Event: Bangladesh - Cox's Bazar

Cox's Bazar

When:	Daily
Where:	Cox's Bazar
Opening Hours:	Always

If you are a beach baby, you will think you have died and reached heaven at Cox's Bazar. Named after the main town along its stretch, at 120km long, this sea-beach is the longest in the world, sloping gently into the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, with many surprises along its length.

Miles and miles of soft golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare conch shells, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and a fascinating mix of cultures, the best in sea foods - all this (and a hell of a lot more)makes up Cox's Bazar. It is also Bangladesh's favourite tourist spot.

The town was originally named after Hiram Cox, who supervised the settlement of Arakanese refugees after the Burmese conquest in 1799. Being so close to the border of Myanmar (formerly Burma), the overriding culture of this endless stretch of beach is Buddhist rather than Muslim, or even Hindu as you may expect. Indeed, many refugees from this troubled neighbouring country still make this area their home.

One favourite spot is Himchari at Teknaf, which is also the southern most tip of Bangladesh - whales are often spotted there in the waters. Nearby islands are unspoilt and rich with unique wildlife: Sonadia and Moheskhali provide a temporary sanctuary for migrating petrels, geese, curlews, snipe, shanks, lapwings, ducks and the waterfowl. And when too much sand gets in your eyes, the evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical rainforests nearby are ripe for exploration.

Cox's Bazar is connected by road, rail, and air with Chittagong to the north.