Netrokona is a land of water, clay, and melancholy songs. A large part of the district falls within the Haor basin, specifically the Dingapota Haor. During the monsoon, the roads end, and the world becomes water. The villages float like islands, and the primary mode of transport is the boat. This aquatic lifestyle has given birth to some of the most soul-stirring folk music in Bengal. Netrokona is the home of the legendary baul mystic Ukil Munshi and the folk poet Jalal Uddin Khan. Their songs about the fleeting nature of life and the pain of separation are sung by boatmen and farmers across the region. If you sit at a tea stall in Netrokona, sooner or later, someone will start humming a Bhatiali tune.
The visual highlight of the district is Birishiri in Durgapur. It is unlike anywhere else in Bangladesh. Here, the Someshwari River flows with water that turns a stunning shade of turquoise blue in the winter. The river runs past the China Matir Pahar, or the hills of white china clay. The contrast of the blue water, the white hills, and the green trees creates a landscape that looks almost alien. Visitors flock here to take boat rides on the clear water and climb the ceramic hills. It is also a hub for the Garo and Hajong indigenous communities. The Tribal Cultural Academy in Birishiri works to preserve their unique heritage, dances, and languages.
Netrokona is also famous for a culinary giant: the Balish Mishti. The name translates to 'Pillow Sweet,' and it is accurate. The sweet is massive, shaped like a bolster pillow, and can weigh up to a kilogram or more. It is coated in sugar syrup and milk solids. Eating a Balish Mishti is a challenge that requires a group effort. It is a symbol of the district's hospitality. The district has produced some of the country's most famous writers, including Humayun Ahmed, whose childhood memories of this region feature heavily in his literature. Netrokona is rustic, raw, and incredibly scenic. It is a place where the blue hills of India look over the blue waters of the Someshwari, and the air is always filled with music.