Serene ‘Shapla Beel’ at the backwaters of Zinda Park

I was on a dinghy. Sitting at the edge of the boat with my eyes closed, my face was being washed by drizzle. The young boy paddling the boat plucked a white lotus and offered me his appreciation for that particular moment in time that we shared.

It was not a dream but a dream-like reality I experienced when I went to the Shapla/Poddo Beel (the water lily and lotus pond) at the backwaters of Zinda Park. I heard about the ethereal beauty of this beel and saw many enticing videos and reels but nothing compared to the beauty of the pond dotted with pink, white and red lotuses and lilies.

There are many such waterbodies throughout the country but the one I visited was in the suburbs of Dhaka, crossing the expressway that connects Purbachal to Dhaka and takes you to the back of Zinda Park.

It takes around an hour to reach the destination provided you stop in the farmer's market lined by the road, otherwise, it is a short ride from the 300 feet expressway.

The winding roads of this small, urban village have an old Kali temple sheltered under the big aerial roots of a banyan tree. The goddess, with a burning red tikka or dot on her forehead, seems indomitable, ruling over her surroundings.

The village road leads you to a small tea stall placed on a Y-junction just as you cross the temple. The curve of the road leads you to a crooked old bridge but the beautiful blooms in almost all village ponds make for a surreal scene. Crossing the bridge by foot, because that is where the cars need to stop, you come across a lush carpet of green grass.

The park benches and canopies are there for you to rest but I suggest you walk a little further until you come to a broken pier where all the small boats are roped in. The boatmen, young boys hardly passed their teens, take you as far as you want to go for Tk 300 per hour.

The serenity, the colours of shapla and poddo, and rain-drenched nature give you a feeling like no other. It soothes your body and calms your mind, takes you beyond the chaotic reality of everyday life.

This beautiful scene is at its best during monsoon. Although early mornings are the best time to enjoy the scenes, few hours before dusk is also a romantic setting. The golden light of the setting sun peeking through the rain-washed sky makes for the best Instagrammble shot.