Guliakhali Beach

Guliakhali, sometimes called Muradpur beach, is a relatively quiet stretch of sand in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district, where the Sangu River meets the Bay of Bengal. The setting feels wonderfully unspoilt compared with Bangladesh's busier coastal resorts, offering a gentle blend of sea, river and greenery within easy reach of the city.

The beach itself is known for its soft sand, green meadow areas and mangrove-fringed river estuary. A broad sandbank stretches out to the water, while at low tide shallow pools form along the shore. Local boats offer rides across the river mouth, giving visitors a chance to experience the meeting point of fresh and salt water from the water itself.

Guliakhali is popular with day-trippers from Chattogram city, and it sits conveniently close to the Chandranath Hill temple climb, making it easy to combine a beach visit with a hill trek. The river banks are dotted with small shacks serving tea and snacks, lending the place a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, particularly in the calm dry season.

The beach is also near Bashbaria beach, another quiet alternative further along the coast. In the late afternoon the sky often lights up over the Bay of Bengal, and the area is best treated as a one- to two-hour stop, or a leisurely half-day when paired with Sitakunda Eco Park or a Chandranath excursion.

Guliakhali sits within Sitakunda upazila, an area long associated with Hindu pilgrimage sites and coastal trade routes in Chattogram district. Its position where the Sangu River empties into the Bay of Bengal has made the estuary a natural landmark for generations of local fishermen and boatmen.

Although the beach remains largely undeveloped compared with Bangladesh's headline resorts, it has grown in recent years as a popular stop for visitors travelling between Chattogram city, Sitakunda town and the Chandranath Hill trekking route. The name Muradpur is still used interchangeably with Guliakhali by many returning travellers.

The dry season from October to March offers the calmest seas, the most comfortable temperatures and the clearest skies. This is when the beach is most rewarding for sunset, photography and relaxed riverside wandering.

Late afternoon is widely considered the prime time of day at Guliakhali, when the sun sets over the Bay of Bengal and the tide begins to recede, exposing broad sandbanks and shallow tidal pools along the shore.

The monsoon season brings rough seas and stronger currents at the river mouth, making swimming unwise and the boat rides less appealing. Travellers are advised to plan around the drier months for a safer, more comfortable visit.