Jagati Station-Kushtia
That was a beautiful foggy morning. I was freezing on the way. Even though it was not that cold, the speed of the van and the intensity of the wind were shaking my bones. Vans and autos are the only vehicles on this road. In the middle of October, the heat in Dhaka is unsettling, but here there is a thick fog floating like a white cloud. Can’t see far ahead. After many days, I saw such a misty morning. I could smell paddy on the way. Paddy cultivation can be seen almost the entire way from Poradaha to Jagati. The local farmers are busy processing rice from early morning. Some freight trucks were seen on the way. Later I knew that the rice produced in Kushtia is delivered to different places in these freight trucks. Anyway. I reached Jagati station after about 30 minutes passing through the fog.
How to go to Kushtia’s Jagati Station?
Jagati station is located at Jagati in Kushtia district. Kushtia can be reached by either bus or train.
How to go to Kushtia by bus-
Route 1- Buses like Shyamoli Paribahan, Mamun, FK Super Deluxe, SB Super Deluxe, KTC Hanif, etc. go directly to Majampur in Kushtia. You can get these buses from Dhaka Gabtali or Kalyanpur to Kushtia. All non-AC bus fares are 600-700 Tk. It will take 5-6 hours. AC bus fare 1000-1200 Tk. You can easily get an auto/rickshaw from Majampur to go to Jagti station. The fare is Tk 15-20 per person.
Route 2- Go to Kumarkhali via Daulatdia from Gabtali Bus Terminal. Diganta Paribahan, Lalon Paribahan, Zaman Paribahan, and Rabeya Paribahan will reach Kumarkhali in 4-4.5 hours. Rent 400-450 taka per person. From Kumarkhali will go to Kushtia Alauddin Mor by CNG/Auto. Van/auto ply from Alauddin Mor to any spot.
Route 3- (if the budget is low) from Gabtali to Paturia local bus fare is 80-100 taka. The ferry/Launch from Paturia has to cross Daulatdia Ghat. Ferry fare- 25 taka. Then go to Kushtia by train or bus from Daulatdia. Trains at 1 pm and 3 pm. Local train fare is Tk 30, Intercity train fare is Tk 85. And you will get a bus from Daulatdia to Padma, Garai, the fare is Tk 150-180.
How to Go to Kushtia by train
Inter-City Benapole Express (Holiday-Wednesday), Chitra Express (Holiday-Monday), and Sundarban Express (Closed Day-Tuesday/Wednesday) travel regularly from Dhaka to Kushtia. In case of traveling by train, you have to get off at Poradaha in Kushtia.
–Benapole Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur station at 11.15 pm and reaches Pordaha station in Kushtia at 5 am. Again it leaves Poradaha at 3:50 p.m. and reaches Dhaka at 9 p.m.
–Sundarban Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur at 8.15 am and reaches Poradaha at 2 pm. Again it leaves Poradaha at 1.35 pm and reaches Dhaka at 9 am.
Dhaka – Khulna – closing day is Wednesday.
Khulna – Dhaka – Closing day is Tuesday.
–Chitra Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur at 7 PM and reaches Poradaha Station at 12:15 PM. Again it left Poradaha at 12:24 pm and reached Dhaka Kamalapur at 5:30 pm.
Ticket Price- 360 Taka (decorative chair), Snigdha 690 Taka AC berth 1242 Taka. Buy tickets online.
To travel to Kushtia you need to get down at Poradaha station. From here to Jagati station van/auto fare is 30 taka (per person). It takes about 30 minutes to reach.
Food Hotels in Kushtia?
Kushtia is also famous for its food. After getting off the bus from Mazampur in the morning, many food hotels will be seen. You can have breakfast at Biswas Hotel, Bismillah Hotel. A little further from Majampur, you can also have breakfast at the Maubon Hotel. The sweets here are very famous.
List of some famous dishes of Kushtia-
-Breakfast- Khichuri from Jahangir Hotel, Porota Sabzi Dal from Biswas Hotel, or Shilpi Hotel in Majampur.
-Luchi, Dal- 6 road junction
-Beef, Kalovuna, khichuri, cup curd – Bismillah Hotel, Mazampur Gate
– Shor tea, toasted bread – Zafar Mama’s Shop, Panti Mor, Lahini Bot tola
– Sora Doi (Yogurt=Doi in Bengali), Ghol- Liaquat Ali Dairy, Bok Mor
-Tea- Aparajita Tea Stall, Government College Grounds.
– You can try some chops, and chicken fries in front of the branch of the bank in Lahini Bot tola, several shops, just go to the opposite bank.
– If you want to have coffee, milkshake, KitKat shake, or Oreo shake, go to the Espresso coffee shop south of Bokchottar (tell someone and they will show you).
-You will see Lalu’s khasi Tikiya (Mutton=khasi in Bengali) below it, you can try it.
-Nanna Biryani at Ektara Junction, NS Road, Katchi Best at Mughal Cuisine.
-Chinese items (fried rice, chicken fry, curry, vegetable, beef curry, soup, etc.)- Karamay Chinese, or John’s Park, the price is a little higher but the food is the best in Kushtia
-Street food is available from 5/5:30 PM onwards from Kataikhana Mor to College Mor throughout the area. Besides, it is all over NS Road.
– If you want to eat sweets, Maubon is good, the price here is a little higher. But famous for sweets.
-An uncle makes pudi, shingara, and potato chops at Haribasar Mor. Puri is also in the narrow lane in front of the Gandhi Hotel in Big Bazar, which is also good.
-Fuchka, Chotopti- Famous Khokon Bhai’s Fuchka, You can also eat Fuchka in Bangabandhu Market.
Kulfi Malai – You can find it everywhere but it is best in certain places. You can eat from Haripur Bridge, Kumarkhali New Bridge, Kuthibari-Shilaidaha. Kulfi Malai price is 50-60 Tk.
Where will you stay?
There are some hotels. The nightly rent of these hotels starts from 300/500 Tk. During the off-season i.e. Lalan Mela, the rates of hotels increase comparatively.
Names and numbers of some hotels are given below-
1) Hotel Al Hayat, Majampur Bus Stand, Kushtia
Contact – 01731-687553, 01312-665556
2) Hotel Sunmoon, Majampur Gate, Kushtia
Contact-01316-035091, 01837-760722
3) Hotel Taiyiba International, Majampur Bus Stand, Kushtia
Contact- 01763645145
4) Desha TARC, Kushtia
Contact – 01720-510330
The oldest and first station in Bangladesh. If you go a little further to the right along the railway track, you will first see a half-demolished brick building. A small building that the locals are using as their property. After that, the main building of the station will be visible. A few rooms inside. In one of which some people spend the night. The ticket counter room is locked and dark. Now it is used as a store room. 2 black signboards next to it. Train schedule, station name, and fare written on it. With time, the inscriptions have been erased. Seeing the year 1991 written on the board, I understood that nothing else was written on this board after that time. Strangely, I got lost at that time. Once here was a huge crowd too, tickets were bought and sold, trains came, train whistles, and passengers bought tickets along the line. But now it’s quiet, there is no noise. It’s like a horror environment. When the need is over, the way is slowly closed. Everything looks dim in the heavy fog. The narrow railway track is foggy, gone to an infinite distance. It seems that if you walk along this path for a long time, you will find heaven. This railway is newly renovated. The old railway line is in dilapidated condition on the other side. Looking at the grass and foliage, it is clear that the train has not run on this route for a long time. No inter-city trains run here, 3 local trains stop here. But there is no platform or waiting room, and the residents have been suffering. I saw three more old buildings at the station. A signal room, trains were signaled from this room. The condition of this building is the worst. Almost all of it has been destroyed. The second is the pump house, from where water was supplied to the coal engine. The water collection point was a nearby pond. Below the pond were 7 wells, the water of this pond never finished. Water has accumulated in a place like a chamber next to it. There is a building near the mosque. It is also completely broken.
There is a water tank at a little distance. Water was collected from the pond and stored in this tank. The tank is very high, the ladder still exists but it is dangerous to go up. Under the tank is a house-like space, and inside it the reign of weeds and banyan trees. Only the root and roots of the banyan tree can be seen from inside, the vines, leaves, and branches of this plant are spread on the outer part of the tank. I was thrilled to see it. I don’t know if this scene exists anywhere in Bangladesh or not. I didn’t go inside for fear of snakes and insects.
The main building of the station has two floors. The staff’s accommodation was on the second floor. The roof of the second floor has collapsed, and the stairs are completely broken, so the upper way has been blocked. In 1862, the British Government constructed a 91.11 broad gauge railway line on about 300 acres of land from Shilaidaha in Kolkata to Kushtia. However, currently, many parts of the station are vacant. This station was built to facilitate travel, communication, and trade from Dhaka to Kolkata. At that time, all the products like rice, spices, etc. were produced in Kushtia and surrounding districts and then went to Calcutta by rail. This old station has not been maintained for the last 160 years. Due to lack of proper supervision, many items of the station are lost. But at present there is no way to identify this station without its name. It was very sad to see the condition of the first railway station in Bangladesh.
Jagati Station Travel Plan-
First, decide whether to travel by bus or train. If you want to go by bus, take a night bus to Majampur, and if you want to go by train, take the 11:15 pm Benapole train and alight at Poradah station. Auto/Van will drop you at Jagati Station from both Majampur and Poradah. After visiting Jagati Station, don’t forget to explore the surrounding attractions.
How to travel to Kushtia in a budget-friendly way-
-Travel by train. Train fares are cheaper than buses.
-Make groups of 4-5 people. Vans/autos ply inside Kushtia. Traveling by share reduces the cost a lot.
Cautions and Tips on Traveling to Jagati Station-
1) The station buildings are almost broken, so don’t try to climb inside or up the stairs.
2) There are many bushes and weeds around so beware of poisonous insects.
3) Kushtia people are quite innocent, don’t misbehave with them.
4) Visit Jagati Station and explore some more places inside Kushtia!
5) In case of traveling by train, book the ticket 6-7 days in advance.
6) There is no need to bargain with rent here. The people of this area are very honest.
Travel Places around Jagati Station-
Kushtia Municipality
Rabindra Kuthibari
Tagore Lodge
Rainyuk Dam