Photo of Batali Hill — Tanvir Anjum Adib · CC BY-SA 4.0
Destination guide
Batali Hill
বাটালি হিল
The tallest hill inside the city, ~280 ft, nicknamed 'Jilapi Pahar' for the spiral road that climbs it. From the top you get the whole city, the port, the Karnaphuli — even the sea. Sunset with a cup of tea is the draw. One traveller admits frankly there's no big attraction — just a place to sit, chat and drink tea. Both are right.
History & significance
The hill belongs to the Public Works Department; the summit ground is called 'Shotayu Angon'. Old-timers say a lighthouse once stood here and the British watched the port from it in WWII; thousands of trees were planted by police initiative in 2003-05.
How to get there
Head to Lal Khan Bazar in the Tiger Pass area, ~1 km from Zero Point, and take the road beside the elevated expressway near Ispahani Mor. It's a 10-minute walk up the spiral road — shortcut stairs exist too, and bikes/CNGs can drive up.
Entry fee
৳0–50 · traveller-reported
Entry is usually free. One traveller in 2026 was pressed for an unofficial ৳50 at the summit gate — he'd never paid before. So: occasionally asked for.
Opening hours & best time
No fixed hours; best at dawn and late afternoon — midday heat is punishing.
Best time
Sunset. Winter haze is a toss-up — some say views shrink, others find it dreamy.
Traveller tips
One traveller says skip it after 5 pm; another counters that police are posted round the clock since the DIG lives here. Take your pick — and stay alert either way.
The iron stairs are old and partly broken — watch every step.
Tea and papad stalls are around — carry your trash back.
Location
The exact coordinates of this destination have not been verified yet, so no map location is shown.