India to Bangladesh

Swe_Mats

Hello Everyone!
I spend my day at the local libary trying to get some information about Dareeling, and I saw that you could cross the border from india ti Bangladesh from New Jalpaiguri, or near NJP...
"Train from NJP to Haldibari (RS 20, two hour) 7 km walk to Bangladesh borderpoint Chilahati"

It was an old edition from 2000, so I am not sure if it is possible to cross here anymore... But anyone who has tries? Or somebody who knows a bit more about this?

thansk

zoltan

It's my understanding that there are 2 (maybe more), border crossings that you can go into/out from India /Bangladesh.

The best person to ask would be Mahmud. If you don't hear from him in the next couple of days, send him a PM and point to this link. If he can reply publicly, it may assist more people who may be contemplating the same route.

Cheers
Zoltan

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machadinha

I've asked Mahmud about it on this board a while ago. He suggested all Bangladeshi-Indian border crossings should be open now to foreigners (as in non-Indians; what brought it up was the suggestion by him and some others that for Indians it's basically not a problem anymore, and I'm happy to believe that. Although even there I wonder if it couldn't be a matter of being from the immediate region.)

Which I thought was interesting and cheerful news; I just wonder if it is so to all foreigners at all those crossings in practice.

Mats, I reckon if anything the situation should be improving, not deteriorating. But I wouldn't hold your hopes up either. To my knowledge Kolkata-Dhaka should be and has long been pretty straightforward (and is said to have been much improved, or traffic-wise anyway, crossing there has been OK for a long time I think). Zoltan's been to Bangladesh himself for that matter, I believe, not sure if this was from or to India. From the NE, I just don't know. I understand there's a major crossing point near Shillong. There must be many minor ones. The traditional tales go something like it's a matter of luck and what officer you find yourself dealing with. I'd be happy to hear that is really all over though. But I'd like to see some more reports to confirm it first; so far I haven't.

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Beena450

How does one go about buying a ticket for this train? I'm planning on going to Bangladesh for 3 weeks at the end of this month and would love to experience the train. Also does anyone know how long a visa for a British passport holder would take in Kolkata.


Thanks for any help.

Umbreen

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Swe_Mats

Hmm, there is a tread somewhere here on IM about the Train from Kolata to Dhaka, can't find it right now though. I suppose it departs from the central station in Kolkata. Anyone who knows?

Swe_Mats

found it..
Moitree Express - train to Bangladesh

mahmud

Hi Umbreen, please try to avoid trin as it takes more than 13 hours (The boaring thiing is to spend 4-5 hours at the border). Rather take Kolkta-Dhaka air con bus (From Marcuis Street). You will enjoy the journey.

saiful

Hello Umbreen,

Thanks for your post. I believe that You should not miss the historical India-Bangladesh train journey, it takes 02 hours extra time of bus journey, though it will enjoyable.

1. You can purchase your ticket from Chitpur station
2. BD visa from Kolkata takes two days only, submit today, receive tomorrow

Thanks,
Saiful