Calcutta to Bangladesh
There were 4 of us traveling India to Bangladesh. End of March of 2023, we reached Calcutta, India by bicycle. We had to stay one night in Calcutta, we searched a medium price hotel and booked for a night. We explored evening at city area and took a dinner. After a dinner we prepared to sleep and light off. But there is bad situation for us, a lot of bedbugs and fleas. We couldn’t sleep, we complained staffs of hotel but they didn’t care. We called hotel owner and asked to buy spray to kill bedbugs and fleas. We shouted at him because hotel price is little expensive but beds were not clean and tidy. He bought a sprayer and sprayed inside all beds sheet and inside pillow.
We checked out early morning at 4 o’clock and started journey for Bangladesh boarder. Almost Indian cities are crowdy and very careful for cycling, unfortunately one of my friend was hit and run over bicycle on front tire by 8 wheel truck. I pulled him and was saved without any injury. We asked and searched cycle repair shop, was 1 km far from there. We walked 1 km to repair and change bicycle’s tire. After finished repairing tire, started our journey to Bangladesh boarder. Calcutta to Bangladesh boarder distance is about 110 km. We were not hurry, smoothly were traveling to Benapole boarder, reached there around 5 pm and crossed the boarder and stayed a night at Jassore, Bangladesh.
Differences Between Indian and Bangladesh
Indian economy is bigger and stronger than other SAARC countries. But cities are very dirty and uncleaned everywhere. The beggars are everywhere in the cities, not only beggars but police are same as asking money for unusual. Where we stayed at hotel in Calcutta also asked tips for him in checked out time. He bow downed to us and asked money as a tip. In the crossing boarder to Bangladesh, one of the police officer asked money with us. We said to him that we were cyclists, traveling to the world, how we could give money you.
I felt Bangladesh is different, the cities are calm even more crowded. Nobody asked money with us, were feeling good and safe. One thing is different with India, there are not hotels available for non Muslims. We spent 3 hours for finding a hotel to stay, refused to give rooms for non Muslims. Hotel and foods prices are similar with India. Great amazing to visit Bangladesh and India!
