History & Background
The island's name is said to derive from a local legend of a giant fish (mahesh) once caught in its channel. Its most prominent landmark, the Adinath Temple dedicated to Shiva, sits atop Moheshkhali's highest hill and has drawn Hindu pilgrims for centuries, particularly during the Shivratri festival when thousands cross from the mainland. The island also has a distinct Rakhine Buddhist community and is one of Bangladesh's major producers of betel leaf, grown on its low hills.
