Balashi Ghat (Balashi Ghat) is a seaport and sightseeing place located on the banks of Yamuna River in Phulchari Upazila of Gaibandha District. The distance from Gaibandha town to Balasi Ghat is about 10 km. Although the river is full of water during the monsoons, during the winter, sandbanks float here. Currently, Balasi Ghat is becoming crowded with tourists for its beautiful natural environment almost every day. The rough waves of the river, the pure air and the scenic nature make the mind of the visiting visitors happy. Apart from this, one can also enjoy horse riding at Balasi Ghat, boat trip or railway ferry to enjoy the wonderful view of the sunset on the river. And the most surprising information is that once the only railway ferry of Bangladesh used to run through this Balasi Ghat. A whole train crossed the river in one of the world’s rail ferries! Rail ferry service was started at Tistamukh Ghat in Fulchhari Upazila of Gaibandha District in 1938 with the aim of increasing the railway connectivity of the northern region with the capital Dhaka. The British at that time knew Gaibandha district as Phulchari Ghat. After 1990, as the navigability of the Yamuna river decreased, the ferry service was shifted from Tistamukh Ghat to Balasi in Kanchipara of Phulchari Upazila. And since then the ghat came to be known as Balasi ghat. 13 lines of railway ferries carry 3 small coaches or wagons.
How to go
From Gaibandha Sadar you can take a rickshaw, auto rickshaw or CNG to reach Balasi Ghat through the old market. And to go to the railway ferry from Balasi Ghat, you have to board a trawler. Or you can reach Ketki or Oriya ghat from Gaibandha district headquarters and visit the railway ferry located at a short distance on foot. Dhaka to Gaibandha A number of AC/Non-AC buses ply on the Gaibandha route from various parts of the capital Dhaka. Notable among them are Shyamoli Paribahan, Al Hamra Paribahan, SR Travels Pvt Ltd and Orin Travels. According to the type of bus and service quality, the fare per person is from Tk 650 to Tk 1100. Besides, one can go to Gaibandha by Rangpur Express, Burimari Express and Lalmonirhat Express trains from Dhaka’s Kamalapur railway station. Train fare will be 550 to 1886 taka per seat.