Latest on the Rocket (and Sundurban suggestion)

Hi there,

I'm heading to Bangladesh in March. I am wanting to take the Rocket from Dhaka and can find no current information as to how far south it is currently going. Can anyone advise me?
Also, I'd like to do a tour in the Sundurbans. I hear Guide Tours is good. They have set dates but they don't really coincide with my trip very well. Is there any other companies you can suggest that would also pick me up from where I get off the Rocket (ive read this is a possibility instead of going all the way to Khulna?)

Thanks
Rachel

Hi Rachel,

Now a days the Rocket goes evry day (Except Friday) but not till Khulna. It goes till Morolgonj. So, it is better to get off at Hularhat around 12 p.m and then head to Bagerhat by bus to visit 60 domed mosque. Then head to Khulna.

Reg Rocket ticket, it is difficult to get unless book at least 20 days before the trip. You can book over phone (+880-2-9559779 Mr. Alauddin). If you can not, tell me the specific date. I will book from here.

Reg Sundrbans, as far as I check, Guide tours dont have any sets on March tour. While checking i found that another tour company arranging a tour from March 15-17 from Mongla. If you interested, can mail to them.

If u need any more info, dont hesitate to post here.

Mahmud

Hi Mahmud!
End of February, I do plan a 3 weeks trip to Bengal and Birma. Following my plan, between 27Feb-3Mar I should be in Bangladesh, crossing the border by Benapole. Then, in the original plan, I wanted to go Khulna and catch the Rocket to Dhaka.
Reading your previous email, I do understand that, at the moment, the Rocket departures from Morrelganj instead? Do you know if it would go to Dhaka at 27Feb (Wed) or 28Feb (Thu) as well? When exactly I need to show up to get on the ship?
Thanks for the nice tip about Bagerhat! I am going to try to include it in my trip plan.
What else would you recommend to visit/see in the Khulna division? I thought about Sundarban but in the time limitation (I want to spend at least one day in Dhaka) can't book any tour longer than one day...
I do plan to be in Dhaka Friday evenig/Saturday morning then go back to Kolkata by an overnight bus departing from Dhaka Saturday evening. Having in mind that I need to be in Kolkata latest 6pm Sunday to catch my next flight, do you think is the plan enough reliable? Which bus line would you recommend?
I've read already a lot of your posts on this and other forums, and found them always extremaly valuable and informative.
In the name of all Asia travelers, thank you for your effort!

Best Regards
Maciek

Hi Maciek

Yes, now a days Rocket goes from Morolgonj due low water level. But you can go Bagerhat, visit the 60 domed mosque then head to Hularhat to catch the rocket (The Rocket is available that day). In worse case, if there is no Rocket, the the Launch (Modern 3 story boat) to Dhaka from Hularhat.

I think if you are not unlucky enough, you will reach Kolkata within 12 p.m if you take Saturday night bus. I will recommend to take bus of Shohag Paribahan.

But if you dont want to take risk, you can take reverse trip. say :

27 Feb : Take direct bus to Dhaka and reach at night (say 8 p.m). Take rest.
28 Feb : Whole days Dhaka trip. Take Rocket steamer to Hularhat. In that case u have to book tkt earlier)
Mar 1 : Reach Hularhat. Take bus to Bagerhat. Viist 60 domed mosque. Take bus to Khulna. :
March 2 : Viist some places in Khulna. at 3 p.m : take bus to Benapole. Stay in Parjatan Hotel at Benapole.
March 3 : Cross the border in early morning (7 am) and take Kolkata jeep bus to reach Kolkata around 11 am.

Note : I suggested this because due to delay in Ferry (Fog/Low water) sometime, bus delays 5/8 hours to cross the river. If so, you will fall in trouble. But if you take my suggestion, you can avoid that risk.

BTW, million of thaks for your kind words toward me.

Mahmud

Mahmud,
Thanks for your fast and (as usualy) very valuable answer!
I was actually already considering a similar trip scenario, but it has one painful disadvantage: I am loosing one whole day sitting in the bus to Dhaka. Due to work, my trip can take only 3 weeks in total and I would like to use this time the best way. Tried already to find some information about night buses from Kolkata to Dhaka but no success. It would has to depart from Kolkata around 7-8pm (I do assume will get Bangladesh visa in Kolkata consulate at Tue afternoon - 5-6pm, base on some reports).
Do you know any such night bus service? I think the problem is that the border is closed over the night...
An another solution would be to take a flight from Dhaka to Kolkata instead of bus. Is the United Airlines or Jet Airway reliable in your opinion?
One more question:
What would you recommend to see/experience having just one day in Dhaka?

Thanks & Best Regards
Maciek

Tiger996@ if you don't get guide tours , then for sundarbans you can contact with Bengal tours / info@bengaltours.com. It is also one of the best for sundarbans who has two boat for sundarbans cruising .

As far as I know, there is no night bus. All buses starts very eraly in the morning. You also will finds some shared jeeps near New market area to come till border. After crossing the border, can take bus to Dhaka.

By air : This may be the best option. You can think to Come United air as they have a flight at 11.40 am everyday. Iw will reach Dhaka 1.10 p.m.

Jet air also good but I dont have their details.

Fopr 1 day in Dhaka, you can cosider :

• Hindu street.
• Shakhari Bazar
• Sadarghat
• Buriganga River
• Pink Palace.
• Lalbag fort.

Mahmud

Hi,
I'm just back from Bangladesh...
I was in Sunderban beginning of this year with Bengal Tours. It was a great experience. Better send them an email to see when they have tours. It always depends on the number of guests they have.
I took the Rocket to Morelganj as now it goes no further indeed. Bangal Tours booked my 1st class ticket but maybe they wouldn't do it again as it's quite a hassle for them too and they took no commission. You can always buy a deck ticket. I met 2 foreigners who did that and they got the captain's cabin! From Morelganj I took a bus to Khulna. You pass by Bagerhat and could visit and take the next bus. (I had been there before). From Bengal Tour's Khulna office they took me to the ship and let me sleep there for the night with a few other people.
As to the journey from or to Kolkata, I'd strongly recommend the train which goes a few times a week. You cannot book online though.
Enjoy Bangladesh!

Mahmud, Jep
Thanks for the info!
I started to reconsider my plan already, thinking to come to Dhaka by plane and get the VOA instead of sitting 2 days in Kolkata. The problem is that I've already heard many contradicting infos about the VOA in Dhaka airport. Some people report it is not possible (probably not true), some say you need to present a return ticket.
Does somebody know if I can get the VOA without having a return ticket (as I would go back by buses and boats - way described by Mahmud)?

Mahmud,
Sorry to bother you with so many questions. I own you a diner in Dhaka or may buy a tour/suvenirs from your friends or family :).

Best Regards
Maciek

You can get a VOA at Dhaka, just arrive with $51 or equivalent. Lots of people have done it (including me), despite the lack of 'official' information about it.

Maciek, dont hesitate or dont be cofused to hear any info. I am sure about that you will get visa here. The process is very easy :

• Go the VOA desk, fill up a small form
• Go to the counter and pay the fee (USD 50 + 1)

Get stamped on Passport.

The process is very easy and takes only 10 minutes.

Guys,
Thanks a lot. I am going to try the VOA method.
One more, hope last, question:
Tried to book a flight with United Airways but got some problems: they accept MasterCard, Visa and one Bangladesh specific card only. I've tried MasterCard but got a wired error.I've report the problem but so far no answer.
Do you know any reliable and proofed travel agent to book the ticket by?. All my agents shows Jet (wich is expensive) or Biman (which I've heard is not so reliable and more expensive than United) only.

Thanks & Best Regards
Maciek

Maciek, if you want, I can buy Kolkata/Dhaka ticket for you and send by email. You can pay me later on when you come Dhaka. If so, please let me know the followings :

• Your Full name and country.
• Exact date of Travel.
• Scanned copy of your passport.

Also not :

• If you somehow don't show, I have to loss my money :)
• Please be sure about date an inform me.

You can e-mail me : mahmud.bangladesh@gmail.com

You can get details on rocket here:
Rocket Steamer in Bangladesh – Schedual and getting advance tickets

Also can contact Nijhoom Tours for any ticket booking, including domestic flights in Bangladesh.