Visit Agartola.

mahmud

I Want to visit Agratola end of Dec. I want to visit also Sepahejla national park. Can you suggest me something about Agartola. If I want to stay night at Sepahijala, Is it possible? Then what would be the cost?.

steven_ber

Are the buses still running between Dhaka and Agartala?

They were not being used a lot because only single-entry visas were being granted (making Tripura-Dhaka-Calcutta return journeys expensive)

There are a couple of websites you will find useful.

Accommodation in Tripura.

Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary - website.

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

mahmud

Thanks Steven_ber.

Yes, the bus Dhaka-Agartola re-started last week after repairing the damaged bridge.

Other hand, you will also happy to know that Bangladesh Govt. recently decided to give double entry visa to Indian citizens so that can use this route to shorten the time between for Kolkata-Agartola.

steven_ber

mahmud

Thanks for the info.

A train question....

Do you know if the Broad gauge tracks have been laid all the way to Dhaka?

The last I heard is that they had crossed the Jamuna on a very long bridge and there was still 70 kms of tracks needed to be laid to reach Dhaka.

I think that Bangladesh railways is planning to run direct trains from Dhaka to Benapole.

It would be wonderful if one day soon there were Dhaka-Kolkata trains.

mahmud

Dear steven_ber

Thanks for your interest.

Yes, to go north Bengal of Bangladesh, we have to pass the world 11 th largest Bridge (Jamauna Bridge, around 4.8 KM long) by bus or Train.

FYI, in the northern part of Jamuna river (Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogra, Lalmonirhat & etc) there are broad gauge lines but in southern part (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna & other districts)all lines are Meter gauge. But on the Jamuna bridge there are both Broad & Meter gauss lines.

Reg Dhaka-Kolkata, yes we are also optimistic to have direct train service. Both Govts. of Bangladesh & India are also thinking the matter. It is remarkable that before liberation (1971) there was facility to go Kolkata by Train from Dhaka.

Other hand, Dhaka-Kolkata bus service is very comfortable. Both Bangladesh & India Govt run 2 buses everyday in this rout. Those are very comfortable & international standard. Fare is USD 20 (Up-Down). It takes around 10-12 hours including one river Crossing (from Aricha Ghat to cross The river Padma) .

Some other private companies also running buses between these two cities.

worldtraveller

Yes, the bus journey is really comfortable. I enjoyed the natural scenery of Bangladesh & India during the journey to Kolkata.

mahmud

I have finalize my next visit plan to Tripura from Nov 05-08, 2005. That time I will go Sepahijala, Neermahal & some otehrs interesting places. During that time any IM are interested to go there?

kshastry

Hello,

I am planning a trip to Agartala in late May. It would be wonderful if I could cross-over to Bangladesh and see some nice places near the border area. I looked through Google earth and it seems Agartala is quite close to Bangladesh border.

1. Will it be possible to obtain a Visa to BD at Agartala?
2. What are interesting / visit worthy places inside BD border. I am not sure whether I will have time to go all the way upto Dhaka.

Thanks everyone,

mahmud

It is only 3 hours journey to Dhaka from Agartola. So, you can allow only 1-2 days to have different experience in Dhaka.

TimMakins

Replying to comments rather hurriedly...
Yes you can get Bangaldesh visas in Agartala - arrive early at the mission. Good buses run from Ag to Dhaka - I would recommend the Hotel Alfaruque which is just next to the bus stand in Dhaka - 2 minutes walk

See my blog pages:
http://www.mapability.com/travel/blo...la_capita.html

http://www.mapability.com/travel/blo...capital_o.html

It is great to visit the NeerMahal, and there is good value accomodation next to the boat dock. No need to book - lots of rooms, few visitors. Sipahijala is very interesting, but you really need some transport of your own as the site is VERY spread out, and hard to walk around. Note the cafe is closed, so take food and water with you !!

Tim in Ireland

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Quote:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain

kshastry

Thank you for your replies. Tim, the photos were excellent! The double decker bus reminded me of London's old red buses! Can't wait to go there.

I am now more convinced about doing this trip. How were customs and immigration at the border of BD (both ways)?

TimMakins

There is a VERY detailed answer to this in the following post:

Bangladesh - thoughts and advice from my recent trip

I really enjoyed Bangladesh, and hope to go back one day.

Tim in Ireland

mahmud

Thank you very much Tim for the nic pictures of Bangladesh. I hope you will come again our country.

kshastry

Dear Mahmud, Is it possible to visit Chittagong and Coxs Bazaar from Agartala withou going into Dhaka city? Is there a crossing poing where I can take a bus / train to south?

Also, how long the journey would take to Chittagong say if I start from Agartala (in Bus / Train). Thanks.

TimMakins

The Agartala - Dhaka bus goes through Brahmanbaria: you could get a bus to Chittagong there, but the timing might not be great. There is only one bus a day from Agartala to Dhaka, and it would get to Brahmanbaria in the late afternoon or early evening. My bus was nearly 3 hours late, and didn't arrive in Dhaka until 2115.

Tim in Ireland