Getting Around Kushtia
Kushtia is a compact city on the banks of the Gorai River, and most visitors find it easy to navigate without a car. The practical reality of local transport is simple: hail a vehicle when you need one, and expect to do a fair amount of walking between stops. The sticky heat can make long walks tiring, so plan to mix the two.
Arriving by Bus
Kushtia's main road gateway is the Kushtia Central Bus Terminal, also known as Chourhas Bus Terminal, which was built in 1991. Long-distance bus services connect the city with the rest of the country. Hanif Enterprise, for example, runs a service between Dhaka and Kushtia that takes roughly five and a half hours, with tickets priced around Tk 600 depending on the type of bus. You can reach Hanif Enterprise by phone at 01911-920666 or by email at info@vromonbilash.com, though you may have trouble getting a reply in English.
Once you arrive at the terminal, you are on the edge of the city's commercial spine. The city's shops and businesses cluster along NS Road, which runs toward the river and the old market area, so it is straightforward to continue into the center from there.
Arriving by Rail
Kushtia has a long railway heritage. The first railway station in what is now Bangladesh, Jagati railway station, is located in Jagati, Kushtia, and the line from Ranaghat in Kolkata to Jagati was inaugurated in 1862. The line was later extended, which led to the establishment of the Kushtia Court and Kushtia railway stations in 1871. Today, Kushtia Court railway station is the main station serving the city. It handles a mix of intercity, commuter, and local trains, so you can arrive from other parts of the country by rail and step off close to the city center.
Buses and Public Transport Within the City
Kushtia does not have a metro or tram network; the city is served by road and rail rather than urban rapid transit. For getting around town, the everyday options are the small vehicles you flag down on the street rather than a formal city bus system. If you are coming from outside, the intercity bus terminal at Chourhas is your main point of arrival and departure.
CNG Auto-Rickshaws and Taxis
The most practical way to move around Kushtia is to hail a CNG (a compressed-natural-gas three-wheeler) or an auto rickshaw. These are readily available and will take you wherever you need to go within the city. If you prefer to drive yourself, that is also an option. Ride-hailing apps are not described in the available information, so plan on flagging down a CNG or auto rickshaw directly rather than booking through an app.
Walking
Walking is a viable way to explore parts of Kushtia, particularly the commercial heart of the city around NS Road and the riverside Big Bazar, which developed on the bank of the Gorai River at the eastern end of NS Road. Be aware that the heat and humidity can make extended walking uncomfortable, so it is wise to break up your day with short rides. Note also that the city sits beside the Gorai River, and crossing to areas such as Haripur and Kaya is done via the Haripur Bridge, which connects Thanapara to Haripur; people also cross the river by boat from Ghorar Ghat in the Big Bazar area.
Getting There from the Airport
Kushtia has no commercial air service of its own. The closest commercial airports are in Rajshahi and Dhaka, so air travelers will need to fly into one of those cities and continue overland. From Dhaka, the most direct option is the bus: Hanif Enterprise runs the Dhaka–Kushtia route in about five and a half hours for roughly Tk 600, depending on the bus type. Rail is another way to cover the distance, arriving at Kushtia Court railway station. Whichever you choose, budget for a half-day of travel once you land.