Dhaka to Darjeling

This is fun. It is not the normal path that most of the westerners or tourist take to visit Darjeling. But generally the Bangladeshis travel this way and it is a common during the high season in Darjeling. Now there is only one bus that goes from Dhaka (Bangladesh) to Siliguri (India). It is run by the trusted bus company Shyamoli Transports. The package includes an A/C Coach in a 2 X 2, forty seats coach, you have to book the seat in advance as it sells out at least 3-4 days before the scheduled departure, a packaged food and drink and assistance at the customs for border crossing. The ticket was Taka 1300, but may change from time to time. It is a computerized system and need not to worry. Shyamoli Services are professional.

The bus leaves about 10 PM from Dhaka. But you will need to be at the Ticket Office by 8 PM. There are quite a number of Shyamoli Ticket counters in Dhaka. So they will pool all the passengers to one Mini Bus before dropping you off at the changing counter at the outskirts of Dhaka. Bags will be tagged and you will be given a coupon. So need not to worry. Once you leave in the A/C coach, you will be given a bottled water and a pack of food (Snacks).



The bus then will stop at a Highway Cafe about 11-11.30 PM. Remember like any other stopover cafes, this place is expensive, but will be your last stop till the next morning.

The bus will arrive at Burimari, the border village of Bangladesh (North West of Bangladesh) around 6 AM the next day. The fun part begins! The Bangladesh Customs will only open it's doors around 8.30 AM. So you will have some time to wash up and walk around the village. Shyamoli Counter offers some basic rest areas with toilet. The whole customs and border crossing process will take approximately 5 hours. The bus assistant will collect all the passports and do the necessary. If you are a foreigner, please ensure you have done all the checking and have no issues on Visa for India. From the bus stop to the border gate is about 200 meters. They will arrange a rickshaw for this distance and your bags will be transported by default. Expect to pay a Taka 10 for the ride. Next, the customs officers will call the names one by one, and you can from there walk another 100 meters to the other side of the gate. Not yet, this is still Bangladesh soil. Once you reach the other gate, this is where they will stamp the passport and let you go.

Cross the gate and there will be sign - India. Yes! There is a small hut after the gate on the Indian side. First the gate officers will check your passports. Next the customs officers will go through, stamp the passports and you are ready to go. Again, please ensure all your documents are right. There will be another Shyamoliy Bus waiting to pick up the same passengers. A different bus on the Indian side. The bus will approximately leave at 11 AM and reach Siliguri at 1 pm. Indian time is 1/2 hour earlier than Bangladesh timing.

    

The bus will stop at a Hotel, a little far from the bus/jeep stand to Darjeling at Siliguri. From here, take a rickshaw to the Siliguri Junction. RS 20. There will be plenty of jeeps waiting for turns to go up. It is a 4 hour ride and please ensure to arrive in Darjeling before 9 PM. After that the whole town goes to sleep unless you have an earlier booking for a hotel. The shared jeep costs RS 100 per person. Try to get the front seat next to the driver for a more comfortable ride. Happy journey!

Bangladeshi Farmers at the Burimari Border