Feasibility and safety for a trip to Bangladesh (page 2 of 2)

Hi Aurélia!

Here’s the order of the different cities I visited: 1) Dhaka (4 days); 2) Barisal (2 days); 3) Khulna (3 days); 4) Rajshahi (3 days); 5) Bogra or Bogura (2 days); 6) Tangail (2 days); 7) back to Dhaka (1 day); 8) Srimangal (3 days); 9) Sylhet (3 days); 10) Dhaka (2 days). As you can see on a map of Bangladesh, I opted for a loop.

Regarding hotels, I usually only book through sites like Booking.com when I arrive in the afternoon or early evening. Otherwise, I do "door-to-door" searches. That way, I can see the rooms and always negotiate if I’m staying at least two nights.

In Dhaka, I stayed at the "Grand Circle Inn." Its advantages: it’s about 750 meters from the train station (a 15-minute walk without rushing) and less than a 10-minute walk from the bus company "Green Line" counter, which I used to travel from Dhaka to Barisal. I can’t find the names and addresses of the other hotels right now, but I’ll let you know when I dig them up!

For currency exchange, I found a money changer with a great rate (very close to the interbank rate on XE) in the Fakirapull neighborhood of Dhaka at 129 D.I.T. Extension Road, right across from the Prabash Hotel. Obviously, it’s easier to negotiate when you’re exchanging a large sum. Oh, and no problem exchanging euros!

To get to Dhaka from the airport, walk (it’s not too far) to the "Dhaka Biman Bandar railway station," buy a ticket (45 takas) to Kamalapur railway station at the counter. The trains reach Dhaka (their terminus) in about 45 minutes.

I also usually buy my transport tickets (bus or train) quickly.

If you want to watch some fun (though not very recent) videos about Bangladesh, check out the site "Jules en Asie." Through his work, this seasoned traveler gives some great tips on places to visit. I spent nearly four weeks there last March and didn’t run into any particular issues.

Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions!

Best regards,

Philippe

Hi Philou,

Thanks so much for your feedback! In the meantime, not knowing if it was feasible, I decided to go to India instead. But I’ll definitely keep your info for a future trip 😊 Have you ever been to India? Did you enjoy your trip to Bangladesh?

Have a great day! Aurélia

Hi Aurélia,

Yes, I really enjoyed this trip. For several reasons, first and foremost, the desire to discover an Asian country where, of course, I’d never been before and which is rarely visited... I only glimpsed four people in four weeks! For me, knowing that everyone has their own personal take on travel, I love both the cultural side (architecture, museums, religious monuments...) and wandering the streets to see daily life. If I compare it to India, where I went after Bangladesh for the fifth time, the latter is less "culturally rich," but as I mentioned earlier, I really enjoy "hitting the road" while chatting with people and strolling through the streets... Last year, I discovered the two southernmost states of India—Tamil Nadu in the east and Kerala in the west—and I loved it! That’s why this year, I did the same route again (five weeks both times)! By the way, for anyone unfamiliar with this country/continent, these are the Indian regions I’d recommend exploring first. All the best!

Philippe

Hello, Thanks for your feedback on Bangladesh. In the itinerary you followed, do you remember any tourist "points of interest" you visited during your trip to Bangladesh? Important monuments, natural landscapes, etc.?

Hi Grezg,

My itinerary: While I didn’t find anything "extraordinary" as you may have read in a previous message, many places still seemed worth the trip, if not truly fascinating. 1) Arrival in Dhaka. To see: Lalbagh Fort, Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque. And of course, the "spectacle" of the streets. A day trip to Sonargaon (or Panam City) from the capital is definitely worth the detour. 2) Bus to Barisal. The cathedral was closed when I visited. Otherwise, the other cultural sites didn’t impress me much. The fish market by the river running through the city is bustling with activity. Again, even if many places didn’t really catch my eye, wandering the streets at random remains a key part of my travels for me. Not to mention the conversations with some Bangladeshis—really friendly people. 3) Khulna. The Sixty Dome Mosque, or Shait Gumbad Masjid, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is about 25–30 km from Bagerhat. One of the country’s most interesting sites. Other smaller mosques are nearby. From Rupsha, the ferry terminal, you can cross from one bank to the other on a "public" boat. Nothing spectacular, but it’s a change of scenery. 4) Rajshahi. A Hindu site with several fascinating monuments in Puthia, about an hour by bus from the city. 5) Bogura (or Bogra). I didn’t note anything culturally worthwhile here. Wandering around is always a great fallback. 6) Tongail. No particular tourist interest! 7) Back to Dhaka. 8) Srimangal. Strolling through the many tea plantations. The town itself. 9) Sylhet. The city has a few "interesting" landmarks: the Clock Tower... 10) Dhaka.

I’d recommend checking out blogs some travelers put together. I found one on YouTube in French—really well done: "Jules en Asie." If you’ve got more questions, don’t hesitate. Oh, and I almost forgot: I fell in love with a local pastry… the DOÏ!

Hello, Thanks for your feedback on Bangladesh. In the itinerary you followed, do you remember any tourist "points of interest" you visited during your trip? Important monuments, natural landscapes, etc.?