Dhaka to Darjeeling

Hi Guys

My partner and I planning to trek in the Darjeeling region of northern India in October this year.

I see I can purchase a reasonably priced flight into Dhaka from Singapore.

Is it practical to travel by land from Dhaka entering India overland?

Can anyone offer suggestions as to an interesting itinerary, assuming we plan to take about 10 to 14 days for the trip?

Thank you very much in advance

Colin

Hi, I think the most interesting border crossing are Tamabil near Jaflong and Burimari near Patgram, depending on whether you like to spend more time in india or Bangladesh. Both border crossings are very relaxed.
If you cross in Burimari you can spend time in Meghalay and Assam before going to Siliguri. Both states are scenically very different and very nice.
A few weeks ago I entered at Burimari. So here is a suggestion based on my experience if you go the other way round:
Dhaka to Srimongol by train, cycle around there, Sylhet, Jaflong, back to Sylhet and from there to Mymensingh, tribal villages around there, to Bogra, to Dinajpur and Katanagar mandir nearby, to Rangpur, to Patgram. From there you could visit the Tin-Bigha Corridor. From Patgram you can take an autorikshaw ro Burimari, cross the borderr, take a bicycle rikshaw to Changrabandha and from there a bus to Siliguri.

Hi Jep

Thank you very much for your very comprehensive answer to my question.

Jep

As you have been in the area recently can I ask, how you find traveling in Bangladesh say compared to India. I am assuming prices maybe about the same if not a little cheaper in BD.

Is the infrastructure/connections etc similar? I have traveled in India and Nepal but Bangladesh is really something new for me.

Thank you

Colin

Hi Colin,
As you know both India and Nepal, I think you'll be delighted by Bangladesh I think. There are similarities but it's quite different from both. It's a bit hard to compare in general with India, which is also hugely diverse in itself. I was with an Indian from Mumbay in the eastern states and he couldn't believe it was India...
People in Bangladesh are very helpful, even those who don't know English. That makes up for the 'hardships', which are there as Bangladesh is not geared to tourism at all. You'll meet just a handful of foreigners, so people are really interested in meeting and indeed watching you.
Connections north - south are better than east-west directions, but it's all possible. as on the east-west lines there are no coaches, it's also more dangerous. Train and boat journeys are great compared to bus transport.
Bangladesh in general may be cheaper than India even, but hotels tend to be more expansive than in India and there are less.
And not to foget, I feel Bangladesh as a very safe country, apart from the crazy traffic of course.
You may also like to read my and others' comments on http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2290672
Should the PM service be up again one day, and after you know your programme more in detail, you can contact me for more details on hotels etc. and I could also recommend some people who'd be happy to meet you.
Enjoy!

To go Darjiling, you can take Dhaka/Shiliguri bus (every evening/15 hours journey) and from Shiliguri take the jeep to Darjiling.

Bangladesh is much more cheaper than any other countries. HOtels NOT expensive then India. In Dhaka you will find a clean safe hotel only for USD 5/6 (Hotel Ramna, Garden, Deluxe). and in countryside you will get hotels more cheaper than this.

So, you can consider to take Dhaka trip then go to Darjiling.

Thank you very much Mahmud

Thank you Jep - most informative.