Chimbuk Hill

Bandarban's pioneer viewpoint Where Bangladesh's highest road begins its climb.

Long before Nilgiri and Sajek captured the spotlight, Chimbuk Hill—also known locally as Kala Pahar—was the destination that first earned Bandarban its "Darjeeling of Bangladesh" nickname. Located about 26 km from Bandarban town, Chimbuk sits at approximately 2,500 feet above sea level, making it the third-highest hill in the district by most local accounts, though modern GPS surveys (PeakVisor) place the peak itself closer to 890 metres (roughly 2,920 ft). At the summit, a staircase descends to Nab Chatwar, a open square offering a full 180-degree panorama of the surrounding valley, river, and settlements.

Chimbuk's road is part of its legend: a winding, spiralling route often described as the highest paved road in Bangladesh at the time it was built, passing the Sangu River and Mro hillside settlements along the way. The hill's popularity has faded somewhat as newer, more developed viewpoints like Nilgiri have opened nearby, and there's no hotel directly at Chimbuk itself—travelers typically visit as a stop en route to Nilgiri rather than an overnight destination, though a Deputy Commissioner-supervised resthouse is available with prior permission.