Travel: How to visit India

The Dhaka Times Desk India i.e. Kolkata is one of the most attractive places for travelers. If you want to travel to different parts of India, you have to go through Kolkata.

Many have to go to India for medical treatment as well. After getting an Indian visa, you can go to Kolkata from Dhaka by various routes. But how and at what cost or which route can go to Kolkata in less cost or easily, everyone is more or less in doubt. For that purpose, today there are various ways to go to Kolkata.

How to go from Dhaka to Kolkata by plane

Traveling from Bangladesh to Kolkata is by air in the shortest possible time, easily and comfortably. There are daily flights from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra International Airport. Bangladesh Biman, IndiGo, Spice Jet, Air India, NovoAir and US Bangla are notable for flights to Kolkata.

Dhaka to Kolkata air fare

Air India and Spice Jet flights from Bangladesh to Kolkata at low cost. Air ticket prices can range from Tk 4,500 to Tk 6,600 depending on the airline. However, if you buy tickets in advance, the rate is a little lower. It takes about 1 hour to fly from Dhaka to Kolkata.

Go to Kolkata from Dhaka by train

You can go directly from Dhaka to Kolkata by Maitri Express train, a joint initiative of Bangladesh-India government. Maitri Express departs Dhaka Cantonment Station for Kolkata at 8.15 am on Fri, Sat, Sun and Wednesday. After Darshan, this train goes to Sealdah station in Kolkata via Gede border. It takes about 9-13 hours to travel from Dhaka to Kolkata. AC seat fare is Tk 3,400 per person and AC chair Tk 2,500 per person including travel tax. However, children below 5 years of age are charged half fare.

Also, you can go to Benapole by Benapole Express train from Dhaka and get down from there and enter on foot and go to Kolkata after immigration. Bandhan Express train departs from Khulna for Kolkata. In this case Bandhan Express travels on Kolkata-Dumdum-Bangaon-Petropole-Benapole-Jhikargacha-Jesore-Khulna route. Bandhan Express leaves Khulna at 1.30 pm and reaches Kolkata between 7-8 pm. Bandhan Express train tickets are available at Khulna station counter.

How to go Dhaka to Kolkata by bus

In case of buses, you can go from Dhaka to Kolkata by Shyamoli, BRTC Scania, Green Line, Sohag, Desh Travels, Sauhardya Royal, Saudia coach buses. Among these buses, the service of BRTC, Sohag, Shyamoli and Green Line is very good. But only Shyamoli Transport NR bus goes directly to Kolkata. For all other transports, if you want to go from Dhaka to Kolkata by bus, you have to come to Benapole and cross the border to reach the Indian side and board another bus again. It will take around 4 hours to reach Kolkata via Petrapole.

Dhaka to Kolkata Bus Fare:

Non AC bus fare is 700-900 per person and AC bus fare is 1500-1900 taka.

Kolkata to Dhaka at low cost

If you want to go to Kolkata with less news, then you should go to Kolkata instead of going directly for less cost. Benapole must come first. In case of bus from Dhaka - Hanif, Sohag, Royal Coach, S Alam, Eagle or Saudia AC or Non AC bus can go from Dhaka to Benapole. Non AC bus fare from Dhaka only to Benapole is Tk 500-550 and AC bus fare is Tk 1000-1300. But if you want to go at low cost, you have to reach Benapole from Dhaka by non-AC bus.

It will cost you 20-30 taka to go to Benapole immigration from Benapole station after reaching Benapole. Then cross the border at Benapole and go to Haridaspur Indian Immigration Office by spending 30/40 rupees by auto. Once the immigration is over you can go to Banggaon railway station by auto for 25/30 rupees per person. Then from Bangaon station you can buy a local train ticket for 20-30 rupees per person and go to Sealdah station or from Bangaon to Dumdum station. From Sealdah or Dum Dum Station, Metro Rail to Esplanade (Kolkata New Market Stop) or Park Street will cost just 10 rupees.

It will take about 2 hours to go to Kolkata by train from Bangaon. All in all, it will cost 700-750 taka to go from Dhaka to Kolkata. Also, if you want, you can go to Kolkata by non-AC/AC bus for 150-280 rupees instead of taking the train after immigration. But going by bus will take much more time than by train. It will take about 4 to 4.30 hours.

How to go to Calcutta when you are mad

To get to Gede you have to go to Darshana railway station. Then from there you can take a van to the border area for Tk 30 (per person). After completing Bangladesh customs and immigration there, you will reach Gede check post by van. Go there and clear immigration at Indian check post and customs at Gede station and board the local train. It will take you just 3 hours (scheduled time) to reach 25 stations by local train. Because even if the train is local, it does not stop for more than half a minute at one station.

Maitri Express train tickets cannot be collected from any other station except Kamalapur Railway Station and Chittagong Railway Station.
Train tickets can be booked at least 30 days in advance and must be collected 10 to 12 days prior to Kolkata. Where to visit in India will be given in the next article.