Birishiri

Birishiri, properly the area around Durgapur in Netrokona, sits on the Someshwari river below the Garo hills of the Indian border, and its draw is the china clay: the banks and bed have been dug for white ceramic clay for decades, and the pits and the river fill with water that takes a milky turquoise colour against the white ground, strongest in the dry season. The Someshwari itself runs clear over sand with the hills behind, crossed by country boats. The area is home to Garo and Hajong communities with their own churches, a cultural academy in Birishiri village, and a Hajong resistance memorial. The road in is long and rough, which keeps numbers down relative to the photographs.

What you actually see

• Turquoise water in white clay pits - the colour the area is known for.
• The Someshwari river - clear water over sand below the hills.
• Garo and Hajong communities - the cultures of the border strip.
• The Garo hills behind - the Indian range rising over the river.

When to go

November to March, when the water is clearest and the colour strongest. A day, or overnight given the journey. The road from Mymensingh is long and rough.

Honest expectations

The famous colour is a product of clay extraction, and the digging is ongoing and visible. The journey is long and uncomfortable. Facilities are basic. The most photographed pits change as digging moves.

Nearby

Durgapur is the base; the Garo hills rise across the border.