The newly built Rama Jadi (pagoda) in Bandarban's Rowangchhari upazila has become the latest tourist spot in the district.

Founded by U Pannya Jota Thera, locally known as Guru Bante, the 108-foot-high pagoda is one of the highest Buddhist temples in the country.

Many Buddhist devotees and hundreds of tourists from different parts of the country visit the Pagoda every day to enjoy the beauty of the temple and its surrounding landscape.

It took nearly twelve years to create its splendid beauty since its construction work began in 2005, said the temple authority.

Located in Bandarban-Rowangchhari road, adopting Arakanese architecture, the temple was opened for all recently.

About three kilometres from the district town and surrounded by the lush green trees of the forest, the temple can be an oasis of solitude far away from the maddening crowd of the city life in future.

Surrounding the Rama Jadi there are more 27 small pagodas, which are about 15-foot high.

"The magnificent architectural design of the temple enhances its beauty," said Shawkat Islam, a tourist from Dhaka, expressing his satisfaction.

Admiring the panoramic beauty of Bandarban, Sadia Afrin, a visitor from Chittagong, said Bandarban has a great potential to boost the tourism industry.

Its founder U Pannya Jota Thera is also the founder and chief monk of Golden Temple, the largest Theravada Buddhist Temple with the second largest Buddha statue in Bangladesh.

U Pannya Jota Thera said, like the Golden Temple, Rama Jadi will also play an important role in flourishing tourism in Bangladesh.