Photo of Bholaganj Sada Pathor — S.H. Tanim · CC BY 4.0
Destination guide
Bholaganj Sada Pathor
ভোলাগঞ্জ সাদা পাথর
A white-stone wonderland in Companiganj upazila, Sylhet, near the Indian border — the crystal-clear cold water of the Dhalai river flowing over vast white stones, with Meghalaya's green hills across. Many say stepping in feels like another world, and floating in the chilly stream is the main joy. Budget travellers have nicknamed it 'the poor man's Kashmir'.
History & significance
Once Bangladesh's largest stone quarry — a dusty area full of crushers. A ropeway was built in the 1960s and the Chhatak–Bholaganj railway line around 1964. In 2016 the government halted stone-crushing for the environment's sake, and the area gradually turned into a tourist spot.
How to get there
Dhaka to Sylhet: ৳700 non-AC, ৳1,200–1,500 AC by bus. In Sylhet, a ৳30 local CNG from Humayun Rashid Chattar reaches Amberkhana; from there the BRTC bus goes straight to Bholaganj for just ৳75 — or reserve a CNG for the day at ৳1,800. At the ghat, buy a boat ticket: boats carry up to 8, the ride takes 10–20 minutes, then a roughly 500-metre walk.
Entry fee
৳100–800 · traveller-reported
No separate entry fee — the cost is the boat: most travellers report ৳800 round-trip per boat (max 8 people); some heard ৳100 a head. Horse ride ৳100, locker ৳100; tipping the boatman ৳200–300 extra buys a slower, longer float.
Opening hours & best time
No fixed schedule is reported; the boat ticket usually allows about 3 hours before returning on the same boat.
Best time
Monsoon keeps the water full; by early winter levels drop and water remains only in the river channel — travellers consistently mention this difference.
Traveller tips
You can't walk barefoot on the stones — buy plastic shoes, a genji and a towel right at the ghat.
Algae makes the stones very slippery, with current and deep patches — take extra care with family.
Rent a locker for ৳100 to stow phone and valuables before floating.
Skip the main crowd and walk upstream toward the border — the water is calmer and clearer there.
This is a border zone — don't cross the red-marked line and follow BGB rules.
Check expiry dates at the Indian-product shops — many visitors found expired goods.
Take the boatman's phone number — easier to call him back for the return.