyable.
Bholaganj Land Customs Station
There is a Land Customs Station in Bholaganj. Import and export activities are carried out through this station. Bangladeshi traders mainly import limestone through this station. Hundreds of trucks carrying limestone enter Bangladesh every day. The location of the customs station at the zero lines of the border. The sight of limestone imports is also interesting to tourists.
Way To Go At Bholagonj
You have to come to Kadamtali in Sylhet from any part of Bangladesh. From Kadamtali you have to come to Amberkhana point. You will get CNG from Bholaganj from Amberkhana point. You can get down from Kadamtali and go to Amberkhana Point by rickshaw, the fare will be 50 TK. From Amber Khana to Bholaganj only 130 TK per local. If you want, you can also go to the reserve, in that case, the rent will be 1200 TK. But of course, you have to bargain. After going through Bholaganj CNG, you have to rent a boat to go to Sadapathar at Zero Point. In this case, the rent will be 800-1000 TK. However, one thing to keep in mind is that if you go in a group of 5 people, the cost will go down a lot.
In addition, anyone can travel from Sylhet to Tukerbazar by passenger bus or CNG. There is a baby taxi service from Tuk Bazar to Bholaganj. To go to the special quarry, you have to get the permission of the BDR of the post located on the river bank. Engine boat rental up to 1500-2000 / -. These boats are used for lifting stones. This is a lot of income for the middlemen. As a result, people are not willing to pay the rent if they do not get the same fare as transporting stones.
Where to stay
The district council has a rest house under the supervision of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. If you want to stay, you have to get permission from the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Apart from this, there is no good arrangement for staying in Bholaganj or Companiganj Upazila. You can visit Bholaganj and stay in Sylhet.
Visit Also: Sheikh Mahmud Shah Mosque