Lalakhal is one of the favorite tourist spots in Bangladesh. The location of this popular tourist destination is in Jaintiapur Upazila of Sylhet district. The scenic view of the Shari-Goyain River flowing beside Lalakhal attracts visitors from across the country. Numerous curves in this river, seen from a bird's eye, may look like a giant blue snake. There are hill forests, tea gardens, and various types of trees on both sides of the river.
Description:
Lalakhal is situated just below Cherrapunji, which is regarded as one of the most preferred tourist attractions in India. This river is born in the Cherrapunji Hills and then flows through Bangladesh. The color of the water of the Lalakhal River is blue. For this reason, it is known to the nearby residents as ‘Nilnod,’ which means blue water river. Basically, the color of the water in this river is like this because of the minerals mixed with the flowing water from the Jaintia Hills and the sandy surface of the river instead of mud. One can see a lot of curves in the Lalakhal River.
History:
The traveler Ibn Battuta came to Bangladesh through this river. Though the word ‘canal’ is attached to the name of the place, it is part of a river named Shari. It is because the water coming down from Cherrapunji Hills flows through Lalakhal. The reason for naming this place ‘Lalakhal’ is not yet known.
Environmental
adversity:
Paying
no attention to government regulations has put plant diversity under threat.
Also, the lifting of stones without permission has threatened the lands of the
river and river basin. Due to the cut down of a large number of trees by the
intervention of influential people in the area, outbreaks of various diseases
are often observed. Moreover, the navigability of the river has decreased due
to the siltation of stones and sand coming down from upstream. As a result, the
lives of the people in the nearby areas are being affected by the sudden
downpour from upstream.
