Villages rise like islands in the monsoon: Natore's Halti Beel, dubbed the 'mini Cox's Bazar of North Bengal'

When the monsoon arrives, the face of Halti Beel in Natore changes completely. Amid water stretching in every direction, village after village rises like small islands; from a distance, they look like little green pieces floating on a vast sheet of water. Boats moving here and there, roads submerged elsewhere — Halti Beel is the place to go to see this monsoon landscape.

The beel is located in Naldanga upazila, about 10 kilometres north of Natore town. In the rainy season, much of the Patul-Khajura road goes under water; road and beel then merge into one remarkable scene.

Tourists travel from across the country to Halti Beel in the monsoon to see this side of nature. Many call the spot the 'mini Cox's Bazar of North Bengal'. Along the Patul-Khajura road, a signboard reading 'Patul Mini Cox's Bazar' comes into view, and the beel's beauty can be enjoyed from there. Visitors can also tour the water by boat.

Halti Beel's beauty is not limited to the monsoon, however. The rural surroundings of the beel can be enjoyed at other times of the year as well. But when the water rises in the rains, the beel's expanse and the island-like villages are at their most striking.

Getting there: Natore can be reached from Dhaka by bus or train. Bus operators such as Green Line, Hanif, Shyamoli and National Travels run regularly, and Rajshahi-bound buses also stop at Natore. Those travelling by train should check the schedule and ticket information for Dhaka-to-Natore trains in advance.

From Natore town, Halti Beel can be reached by CNG-run auto-rickshaw; the trip from town takes roughly 30 minutes.

For an overnight stay, Natore town has residential hotels of various standards, including VIP Hotel, Hotel RP and Hotel Millat. Travellers can choose according to budget and facilities; booking ahead is advisable on holidays.

A trip to Natore also offers local food. Restaurants in town serve rice, fish, meat and many other dishes, and between sightseeing stops, visitors can taste Natore's famous kachagolla sweets at local sweet shops.