Buddha Dhatu Jadi (Golden Temple)
A gleaming Theravada Buddhist temple on a hilltop near Bandarban, built in the Myanmar style and covered in gold.
Known to most visitors as the Golden Temple, Buddha Dhatu Jadi stands on a hilltop at Pulpara near Balaghata, a few kilometres from Bandarban town. Built in the Myanmar style, its gilded stupa, guardian dragons and colourful statues glow in the sunshine against the green hills.
The temple is believed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha and is one of the most important Theravada sites in Bangladesh. A small pond on the hill, known as Debota Pukur, adds to its sense of calm. It is an active place of worship, and visiting hours are limited around prayer and rest times.
How to go
From Bandarban town by CNG or auto-rickshaw towards Balaghata (≈15 min; 150-250 BDT one way), then climb the stairs to the temple.
Where to stay
Hotels in Bandarban town (1,500-5,000 BDT) or resorts in the Meghla area.
