Riding A Boat In Dhaka, Bangladesh 🇧🇩+Visiting A Ferry
Intro
During my time in Bangladesh, I got up to plenty of different activities, but my absolute highlight of this country was taking a boat down the Buringaga River. For most citizens of Bangladesh, taking a boat across the river is an everyday practice, and reminds me of the streets of New Delhi. Boats maneuvering through the ferries, which happen to be maneuvering from the cargo ships. It's all incredible!
The Details
Finishing up a rickshaw ride in the center of town, my company for the day took the drive down to the port. My gosh, the traffic here is absolutely horrific. However, once we arrived, we began to see the real bustling streets of Dhaka.
This port is one of the biggest ports in the country, with ferries leaving for days every hour, people transporting cargo, and people selling anything you want off to the side. Ship horns blare through the speakers as if you are in an airport.
Following my guide into a little inlet, we met our captain who would be taking us for an hour on the water. The hospitality is next level in this country, as someone even offered to hold an umbrella over my head the whole time 😅 (of course, I declined).
If you are looking to head out on your own on one of these boats, head down to an inlet in the docks and you can negotiate a very reasonable cost (less than 5$ for an hour).
With the sun beaming down on us, it was time to leave the harbor area. It's an area of expertise, with ferries constantly leaving, the captain of the boat has to be switched on with full awareness.
As we headed down current, we constantly had to get out of the way for the motorized larger boats. A lot (not all) of these smaller transport boats are not motorized, hence the captain spends a significant amount of energy when going up current.
Around an hour or so later, we headed back into port since our tour had come to an end. In the background of the picture below, you can see people who had just commuted from the other side of the river. I've gotta say, it's like trying to drive down the I95 during peak rush hour traffic, ducking and dodging all of the cars (this time boats).
As an avid lover of boats, this is so much cooler!
Visiting A Ferry
Once we were all docked up and off our little boat, the company taking care of me asked if I wanted to visit a ferry. Without hesitation, I responded with a "Heck yeah I do". Thankfully, the ferries are located very close to the inlet so within minutes we just strolled onto the ferry.
It's interesting as nobody really cares if you just walk onto the ferry. Many people were chilling on the floors, playing games, drinking beer, and smoking cigarettes. It's only when it comes time for boarding that they enforce who can go on.
There are three main classes when it comes to most ferries. There is the basic class (pictured below), which means you basically get access to the ferry. You sit on the floor for the journey and that's it.
The second class entitles you to the second floor, including outdoor spaces on the front deck and upstairs. While you still sit on the floor, you get a bit more access.
These ferries tend to be about 2$ for the lowest class, 5$ for the second class, and around 25$ for First Class (an example was for a 12-hour journey). Snacks and drinks are available for purchase onboard, but from what I could tell, nothing extravagant.
See and then there is First Class. The highest class on these ferries is mightily better than the lower two classes. You receive a shared bunk room, bottles of water, and a free meal. For 25$ for a whole day ferry, this is something that I would personally pay for, but I also understand that this is quite expensive for some of the locals.
Supposedly, to book this, you simply head onboard and ask somebody if you can get a room with a bed. You pay the money, and they show you to your new room!
Final Thoughts
Seeing the waterside in Bangladesh was an absolute treat of an adventure. From heading out on the water for an hour on a traditional boat to also visiting inside of a ferry, it makes me realize how much I have to be grateful for. The hospitality of this country is nothing short of exceptional, and I truly was shown a lot of love from the locals throughout this.
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