Noakhali নোয়াখালী
Deer islands, coastal chars and Gandhi's peace walk
Noakhali reaches from farmland in the north to new islands rising from the Meghna estuary in the south. Its far end, Nijhum Dwip, is a mangrove island where spotted deer graze at dusk. Inland, the district holds memories of Gandhi's 1946–47 peace mission and fine Mughal-era mosques.
At a glance
- From Dhaka
- About 175 km by road, roughly 5–6 hours by bus or car
- Cost
- ৳900–2,350 per person a day for a room and meals (estimate)
- Best time
- Nov–Feb for calm water and migratory birds
- Places to visit
- 6, including Nijhum Dwip, Hatiya Island and Gandhi Ashram, Joyag
Times and costs are estimates from our planner and the prices we collected. Check before you go.
- Nijhum Dwip
- Spotted deer
- Gandhi Ashram
- Buffalo curd
- Hatiya island
Places
Place Nijhum Dwip
নিঝুম দ্বীপA remote mangrove island south of Hatiya, where herds of spotted deer step out of the forest at dawn.
Place Hatiya Island
হাতিয়া দ্বীপA large, lived-in island in the Meghna estuary, with rice fields, markets and wide river views.
Place Gandhi Ashram, Joyag
গান্ধী আশ্রম, জয়াগThe village where Gandhi stayed during his peace mission in 1947, now a museum and community trust.
Place Bajra Shahi Mosque
বজরা শাহী মসজিদAn 18th-century Mughal mosque with three domes, standing beside a large pond in Sonaimuri.
Foods
Food Char Buffalo Curd
চরের মহিষের দইSour, creamy buffalo-milk curd from the coastal islands, set in rough clay pots.
Food Chitoi Pitha with Duck Curry
চিতই পিঠা ও হাঁসের মাংসSoft, spongy rice cakes made in clay moulds, eaten with a spicy duck curry on winter mornings.
Food Hatiya Hilsa and Nona Ilish
হাতিয়ার ইলিশ ও নোনা ইলিশHilsa landed fresh at Hatiya's ghats from the Meghna estuary and the sea, and nona ilish, hilsa cured in salt for months.
Traditions
Where to stay
Hotel prices in every district →- Budget hotel
- ৳1,000–2,000
- Good hotel
- ৳1,500–3,000
- Upscale / resort
- No data
Peak season: Nijhum Dwip has few rooms; book ahead for winter weekends.
Where these prices come from
Nijhum Dwip resorts near Bandartila and Namar Bazar charge about 1,500–3,000 per room (Daily Star, Nov 2023); the Maijdee town budget band is an estimate.
Prices come from newspapers, the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation website and the hotels' own listings. Call the hotel to check the rate before you book.
Where to eat, and what it costs
This district's meal costs are estimated from nearby districts. Any restaurants listed below have their own sourced prices.
Room and food together here come to roughly ৳900–2,350 per person a day
From a budget hotel and local eateries up to a good hotel and good restaurants. We assume two people share a room, so each pays half the room rate. Travel, tickets and upscale places are extra.
We don't have restaurant prices for this district yet.
Taste these
- Char Buffalo Curd Markets in Hatiya, Subarnachar and Maijdi
- Chitoi Pitha with Duck Curry Winter street stalls in Maijdi and Chowmuhani About 10–20 BDT per pitha from street vendors
- Hatiya Hilsa and Nona Ilish Fish ghats on Hatiya island such as Chairman Ghat, and local rice hotels on the island
Where these prices come from
Estimate only: no dated Noakhali meal prices were found, so these follow Cumilla's 2023 town-hotel prices and nearby districts; on Hatiya and Nijhum Dwip there are only simple bazar hotels, known for sea fish and fried shrimp.
Prices come from newspapers and the restaurants' own listings, and they change over time.
Common questions
What are the best places to visit in Noakhali?
The best known are Nijhum Dwip, Hatiya Island, Gandhi Ashram, Joyag, Bajra Shahi Mosque and Musapur Closure. This guide covers 6 places to visit in Noakhali, each with how to get there and when to go.
How long does it take to get from Dhaka to Noakhali?
Noakhali is about 175 km from Dhaka by road. By bus or car it takes roughly 5–6 hours, depending on traffic.
How much does a trip to Noakhali cost?
A budget hotel room costs ৳1,000–2,000 a night, a good hotel ৳1,500–3,000. With two sharing a room, a room and meals come to about ৳900–2,350 per person a day. Travel to and from Dhaka is extra. Prices are estimates.
When is the best time to visit Noakhali?
Nov–Feb for calm water and migratory birds.
What local food should you try in Noakhali?
Try Char Buffalo Curd, Chitoi Pitha with Duck Curry and Hatiya Hilsa and Nona Ilish. Each one's page says where to find it.
