kolkata - sikkim - varanasi - puri - bangladesh

Hi

Completely impossible in the 2 weeks I will have, I know, but how far round it could I get?

Looking to spend 3 full days in Kolkata, beyond that Puri is the lowest priority.

Planning to go late March.

Any thoughts on any sights or worthwhile places near any of these centres also appreciated.

Plenty of info around on Sikkim, so am just wondering about timeframes really.

What would you do in 2 weeks?

Paul

Hang around Kolkata, probably Sidetrip to Dhaka & Sundarbans springs to mind. Bit of countryside in the vicinity just for the hell of it. (There should be some good and undervisited temple towns in the wider area; look for Jorge Reverter's posts, he's toured West Bengal extensively I believe.)

I'm sorry, I'm sort of pulling your leg. But not entirely so, really.

Surely others will be in to suit your planned itinerary.

I was hoping for some others to add to this. I think with your choice of kolkata - sikkim - varanasi - puri - bangladesh, I'd opt for either Kolkata-Sikkim-(possibly Darjeeling and surroundings; or maybe a trip to Jaldapara park; or maybe even to Guwahati and Kaziranga); or Kolkata-Dhaka-(possibly include Sundurbans in either West Bengal or Bangladesh)-Varanasi. Maybe Puri could be thrown into either mix, but may already be pushing it.

I find it hard to advise, and these short trips always strike me as pretty hectic anyway. But these are my couple of cents.

Hi Machadinha
Thanks for your thoughts. Seems this one wasn't popular!

You're right I guess. The options split cleanly between Kolk and Sikkim, and Kolk and Bangladesh. Varanasi could be tacked onto either.

I've had a look at Bangladesh in the guidebooks. I'd have to fly to Dhaka for one of the ways I guess. Sundurbans sound interesting but will they match the hills?

Main draw of Bangladesh to be honest is that fewer people go there!

Paul

I've not done it (yet), but I think Dhaka is a not terribly long busride from Kolkata? My outdated guidebook isn't very clear on it, but seems to indicate something like 15 hrs. including somewhat complicated border procedures; from what I've been hearing, crossing the border that way should be pretty straightforward these days, so probably swifter. Don't forget to check out the precise visa stipulations.

What attracts me to Bangladesh is it's said to be something like an India minus all the tourists yes (daftly put; it's also an entirely different country, of course). Friends have spoken highly of the country. It's also and for that reason a little more demanding on the DIY-traveler I guess, esp. going off the track; but likewise and for that same reason rewarding, I hear. Keep an eye on the current safety situation politically, of course.

Sundarbans I've also yet to visit; I reckon it and the hills will be two completely different experiences, indeed. I'd try and include both if you can. I suppose the Sundarbans are by nature not so terribly easy to get to, and it'd be worth staying there for some days. There are boat (and bus, I think) tours there from Kolkata, you'd need to plan this well and in advance I guess, but it's doable.

Again, Jorge among others has reported on it, see for instance West Bengal , but there are other posts I think (search also for Sunderbans), Sundurbans, and then some, no doubt). Look up also Why Bangladesh ? & that member's other posts, he's from there.

Hello Paul,
Wow what an itinerary!!!
Anyways, here's my take on your tour plan: Since you'll be here only for two weeks, I'd suggest that you concentrate on the Kolkata-Sunderbans-Kolkata-Darjeeling-Kolkata circuit. The Sunderbans are alltogether a different experince and definitely worth a look.
I have heard that the Bangladesh side of Sunderbans is denser but not sure how things are there after Sidr, the super-cyclone, wrecked the coast last November. The Indian side has remained untouched, so no problems here.
The Sunderbans tour is basically a river cruise with occasional nightstays at cottages. And charting your way through the eerie mangrove channels is quite an experience. Here are a couple of links: http://www.sunderbancruises.com and http://www.sunderbantigercamp.com.
The first option admittedly is costly, but I think you can haggle with them a bit . The vessel looks quite grand and the cruise FROM Kolkata seems to be the clincher.
The second option is pocket friendly and I think the 2N3D thing is quite doable. One advice: Have some heavy anti-mosquito ammo ready! In case you forget to pack that, buy some Odomos cream from any Calcutta pharmacy - works fine for a few hours.
After that, you can head to the north - I can't advise you on Sikkim - never been there, but if you want, you can do the Darjeeling circuit.
In fact, I am planning a trip to Darjeeling in April and here's what I have in mind:
Won't actually stay in Darjeeling. I prefer Ghoom which is the highest railway station on the DHR route. No-frills homestay in the relatively quiet hill-junction. It will be my base during the trip.
Explore the DHR route - I am a train freak after all . I'll include: Kurseong, Batasia Loop etc.
Visit Darjeeling for rum and pork balls at Glenary's and watch the sunset.
A day each for Kalimpong, Mirik
Short trek to Sandakphu - will eat up a couple of days.
Stay at old wooden Raj-era bungalows [http://wbfdc.com/] in the tiger reserves located at the foothills of Himalaya.
Wrap the tour off with exploring back of the beyond Cooch Behar town. They have a great royal palace over there. Plus, they have a double-decker bus tour around the dusty smalltown for tourists. Oh did I say I am double-decker freak too !
Cheers

Hi All
Thanks for the replies and scuse the absence.
For a while I scrapped the idea of going to India (was there in last December so q recent) and was considering Ghana.
I've changed my mind again and am heading to Kolkata for 16 days. Itinerary ideas welcome.

Paul

Hmm.. I actually plan to make a trip like this, next year.

I'm waiting until next year due to the political situation in Bangladesh, it's not good now with an army-backed interim government, elections are supposed to be near the end of the year

The long talked about train from Kolkata to Dhaka won't be running by the time you go. A bus to Dhaka is about 10 hours from what I've read. The train would actually take longer!
This is because it is quite a distance really, and the customs at border is minimum 2 hrs, needlessly long and inefficient.
If you travel by buses, you might be able to see Puri/Bhubaneshwar for a weekend, the trip is probably 6-8 hrs.
Varanasi is really far to the west of Kolkata, I don't know how you could do it, unless you spent no time in Kolkata and flew there. You could get to Sikkim if you travel across Bangladesh, but with two weeks, how will you get back? That area seems too far out of the way. My planned trip (March 2009?) is this:
Kolkata (5 days)
Bus to Puri (day)
Puri, Bhubaneshwar (3 days)
Bus to Kolkata, overnight Kolkata (day)
Bus to Dhaka, in Dhaka by evening (?) 1 full day
Dhaka, Khulna, Jessore, all by bus or taxi (2-3 days)

That's two weeks! If you take trains it will be incredibly slow, more expensive, and you would have had to reserve tickets last month... I always give myself a day for travel, then time in each place accordingly

Hi!

Excellent! You should definetly go to Bangladesh while you are close by. I have just returned home after a year working there - and I loved it!!

However, its not as easy to travel around as India (few people speak English and not many tourists around), but the people are wonderful and you will see some amazing, if not eye popping things! I reckon its best to focus on few things.. my favourites were
* the rocket from Khulna to Dhaka
* the sunderbans
* hanging out in crazy dhaka (make sure you go to the liberation war museum)
* riding on the top of buses
* returning back to dhaka on the train from srimongal (tea area) and smelling it before actually reaching it!

The bus from Kolkata is great (well the Bangers side is - best bus I have ever been on. People help you through immigration and get special bideshi (foreigner) treatment. Takes somewhere between 12 and 15 hours depending on traffic.

Have fun!!

Kolkata to Dhaka New Passeger Train service is due
to Start from 14th April this year. watch out
for further informatinos on Tickets , Timings etc.

If you have more time in W. Bengal, go to Bishnupur. Look for photos in the library here .. they are fantastic!

Hi Paul,

With 16 days, it would be a crime to spend it all in Kolkata.

To correct machadinha, the bus journey from Kolkata => Dhaka is around 12 hours. It would be a long journey. Definitely the better option is to fly (GMG airlines is superb).

The Sunderbans is awesome. But, for foreigners, the cost can be prohibitive. When i was there (Jan. 07), it cost me ~AU$220 for a fully incusive 4 day tour. To be honest - it was the best thing I spent my money on in B/desh.

If you can't get there, your other options could include Bhubaneshwar or Darjeeling.

Should you decide to go to Darjeeling (the toy-train is fantastic), I agree with the comments made by Stungan - a stay at Ghoom would be less expensive, less touristy and just as enjoyable.

You may also be able to go from Kolkata => Varanasi => Bodhgaya => Darjeeling => Kolkata.

Cheers
Zoltan

Hi Everyone
Thanks ever so much for your ideas.
In the end I went Kolkata - Varanasi - Darjeeling - Kalimpong.
Time stopped me going anywhere further unfortunately. I'd have liked a few more days to make the beach at Puri.
Had a great time. If I could do it again I'd skip Varanasi and spend the three days extra in Darjeeling/Sikkim.
Bangladesh - sounds good and it's one for the future. I met a Bangladeshi tour group near Darjeeling, so that's as close as I got this time!
Thanks again
Paul