The first image of Srimangal in Sylhet comes to mind when talking about tea gardens, but it is hard to believe that commercial tea cultivation is possible even in the plains of Panchagarh, the northernmost district of the country. Although tea production started in Bangladesh about 150 years ago, first tea cultivation started in Panchagarh in 1998. At that time industrialist Kazi Shahed Ahmed saw the land of Panchagarh lying fallow and was inspired by the Tea Garden of India and started tea cultivation. Kazi Tea Estate is a pioneer in organic tea cultivation. Apart from Kazi Tea Estate, Panchagarh Dahuk Tea Estate, Salilen Tea Estate and Tentulia Tea Corporation Limited are several companies producing tea. At present there are more than two hundred tea gardens in Panchagarh and the total area under tea cultivation is 2255.54 acres.
How to go
You can visit orange and tea plantations by local transport from Tentulia bus stop. Dhaka to Tentulia If you want to go directly from Dhaka to Tentulia, you can go by Hanif or Burimari Express bus. AC/Non-AC buses will cost Tk 1150-1900 per person. Besides, you can go to Tetulia via Panchagarh. Dhaka to Panchagarh Nabil Paribahan, Hanif Enterprise, Tanjila Travel, Barkat Travel can go to Panchagarh from Shyamoli and Gabtali bus terminals in Dhaka. Non AC bus fare from Dhaka to Panchagarh is Tk 1000-1100 and AC bus fare is Tk 1300-1900. If you want to go to Panchagarh by train, you can take Panchagarh Express, Ekta and Hirtyan Express trains from Dhaka’s Kamalapur. According to the class, the train ticket fare ranges from Tk 695 to Tk 2398 per person.