Bagdogra to Kathmandu : How difficult?

kshastry · May 24th, 2007, 23:00

OK,north Bengal experts, here is a question for you.

How long a road journey would take from Bagdogra to Kathmandu, and how tough it is? What are the do's and don'ts for Indian nationals entering from W.Bengal side?

I am trying to send my parents (aged 64 and 58) on a pilgrimage trip to Kathmandu. They will be flying to Bagdogra from Kolkata. I am not sure whether its a good idea to put them on Road to Kathmandu from there. They need to get back to India perhaps on the same route.

Please let me know if there are any sane options available OR should I drop this idea altogether.

Thanks,

AvidTrekker · May 25th, 2007, 00:49

The border crossing is at Kakarbhitta.

Its a 14 hour bus journey sometimes becoming 17 to 18 hrs due the bad roads. The buses will rattle every bone in your parents body. I wouldn't send my parents this way, for sure.

If you really want them to go to Kathmandu in comfort, fly them Kolkata to Kathmandu.

Next for comfort, there is a train from Kolkata to Raxaul. Cross the border then bus it to Kathmandu. This road is better and its only a four to five hour ride.

kshastry · May 26th, 2007, 14:05

Thanks AvidTrekker,

What are the options to reach Raxual from Bagdogra? There seems to be no direct trains between the two. How long a taxi trip would take? Are the roads in north Bihar good?

Thanks,

Bhaswaran · May 26th, 2007, 14:12

No need to reach Raxaul. From Bagdogra, the panitanki border is nearby and you can enter Nepal and board the overnight buses to Kathmandu from there.

But, as you are going to Bagdogra from Kolkata by air, why not spend a few extra and go directly to Kathmandu by air? That will be less tiring.

The road journey from WB border - into Nepal - to Kathmandu has the hasseles of checking multiple times in the middle of night by Nepal Police.

Bhaswaran · May 26th, 2007, 14:15

If you want to go through the Raxaul route, then there is a direct train from Howrah (Kolkata) to Raxaul. The Mithila Express starts from Howrah at around 16:30 and reaches Raxaul at around 8:30 (check exact timings). From there you can cross border and get bus to Kathmandu, as said by Avidtrekker.

kshastry · May 26th, 2007, 18:01

Thanks Bhaswaran for this informative reply. Alas, I knew earlier. I had already booked tickets on a LCC and hate to loose those money by cancelling. The tickets on direct IC weren't cheaper. So, I thought to fly them half the way in LCC till Bagdogra. I was (mis)informed by an aquiantance that crossings from North Bengal are easy and comfortable (you see its for my parents), where one can reach Kathmandu in about 10 hours. Looks like its about 17 hours journey!

I am taking the help of a local travel agent to book a taxi/car for them to reach Kathmandu from Bagdogra. I wanted to know which route has the best asphalted and less troublesome road.

If one does this by a Taxi from India (say through Kakarbitta, day time, how many hours would it take to reach Kathmandu? Is there a place to break the journey in between if its too long?

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 20:59

there is another option - i have travelled this way many times. From Kakarvhitta, your parents can go to Bhadrapur where they can get a fight to Kathmandu - there are many flights daily. they would be unable to get the same vehicle all the way from Bagdogra to Kathmandu, they would have to travel in a Nepali vehicle from the border at Kakarvhitta. In addition to police checks, there is the risk of strikes which would delay their journey.

Border crossing for Indian nationals is no problem - but they should have ID papers.

As i mentioned, i have travelled this way many times, when I was living in Kathmandu and visiting family in Darjeeling and Siliguri.

good luck

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 21:01

PS - we used to use a travel agent in Kakarvhitta - i will try and remember the name if that is useful......

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 21:04

ooops - just noticed, i hope i havent caused distress by suggesting your parents get a fight!! I hope it is clear that I meant flight!! the drive to Bhadrapur is less than an hour

kshastry · May 26th, 2007, 21:53

Hi Cool Blue, Please let me know the details of the travel agent of Nepal if you remember him. Thanks!

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 22:19

sure - i remember it is NEW something - new Jaya travels?? Leave it with me and i am sure it will come back to me in the middle of the night!! They are really really helpful. (especially if I can remember what they are called!!)

kshastry · May 26th, 2007, 22:27

And what type of vehicles one can get for hire in Nepal? Can I hope to get "Indica" or a "Qualis" type?

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 22:48

ah - sorry i am a female and only know vehicles by their colour! Do you mean in Kathmandu itself or for travel to Ktm?

saajan_20 · May 26th, 2007, 23:15

why dont you try buddha airlines last time when i was in darjeeling @bagdogra there were quite a few airlines for kathmandu from bagdogra

maybe i might be wrong shall do a internet check about the same

cool blue · May 26th, 2007, 23:25

kathmandu from bagdogra? I think you have to cross the border to Bhadrapur. As far as I know, Bagdogra doesnt have an international immigration... But I am very happy to be corrected. I think Buddha only flies internally within Nepal (it is my favourite airline in the world...)

May 24th, 2007, 23:00	#1
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129	Bagdogra to Kathmandu : How difficult? OK,north Bengal experts, here is a question for you. How long a road journey would take from Bagdogra to Kathmandu, and how tough it is? What are the do's and don'ts for Indian nationals entering from W.Bengal side? I am trying to send my parents (aged 64 and 58) on a pilgrimage trip to Kathmandu. They will be flying to Bagdogra from Kolkata. I am not sure whether its a good idea to put them on Road to Kathmandu from there. They need to get back to India perhaps on the same route. Please let me know if there are any sane options available OR should I drop this idea altogether. Thanks,

May 25th, 2007, 00:49	#2
AvidTrekker Veda Chanting & Mantra Yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,784	Kakarbhitta The border crossing is at Kakarbhitta. Its a 14 hour bus journey sometimes becoming 17 to 18 hrs due the bad roads. The buses will rattle every bone in your parents body. I wouldn't send my parents this way, for sure. If you really want them to go to Kathmandu in comfort, fly them Kolkata to Kathmandu. Next for comfort, there is a train from Kolkata to Raxaul. Cross the border then bus it to Kathmandu. This road is better and its only a four to five hour ride. __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

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May 26th, 2007, 14:05	#3
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129	Thanks AvidTrekker, What are the options to reach Raxual from Bagdogra? There seems to be no direct trains between the two. How long a taxi trip would take? Are the roads in north Bihar good? Thanks,

May 26th, 2007, 14:12	#4
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 965	No need to reach Raxaul. From Bagdogra, the panitanki border is nearby and you can enter Nepal and board the overnight buses to Kathmandu from there. But, as you are going to Bagdogra from Kolkata by air, why not spend a few extra and go directly to Kathmandu by air? That will be less tiring. The road journey from WB border - into Nepal - to Kathmandu has the hasseles of checking multiple times in the middle of night by Nepal Police.

May 26th, 2007, 14:15	#5
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 965	If you want to go through the Raxaul route, then there is a direct train from Howrah (Kolkata) to Raxaul. The Mithila Express starts from Howrah at around 16:30 and reaches Raxaul at around 8:30 (check exact timings). From there you can cross border and get bus to Kathmandu, as said by Avidtrekker.

May 26th, 2007, 18:01	#6
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129	Thanks Bhaswaran for this informative reply. Alas, I knew earlier. I had already booked tickets on a LCC and hate to loose those money by cancelling. The tickets on direct IC weren't cheaper. So, I thought to fly them half the way in LCC till Bagdogra. I was (mis)informed by an aquiantance that crossings from North Bengal are easy and comfortable (you see its for my parents), where one can reach Kathmandu in about 10 hours. Looks like its about 17 hours journey! I am taking the help of a local travel agent to book a taxi/car for them to reach Kathmandu from Bagdogra. I wanted to know which route has the best asphalted and less troublesome road. If one does this by a Taxi from India (say through Kakarbitta, day time, how many hours would it take to reach Kathmandu? Is there a place to break the journey in between if its too long?

May 26th, 2007, 20:59	#7
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	there is another option - i have travelled this way many times. From Kakarvhitta, your parents can go to Bhadrapur where they can get a fight to Kathmandu - there are many flights daily. they would be unable to get the same vehicle all the way from Bagdogra to Kathmandu, they would have to travel in a Nepali vehicle from the border at Kakarvhitta. In addition to police checks, there is the risk of strikes which would delay their journey. Border crossing for Indian nationals is no problem - but they should have ID papers. As i mentioned, i have travelled this way many times, when I was living in Kathmandu and visiting family in Darjeeling and Siliguri. good luck

May 26th, 2007, 21:01	#8
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	PS - we used to use a travel agent in Kakarvhitta - i will try and remember the name if that is useful......

May 26th, 2007, 21:04	#9
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	ooops - just noticed, i hope i havent caused distress by suggesting your parents get a fight!! I hope it is clear that I meant flight!! the drive to Bhadrapur is less than an hour

May 26th, 2007, 21:53	#10
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129	Hi Cool Blue, Please let me know the details of the travel agent of Nepal if you remember him. Thanks!

May 26th, 2007, 22:19	#11
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	sure - i remember it is NEW something - new Jaya travels?? Leave it with me and i am sure it will come back to me in the middle of the night!! They are really really helpful. (especially if I can remember what they are called!!)

May 26th, 2007, 22:27	#12
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 129	And what type of vehicles one can get for hire in Nepal? Can I hope to get "Indica" or a "Qualis" type?

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May 26th, 2007, 22:48	#13
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	ah - sorry i am a female and only know vehicles by their colour! Do you mean in Kathmandu itself or for travel to Ktm?

May 26th, 2007, 23:15	#14
saajan_20 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: bombay {mumbai} Posts: 322	why dont you try buddha airlines last time when i was in darjeeling @bagdogra there were quite a few airlines for kathmandu from bagdogra maybe i might be wrong shall do a internet check about the same

May 26th, 2007, 23:25	#15
cool blue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 133	kathmandu from bagdogra? I think you have to cross the border to Bhadrapur. As far as I know, Bagdogra doesnt have an international immigration... But I am very happy to be corrected. I think Buddha only flies internally within Nepal (it is my favourite airline in the world...)