JOURNEY BY LAND
Drivers of cars and motorbikes must remember to bring the car's registration card with them, insurance policy and national and international driving license. You will also need carnet depas-sage en douane (customs clearance pass), i.e. a customs pass authorizing the temporary importation of motor vehicles to other countries without paying customs duties. At some border crossing points, more expensive spare parts are entered into it, e.g. gearboxes. This procedure is necessary in Asian countries, thus wanting to avoid illegal imports. For more information, please contact the motoring organizations in each country.
Compulsory vehicle insurance is usually purchased, crossing the border of a given country; they are not available in Poland. Their prices and quality vary greatly, depending on the location, where they will be redeemed.
Everyone, who decides to travel with their own car abroad, should make sure in advance, what type of fuel is available in your country and where to go in case of emergency. Not only unleaded gasoline is lacking in India, but also the smallest spare parts.
Lots of tourists, traveling in India, chooses bicycles – this, comfortable, harmless to the environment, mean of transport. However, they should remember, to check the technical condition of your bike carefully before leaving and take as many spare parts as possible, as much as possible. They will be useful for sure.
Bicycles are transported on airplanes, both disassembled, and as a whole. In the latter case, you may need to unscrew the pedals and turn the steering wheel around, so that the equipment takes up as little space in the hold as possible. Detailed information on the transport of bicycles is provided by the carrier.
More details about traveling by car on Indian roads can be found in the chapter Communication.
By land from Europe
Until recently, many people reached India by land. Among globetrotters, Edi Pork's book, Let the whole world think, I'm crazy, that is, to India for 30 $. For a time, overland travel almost stopped due to the uncertain political situation in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan or Transcaucasia. Recently, however, Iran has reopened its borders and more and more travelers are going to India via Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, bypassing Afghanistan. A recent trip along this route is described by Tomasz Noga in his book Przez świat, which is a collection of globetrotter reports from around the world, a published by Travel Bit Travel Center (skr. early. 258, 30-965 Cracow 69).
Bangladesh
Most of the border crossings between India and Bangladesh have been closed, so entry options are quite limited.
Kolkata-Dakka Most travelers to Bangladesh choose this route. The first stop is Bangaon, the city closest to the border. The train journey continues 2,5 hours and costs 13INR. barely 10 km lies Bangaon from Harida-spuru, located right on the border. You can get there in 20 min a bicycle rickshaw, paying 10 INR, or tuk tobacconist for 50 INR. The exchange rate is higher here than at the very border.
It takes about an hour to cross the border, which is filled with complicated formalities. Travel by rickshaw to Benopol, already located in Bangladesh it occupies 10 min and costs 5 Tk. If someone left Calcutta in the early afternoon, should reach Benopol between 18.00 a 20.30, so then, when buses depart from here. This is the only time of the day, when any buses run between the border crossing point and Benopol.
Benopol is located at a distance from Dakka 291 km. It takes from 8 do 9 hours. On the way there are, among others. the cities of Jashohor and Archia and two troublesome river crossings.
Before you set off on your way back, it is worth booking a seat on the bus at least one day in advance. Direct buses to Benopol leave between 20.00 a 23.00. The journey takes all night.
Darjiling-Bangladesh Express buses run between Darjiling and Siliguri, which arrive after 3 hours. The journey in miniature trains takes you as far as you can 10 hours, but it is undoubtedly more picturesque. If this means of transport is chosen, best to get off not in Siliguri, but at the station in New Jalpajguri.
To get to Haldibari from here, the Indian border crossing, another one has to be sacrificed 2 hours. The train ticket costs money 9 INR. To the Bangladesh border point in Ćiliharti, you have to march until 7 km, along a disused railway line. It is not at all pleasant, especially when the journey is hindered by heavy luggage. Fortunately, you can always ride a rickshaw for the initial few kilometers.
From Ćiliharti, trains depart into Bangladesh. Even though it is officially prohibited, it's worth bringing a few of these (the name of the country's currency), listed in Haldibardi, for in Chiliharti it is not possible.