A wonderful tourist spot in Lama Bandarban, Alikodom cave, also known as Ali’s Cave, is an Upazila of Bandarban District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh which is 1500 feet high from sea level.
AT A GLANCE Name: Alikodom Cave Location: Alikodom Cave, Ruma, Bandarban, Bangladesh Destination: Dhaka to Bandarban Transport: Shamoli Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Year-71 etc bus services from Fakirapul, Saydabad, Kalampur,Panthopath etc. Fair: BDT 350 to 700 (Dhaka to Bandarban) Time: 9-10 Hours Explore: Alikodom Cave, Ruma, Bandarban, Bangladesh. Distance: 70 kilometers away from Bandarban town. Cost: Depend to coverage tourists spots. Accommodation: Parjatan Hotel,Non-government boarding etc available. Food: Available. Advice: Keep dry foods, water, medicines, saline, glucose, extra money, and kits. Always take a guide.
There are multiple ways of reaching Alikodom Cave. Firstly tourist can hire a bus from Dhaka, for example, S Alam, Unique Service, Dolphin Service, etc. and go to Bandarban town. From Bandarban town, tourists can hire a jeep or travel by “Chadir gari” to Chokoria, and from there to Alikodom town. Alikodom town is 70 kilometers away from Bandarban town. Also tourists can go to Chittagong, and from Chittagong, visitors will find bus services available which will directly take them to Chokoria.
For those travelers who will use the private vehicle they can use the Dhaka Cox’s Bazar route and go to Chottogram- Cox’s Bazar- Arakan Highway. In a high way there is a place known as Chokoria Bazar, it can be obtained just by asking people on the road. From Chokoria, Alikodom road is just 4 to 5 kilometers away.
Living Accommodations
Once reaching Alikodom town tourists will find many food items and small local restaurants available in Alikodom Bazar. Out of the seven Upazila of Bandarban Alikodom is one of the Upazila, or sub districts. There are a non-government boarding and a Parjatan Hotel situated in Alikodom town where visitors can spend the night.
Also, there is available in Alikodom an exciting opportunity to camp in many empty places. Camping in Alikodom is convenient in summer and winter, however, in rainy season many dry areas get underwater due to the rise of the water level of the river.
Food Facilities
For food services tourists can just go and introduce themselves to the local people of Alikodom bazaar, buy the necessary food items from the bazaar such as chicken, vegetables, and the local residents will happily cook for the tourists. The tourists can have both their lunch and dinner with the beautiful people of Alikodom.
The Way from Alikodom town to Ali’s tunnel
As there are many ways through which a tourist can visit Alikodom town, similarly from Alikodom town there are many ways to go to Alikodom Pahar. In the rainy season there are boats available, but in summer and winter season the water way gets very dry, and as a result, tourists can walk over the waterways.
It is best to go from Alikodom town to a place in Alikodom known as Mongshuipru. The place is inhabited by tribal people and local Bengali people. They live together in great harmony with the natural serenity which surrounds the place. There is a river in that area known as Matamohuri River. The river gets very dry in the summer season. In summer time although the weather remains very hot, tourists can camp near the Matamohuri River.
It is best to take a local boy as a guide from the Mongshuipru village when going to Ali’s tunnel. The way to the entrance of Ali’s tunnel from Matamohuri River is near around 10 to 15 minutes by walking. From Alikodom town it will take hardly 30 minutes to reach the entrance of Ali’s cave.
From one point, however, tourists need to walk and hike the area to reach the entrance of Ali’s cave. There have been ways paved by the breaking away of the mountains, and through those narrow ways, one has to walk up to the entrance of Ali’s cave or tunnel.
After reaching below the entrance of Ali’s cave, tourists will find a big iron stair which connects the lower point of the hill to the entry point of Ali’s cave. Tourists can walk through the stairs and enter Ali’s cave. Inside the cave, there is an impenetrable darkness, so it is better to carry torch lights. The place can only be experienced as words fall short to the magnificence and grandeur which exists inside Ali’s cave.
By walking 1 hour through the narrow paths between the large surrounding mountains, tourists can visit another cave. For those who like an expedition, mountain climbing and exploring unknown and new places Ali’s cave and its peripheral area are for them.
The second cave is much bigger in length, and from one end of the cave tourists can enter and take their exit by another end of the cave. The cave is known to harbor bats, and the cave journey is something unique and astounding. However, it is better not to go alone in this place and always take a guide.
