Snake Charmers Village of Ghuradia, Bangladesh

by | Jan 18, 2011 | Bangladesh 2009-12 | 8 comments

 

Don't duck!

For those looking for a day trip out of Dhaka with a difference, Ghuradia is the place to go.  It’s only a few kilometres from Savar and offers beautiful rural scenery as well as the chance to watch a snake charmer work his magic on a deadly cobra or python.  Fees for the shows are highly negotiable – aim for aroun Tk 1,000 – and they last around 20 minutes.  The village of Ghuradia is inhabited by a number of Badhi river gypsies, who are believed to have magical powers as snake charmers and are frequently deployed to remove snakes from homes.  Although it is believed that the snakes used in the shows have been defanged, it would be wise to remain a safe distance at all times – no matter how tempted you may feel!  The ethics of snake charming are dubious, but it’s an ancient art nonetheless.  You decide…

 

Cobra

Snake charming

Dried snake skin in the crops - perhaps a scarecrow for snakes?

Too close? Never!

8 Comments

  1. Sanna
    Sanna on January 23, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Hi
    I found your blog from a link on Wikipedia. I have recently moved to Bangladesh and I must say you take amazing pictures. I have borrowed two pics from you from your post on Bishwa Ijtema 2010. I have linked to you, and pls let me know if you want me to take them away.
    //S

    • Jessica Mudditt
      Jessica Mudditt on January 31, 2011 at 1:04 pm

      hey, no problem at all. your blog is beautiful and i’m pleased to have my pics on it!! hope you enjoy bangladesh. i’m back in melbourne visiting my family – i’m missing all the action already!! take care, jessica

  2. Laisa Taga
    Laisa Taga on June 1, 2011 at 5:59 am

    Jessica
    Bula vinaka. My name is Laisa Taga and I work for Islands Business magazine. We’re based in Suva, Fiji. We have just been awarded the tender to resurrect the Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ inflight magazine, to be renamed as Balaka. It is used to be Diganto. It has not been produced for several years now.
    I accidentally stumbled on to your website and saw that you have written a number of stories on Bangladesh. Would you be interested in contributing to the inflight magazine?
    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Kind regards
    Laisa

  3. dr m ashraful kabir
    dr m ashraful kabir on January 5, 2015 at 11:00 am

    not fun with poisonous snakes! its previous record is completely bad. always keep antivenom for different harmful snakes.

  4. Tasin
    Tasin on December 14, 2015 at 8:06 am

    Hello Jessica.Would you please tell me how to go to Ghuradia??
    The pictures you have snapped are really amazing!
    I hope that it would be a good journey..

    • Jessica Mudditt
      Jessica Mudditt on December 18, 2015 at 2:18 am

      Hi Tasin. i took a bus once and a friend had a driver the second time. it takes about two hours from Dhaka but it’s worth it – hope you make the journey 🙂 Jess

    • Tasin
      Tasin on December 20, 2015 at 7:18 am

      Thanks Jessica 😊…
      I am glad that you replied 😊. And yes I hope that I could make it. You’ll always be welcomed in Bangladesh.

    • Jessica Mudditt
      Jessica Mudditt on December 22, 2015 at 4:11 am

      Thanks Tasin 🙂 All the best to you!

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  1. List of articles about Bangladesh « Jessica Mudditt's Blog - [...] 15. Snake Charmers Village of Ghuradia, Bangladesh, The Weekend Independent Magazine, December 2010 [...]