Bongaon Villa: a true agro-tourism centre

If you like the idea of putting together your own meal by picking vegetables from a field and catching fish from a nearby pond, then you would love to visit Bongaon Villa, an agro-tourism centre situated in Bhaluka of Mymensingh.

From rice to oil, spices and other ingredients, all the materials required to make a delicious feast are available at the resort.

Although there are other agro-tourism spots in the country, Bongaon Villa provides a unique experience for those who truly enjoy such activities, visitors wrote in its comment book.

What sets Bongaon Villa apart from other agro-tourism spots is that visitors can even plough the field with a tractor and then sow seeds to facilitate future harvests.

When you get tired, a glass of mango or sugarcane juice is only a short walk away and after a quick refreshment break, visitors can return to the field.

And based on the season, the travellers themselves can pick the sugarcane or mangoes required for their drink.

"People who have an idea about agro-tourism are rare in our country, but I have dreamt of it since my childhood," said Moin Al Kashem, owner of Bongaon Villa.

"I initially built the villa for my own pleasure, but then decided to open it to the public so that other people could enjoy it as well," he added.

Bongaon Villa features a top class kitchen where visitors can cook their meals with help from the staff.

"This way, travellers can get the taste of a different kind of tourism," Kashem said, adding that there are a number of barbeque stoves and pizza ovens at the resort.

Besides, the Bongaon Villa Farm Stand is a modern shop complete with all the cooking essentials and it is conveniently placed near the kitchen.

And it goes without saying that a coffee vending machine can be found almost every time you turn a corner at the agro-tourism centre.

"I did such an arrangement to ensure self-catering service, which is very popular abroad. People go to a spot and cook their own dish but such an idea is yet to evolve in our country," Kashem said.

However, the villa has a chef on hand for anyone who wants their meals prepared for them.

After catching fish and picking vegetables that go with the curry in mind, cooking it yourself can provide a sense of mental peace.

"In addition, the vividly coloured vegetables and fresh fish give any curry a delicious taste than anyone can definitely enjoy," he added.

There are two honeycomb shades beside the mustard plot, so guests will be treated to their gentle buzzing whenever they walk along the villa's wooden walkways. The tourist spot has a football field, badminton court and an area for table tennis to meet the peoples' entertainment needs.

Visitors can also enjoy quality time with their significant others on a boat in the pond.

"It is a good place to live for a while for one or two families at a time," said Kashem, who is managing director and chief executive officer of Prime Finance Asset Management.

"I invested almost all my money in the villa to make my dream true," he added.

The list of facilities goes on though as guests are treated to artwork in almost every inch of the villa, which features a wooden veranda, ghat and three open cottages as well.

It costs about Tk 8,000 to rent the villa for a single day and although complimentary breakfast is included, purchasing other meals will add to the bill.

The villa has a dining tent that has all the required equipment to set up a buffet for about 50 guests so corporate retreats or family outings can be arranged.

Agro-tourism is in a nascent position in the country but the authorities are trying to boost it since foreign tourists love this kind of vacation, according to Md Rafeuzzaman, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh.

"They don't want to live in a five-star hotel here. Instead, they want to enjoy the country's real rural nature," he said.

Agro-tourism could be one of Bangladesh's major attractions since all the requisite elements are readily available.

The country may have trouble breaking into the market though as it was previously grabbed by Thailand and Indonesia, where mainly European tourists rush every year.

"Still though, our rural culture is much more primitive and this makes it attractive," Rafeuzzaman added.

There are now several agro-tourism spots in Bangladesh but the number is still too low.

Thikana, an agro-tourism centre situated in Dhaka's Badda, is already attracting people though with is lush flower gardens. In Chattogram, another agro-tourism spot called Mati'ta is now open for people.

An agro-tourism spot named Orange Valley is available in Thakurgaon, where people are allowed to pluck oranges from the trees by their own hand.

"In my valley, people can see the colourful orange trees and they are allowed to pluck and eat them," said Abu Zahed Mohammad Ebnul Ekram, owner of Orange Valley.

"As the Darjeeling orange trees are big, people can walk under them, taste the sweet fruit and enjoy the scenery," he added.