Floating markets in Bangladesh

When we think about floating market, the first thing that comes to our mind is an image of a market floating over water located either in Thailand, Italy or India. But do you know that there are some similar types of beautiful floating markets in our country? And you can travel to these spots at low cost in Barisal, which is known as the 'Venice of Bengal'. These floating markets are seen in different rivers of Swarupkathi and Jhalokati in this region. There are three floating markets named Bhimruli, Atghar and Kuriana. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are sold in the first two markets. The other one is the boat market. These floating markets were unknown to most of the people even a few years ago. Thanks to the blessing of social media, the popularity of this market spread gradually. 

Bhimruli Guava Market:
This floating market is operated all year round over a meandering canal of Bhimruli village, which is 15 kilometers away from Jhalokati city. Apart from Jhalokati Sadar Upazila, the nearby Swarupkathi Upazila of Pirojpur district and Banaripara Upazila of Barisal district are also famous for guava farming. Sugandha, Gabkhan, Bishkhali and Sandhya rivers of Jhalokati are the main areas for guava farming in the southern part of the country. This more than 200 years old floating market is organized at a meeting place on the borders of three districts- Barisal, Pirojpur and Jhalokati. Around 20,000 families from 30 villages of three districts are directly involved in guava farming. According to local people, there are around 7,000 guava and hog plum orchards on 31,000 acres of land. 

 

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Bhimruli guava market gets its life during the guava season. Farmers bring guavas by the boatloads and sell them to the wholesalers who then carry these guavas by boats to different parts of the country. The interesting thing is that size and design of all boats that come here are almost the same. It seems all boats are made by the same craftsman. Apart from guava, hog plum is also found here. The hog plum season comes after the end of the guava season. The hog plum produced in this area is famous all over the country. And finally comes the betel nut season. Aside from peak season, this market remains busy throughout the year. Besides fruits, the main products here are various types of vegetables. 

At the north end of the floating market, there is a small bridge over the canal. From there, the market is seen very clearly. To enjoy a wonderful combination of natural beauty and rural life, travelers and photographers from different parts of the country, even from abroad, gather here in more than hundred trawlers at this time. 

Bhimruli guava market sits from 10 a.m. By 11 a.m., the market gets crowded with buyers and sellers. Then you can see rows of boats full of guavas are gathering near the market. Both buyers and sellers spend a busy time from 12 pm to 3 pm. If you want, you can buy guava, but the rule is that you will have to buy all guavas of the boat. 

Kuriana Boat Market:

This floating market is situated at Swarupkathi Upazila in Pirojpur district. It will take around an hour to reach this market by an engine-run boat from Bhimruli. Boats are sold in this market. Artisans from different parts of the district come here to sell their boats. Sellers bring a big boat containing several small boats. They then put those small boats on the canal and wait for the buyers. Boats of different sizes are priced between Tk 1,000 and Tk 10,000. Although it opens seven days a week, a large number of sellers and buyers come here on Friday. This floating market filled with hundreds of boats becomes almost two kilometers long. 

 

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Atghar Guava Market:

Atghar guava market is almost four kilometers away from Kuriana. It is also a floating market. Farmers carrying guavas in small boats come here from different places. As soon as boats loaded with guavas reach the market, they sell out because wholesalers wait for the farmers. This market is also quite large in size. Large guava orchards can be seen nearby. Small canals pass through guava garden. Farmers enter the garden on small boats and fetch guavas. Besides, the betel leaf farmers also come here to sell their betel leaf. 

 

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Which market in which day?

·                     Floating rice market in Banaripara Upazila of Barisal district: Every Saturday and Tuesday

·                     Floating vegetable market at Harta Union in Wazirpur Upazila of Barisal district: Every Sunday and Wednesday

·                     Floating vegetable market at Baitakata in Nazirpur Upazila of Pirojpur district: Every Saturday and Tuesday

·                     Floating guava market at Bhimruli in Jhalokati Sadar Upazila: Everyday (July to October)

If you want, you can rent a small boat or engine-run boat from the bank of the canal and visit the vast guava orchard and floating market. The canal is full to the brim with rainwater, green nature on the bank of the canal and ripe guava on boats. Riding a boat or trawler, you can move around the canal and enjoy the guava orchards on both sides. The ruins of Kirtipasha Zamindar bari is located near the Bhimruli market- you can visit there as well. 

How to go there?

There are many ways to visit these floating markets. From Dhaka, you can go to Barisal either by road or by river, but the best way is river. From Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka, many luxurious launches such as 'Surovi', 'Kirtonkhola', 'Sundarban' etcetera leave for Barisal every day at 8pm. For this, you will have to give Tk 5000-7000 for VIP cabin, Tk 4000-4500 for semi VIP cabin, Tk 2500-3500 for family cabin, Tk 1700-1800 for double cabin, Tk 900-1000 for single cabin and Tk 250 per person for deck. If you want, you can go there by paddle steamers- 'PS Mahsud', 'PS Ostrich', 'PS Lepcha' and 'PS Tern', which leave Dhaka for Barisal at 6.30 pm every day except Friday. 

You will reach Barisal at 7 am. Then you will have to go to Natullabad bus stand from where you will have to go to Swarupkathi by bus, auto-rickshaw or any other transport. You can hire a leguna for going to Swarupkathi. Fourteen people can sit in one leguna. If you reserve the whole leguna, it will cost approximately Tk 400-500. You can also rent a small group CNG type Tempo for Tk 250-300. You will reach Swarupkathi at the end of about one and half hour journey. Renting a trawler from Swarupkathi launch ghat, you can go through Sandhya river and visit Atghor, Kuriana and Bhimruli market. Or, from Swarupkathi launch ghat, you can rent an auto-rickshaw for Tk 20 and go to Kuriana bazar, where you can rent a boat or trawler for Tk 200-300 and visit the market and canal around Kuriana. But if you want to go to Bhimruli, the rent will be more. Rent will be Tk 2000-3000. Based on the size, the boats can carry 15 to 20 persons. 

From Gabtoli bus terminal in Dhaka, AC bus of Sakura Paribahan goes to Jhalokati. Price of the ticket is Tk 800 per person. Besides, non-AC buses of 'Hanif Enterprise', 'Druti Paribahan', 'Eagle Paribahan', 'Surovi Paribahan' and 'Sakura Paribahan' also go there with fares ranging from Tk 350 to Tk 450. Apart from this, there is a bus service of Sugandha Paribahan for going to Jhalokati Sadar Upazila from Sayedabad bus terminal in Dhaka. You will have to come to Jhalokati Sadar from Rupatoli Bus Stand of Barisal city. It takes 40 minutes. From there, taking an easy bike, you will have to go straight to Bhimruli bazar. From here, you will have to rent a boat for a few hours. 

Where do you eat?
You will find many small restaurants adjacent to Bhimruli, Atghar and Kuriana bazar. Sokal Sondha restaurant at Kuriana bazar is popular among visitors for its tasty food. This restaurant is locally known as Boudi's Hotel (বৌদির হোটেল). If your group consists of 5-7 people, there is no need to inform earlier before going there. But if the group is big, you must inform the restaurant beforehand. Eat rice with fresh fish sitting at the restaurant. 

Where do you stay?
You can go and return by daylight. If you want to spend the night, you can come to Natullabad in Barisal. Names of some hotels in Jhalokati are 'Dhansiri Rest House' in Kalibari Road, 'Arafat Boarding' in Batasha Patty Road, 'Halima Boarding' in Sadar Road etc. Rent is Tk 100-250 per night. Besides, you can stay in 'Hotel Ifty' at Miyar Hat in Swarupkathi. Hotel Ifty is built on the bank of the river. So, staying there will be a memorable experience. But if you want to stay in a good hotel, you will have to go to Barisal Sadar, which is twenty kilometers from Jhalokati. 

When do you go there?
The best time to go there is the guava season. July, August and September are the guava season. 

Precaution:
Since you would have to travel by river, you should be very careful while traveling during the rainy season. You must bring a raincoat and a life jacket along with you. Use a waterproof bag or polythene for keeping your mobile phone and money. Keep the necessary medicines with you. Do not ruin the environment by throwing garbage everywhere.