Nature & forests

Kaptai Lake

কাপ্তাই হ্রদ · Kaptai, Kaptai-Rangamati, Rangamati district, Chattogram Division

Community-reportedFrom edited or community sources such as Wikipedia/OpenStreetMap; not official.Last verified: October 14, 2026

How to get there What it costs

Seasonal warning: Boating is comfortable in winter; follow safety advisories when dam gates open in monsoon.

Introduction

The largest man-made lake in Bangladesh (about 688 sq km), created in the 1960s by damming the Karnaphuli river. Boat trips, island visits and the famous hanging bridge at Rangamati town all centre on this water. The dam displaced about 100,000 people, a defining part of local history.

Suggested time: 1 day

How to get there

Bus from Chattogram to Rangamati (about 2-3 hours); hire boats or launches at the town ghat for lake tours. To see the dam itself, continue to Kaptai upazila. Confirm fares locally.

Important notes

Foreign passport holders need district-administration permission to visit Rangamati: apply online at foreigner.rangamati.gov.bd selecting the 'Tourist/Visitor' visit type; the form requires your tour operator's details.
Official sourceSource: Apply For Permission — Rangamati Foreigner (জেলা প্রশাসন)
Kaptai is about 25 km from Rangamati town; reachable by CNG (per vehicle) or local bus - travelers report the bus at around 65 BDT per person (single source).
Community-reportedSource: কাপ্তাই লেক — VromonPrio
From Dhaka to Chattogram by train (incl. Sonar Bangla Express, ~5h) or bus, then Chattogram to Rangamati by road (bus/CNG). No reliable boat-hire rate for the lake could be verified this session - negotiate at the ghat.
Community-reportedSource: Sonar Bangla Express — Wikipedia

General travel and safety advice →

Photo of Kaptai Lake — Photo: Josephite 25 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The honest truth about costs

Boat hire is the main cost; rates vary by route.

What you will need to budget for

Getting there (bus, train, launch or air fare)
Stay (per night, per room)
Food (per person, per day)
Entry tickets and local transport
A small buffer for the return journey

These are the categories only — enter your own amounts in TravelSplit. We never publish a fare we have not verified.

Plan a trip including this destination

Sources

Kaptai Lake — Wikipedia (encyclopedia, retrieved October 14, 2026)
Apply For Permission — Rangamati Foreigner (জেলা প্রশাসন) (government, retrieved October 16, 2026)
কাপ্তাই লেক — VromonPrio (community map, retrieved October 16, 2026)
Sonar Bangla Express — Wikipedia (encyclopedia, retrieved October 16, 2026)

Something wrong or outdated? Tell us.