Jashore, Khulna
Bangladesh’s busiest land port and the main road crossing to India, facing Petrapole on the road to Kolkata.
Benapole faces Petrapole in West Bengal across the border, and the crossing between them is the busiest land route between Bangladesh and India — for trucks carrying trade, and for travellers heading to Kolkata for work, study, treatment or holidays.
The road from Jashore to the border follows the historic Jashore Road, which once ran on to Calcutta. Stretches of it are still shaded by huge old rain trees planted in the 19th century, and the drive under them is one of the pleasures of the trip.
In 1971 the road through Benapole was a route for refugees fleeing to India. Today the town is a busy, workaday place of customs offices, transport agents and money changers rather than a sight in itself — but watching the crossing, and the daily flag-lowering ceremony held at the border, is an experience of its own.
Start with the flower market at Gadkhali on the way west.
Continue along the Jashore Road, still shaded in places by 19th-century trees.
Stop for roshogolla at Jamtola bazaar.
See the busy land port, stay for the flag-lowering ceremony if timing allows, then head back to Jashore.
October to March; arrive early in the day to cross the border
About 1–1.5 hours west of Jashore town by bus along the Jashore–Benapole road. Direct buses also run from Dhaka and Khulna, and trains on the Khulna–Kolkata route cross the border here.
