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The Glossary

jamidari or zamindar - "an official who collects taxes from the peasants."

From Bangladesh Glossary

Far from the claustrophobic vibe of the bustling Dhaka, Sylhet is more expansive and beautiful, with the sweep of green that embraces this division. Sitting auspiciously on the lap of the Surma Valley amid tropical forests and rolling terrain of tea plantations, Sylhet shatters the monotony of the land and is considered to be called as a top attraction in Bangladesh.

Its local GNP may seem to solely rely from the income of the tea estates but today, much of the land is also used as a good investment for real estate such as condominiums, hotels and malls owned mostly by expatriates from London. Aside from acres of terraced tea gardens, the town is also known for its rice fields and the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal, the man responsible for bringing Islam to the region in the 14th century.

After meandering around the aromatic tea plantations and sampling the tea, visitors can explore the wild side of Sylhet by taking the trails to its dense jungle which houses several species of wildlife. Slow lorins, pig-tailed macaques, capped langurs, masked civets and orange bellied Himalayan squirrels are a delight to see in their natural habitat. All these creatures and more can be found in the Lawachara National Park whose 160 species of flora and 246 varieties of bird life are staggering.

The forest is also the home to the Manipuri tribal maidens known to Sylhet to have their own set of age-old rites and rituals and for performing a mythological love dance during the festivals of Rash Leela and Doljatra. The region comes alive during this time with all the young ladies participating in their colorful ensemble and dancing gaily among other aboriginal tribes like the Garos, Tipperas and Khasis.

Before returning home, visitors should check out the handicrafts made solely by the natives of Sylhet, such as tea trays, bags and the famous sital pati, a kind of mattress with natural cooling effect.

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