City and landmark, Jashore
Benapole Borderবেনাপোল সীমান্ত
- Time needed
- Two hours.
- best months
- Nov–Feb
- Cost
- Free to watch the ceremony.
The country's largest land port, facing Petrapole in India across the old Jashore road: the main crossing for travellers to Kolkata, with a flag-lowering ceremony by both border guards each evening.
Plan your visit
- Best time
- Late afternoon, for the flag ceremony.
At a glance
- Across the border
- Petrapole, India
- Upazila
- Sharsha
About
Since 1947 most road and rail traffic between the two Bengals has passed through Benapole, and the town grew along the road in the 1990s. Lorries queue for kilometres on both sides.
The evening retreat, when BGB and BSF lower their flags in step at the zero line, draws a crowd from both sides. It is a short, lively ceremony worth timing a visit for.
Getting there: Bus or train from Jashore to Benapole, about an hour.
Things to do
- Watch the evening flag ceremony at the zero line.
Good to know
- Carry ID; the area is guarded and photography may be restricted.
