Sylhet originally Srihatta is a major city in northeastern Bangladesh. Located on the north bank of the Surma River at the eastern tip of Bengal, Sylhet is one of the largest cities in Bangladesh after Khulna, Chittagong, and Dhaka. Sylhet is one of the most important spiritual, cultural, and economically important cities in the country. In the 16th-century, Sylhet was controlled by the Baro-Bhuyan zamindars and later became a sarkar (district) of the Mughal empire to become the most significant imperial outpost in the east. British rule began in the 18th century under the East India Company. Sylhet municipal board was established in 1867.
Originally part of the Bengal Presidency and later Eastern Bengal and Assam; the town was part of Colonial Assam between 1874 and 1947, when following a referendum and the partition, it became part of Eastern Bengal. Sylhet was designated a metropolitan area in 2009. Sylhet is the largest oil and natural gas-producing region in Bangladesh and also the largest tea producer in Bangladesh. The city is known for its high-quality cane and agarwood. Surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi, and Tripura hills, the city is well known for its tropical forests and tea gardens, and is also known as the city of Saints, with the mausoleum of the great saint Hazrat Shah Jalal.
Sylhet’s economy is closely linked with the Bangladeshi diaspora, especially the British Bangladeshi community. The city receives a significant portion of the country’s annual remittances, which has driven growth in real estate and construction. A number of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels have opened in the last few years. Well connected by air, land, and rial the city is a major education hub with numerous well-known educational institutes. It is connected by road and rail with Comilla, Chhatak, and Habiganj, by road with the states of Assam and Meghalaya in India, and by air with Dhaka and several international destinations.
One of the oldest cities of Bangladesh, Sylhet is known for its natural beauty and is a top tourist attraction. The best time to visit Sylhet is from October to December. Tourism is centered around the natural beauty of the city. A good number of haors which are big natural depressions are present around the city. During winter, these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season, they turn into turbulent seas. These haors provide a sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to warmer areas for breeding, making it a birdwatchers paradise. Sylhet has many tribes such as Tipperas, Monipuris, Khasis, and Garos who still live in their primitive ways in the nearby hills, practicing their age-old rites, rituals, customs, and traditions. Tourists can visit them and buy handicrafts from them.
There are numerous hotels, resorts that provide luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation. Restaurants serve a variety of delicious food at reasonable prices. There are numerous places worth visiting such as Tamabil-Jaflong, Jaflong Kalibari, Greeva Peeth, Mahalakshmi peeth, Sree Mangal tea garden, which also has pineapple, rubber, and lemon plantations, Lawacherra Rain Forest that has one rare Chloroform tree of Asia is a prime attraction of travel. Also worth visiting are Madhabkunda waterfall, Nazimgarh Resorts, and Tilagor.
Tourist can also visit Ratargul swamp forest and Bisnakhandi. Adventure seekers can go on trekking expedition in and around the Sree Mangal area. The city is a shopper paradise with numerous shoppoingmalls and markets selling a variety of products. Sylhet is worth an extended weekend visit
