Boarding The Rocket Steamer

It wasn’t until I reached Badamtoli Ghat that I was told there is no rocket steamer today. Next service would be Saturday as tomorrow is Friday – a day off for the steamer. This is so frustrating. I tried to argue why I was not told when I did my reservation earlier. The guy attending to me in earlier day was so certain that he asked me to come to the office at 3.30pm to collect the ticket. He even put my name in the log book. And I was happy to have arrived at their office at 3.30pm sharp.

So there is no rocket steamer today.

Luxury triple-towered ferry

However, I was told that there is a larger, more modern and luxury triple-towered ferry, with similar cabin, if not of better class, departing to Hularhat today. If I insisted on taking the rocket steamer, that means I had to stay in Dhaka for the next two days. This is so frustrating! I really didn’t want to stay in Dhaka. Enough is enough. I had enough with Dhaka, especially with all the frantic honk and frenzy traffic. It is always incredibly crowded, noisy and chaotic, day and night. The honk in Dhaka is something that you have no way to stay away. First, it is an intro, then it is a nuisance.

After clearing my head, I decided to wait. Catching this hundred years old steamer has been one of the reasons I come to Bangladesh. I do not want to miss this.

It was only revealed later that the Rocket departing from Dhaka has been reduced to four times a week – Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

Boarding the P. S. Lepcha!

What a heap of rustic junk!

Rocket steamer is a vintage paddle-wheel steamer which has been travelling along Bangladesh’s rivers since 20^th century. It is called ‘Rocket’ because the maritime relic used to be the fastest vessel on Bangladesh rivers hundred or so years ago. Ironically, they could be the slowest vessel on Bangladesh rivers today. Only four steamers remain in service today. There are no longer powered by steam but diesel.

It is a classic cruising that has to be done.