Asia’s largest guava plantation has been developed in the border areas of Jhalkathi, Barisal and Pirojpur. The largest floating guava market in Bangladesh is located at Bhimruli, about 15 km from the district town of Jhalkathi. This floating guava market in Bhimruli sits at the mouth of a canal coming from three directions. Although July, August is the guava season, sometimes the market runs till September. August is the best time to visit the floating guava market. After 11 am the crowd of guava market decreases so it is best to visit the market before 11 am.
Besides, you can enjoy the mesmerizing look of houses, schools, bridges and roads along the canal by visiting the backwaters. While walking through the canal, if you want, you can reach out your hand and catch us or guavas. And if it rains, the surroundings will become more charming with unearthly beauty.
On the way, don’t miss to taste the hot hot rasgolla at Rituparna shop in Kuriana Bazaar and have lunch at Baudir Hotel in the bazaar. Guthia Mosque and Durgasagar Dighi can be visited on the way from Vasman Payara Bazaar to Barisal.
How to go
There are options to go to Barisal by water or by road, but going to Barisal by water is the most convenient way.
If you want to go to the launch, several launches depart from the Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka every day on the way to Barisal and arrive between 4 and 5 in the morning. Deck fare to Barisal per person is Tk 200, single cabin fare is Tk 900 (non AC) and double cabin fare is Tk 1700 (non AC). From Barisal launch ghat by auto or rickshaw to Chaurasta and by bus to Swarupkathi launch ghat will cost Tk 50 fare.
You can rent a trawler from Swarupkathi launch ghat and enter through Sandhya river and visit Atghar, Kuriana, Bhimruli market. If you bargain, it will cost 1000 to 1500 rupees depending on the trawler. Or you can come to Kuriana Bazar by renting an auto from Swarupkathi Launch Ghat for Tk 20 to Tk 300 and rent a boat or trawler for Tk 200 to Tk 300. But if you go to Bhimruli, the fare will be more.
Besides, if the road is good, you can visit Atghar, Kuriana and Bhimruli market by auto. In this case, do some research or because some bridges are broken, you will have to come by auto to every bridge, cross the bridge on foot and take the auto again.
If you want to go by bus: Several buses leave from Sadarghat and Gabtali bus terminals in Dhaka via Padma Bridge for Barisal. Sakura Paribahan bus ticket price to Barisal is 535 to 1250 taka per person. There are direct buses from Gabtali to Swarupkathi launch ghat. Sonar Tari, Hanif and Sakura transport buses cost Tk 500 per person. You can visit Barisal or Swarupkathi by bus and visit the floating guava market in the above mentioned way.