Travel To Bhutan From India – Bhutan is one of India’s closest neighbors and offers tourists a variety of spectacular views and activities. But if you thought Bhutan was difficult to get to, think again. It is easily accessible via a variety of modes of transportation, including the simplest and also most convenient of the lot, the road trip.
The road trip to Bhutan begins in various locations in West Bengal, India, and ends in Thimpu, Bhutan.
There are three ways to Travel To Bhutan From India.
There are three perspectives where you can cross into Bhutan from India. Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Phuentsholing are their names. The first 2 are associated with Assam, an Indian state.
This article focuses on the third route, which is entered through the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing point on West Bengal’s border with Bhutan. This is the quickest and most convenient route, and you can reach the Bhutanese capital of Thimpu in a matter of hours from Phuentsholing.
The Bhutanese town of Phuentsholing serves as your gateway to Thimpu. The capital city is approximately 170 kilometers away and is easily accessible. This article will explain how to get to Phuentsholing and then how to get from there to Thimpu by road.
Kolkata is well connected by road, air, and rail to the rest of the country (even waterways). If Kolkata is your place to start, there are several advantages as well as disadvantages.
To begin, if you want to take a bus, you can do so for a very low cost and arrive at the India-Bhutan border of Phuentsholing. This option is less expensive, and there is no need to change modes of transportation. Several buses are operated by the Royal Bhutanese Government throughout the week.
The downside is that it’s a long road of around 22 hours, and the roads aren’t always in good condition. As a result, the journey may be somewhat uncomfortable.
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Train from Kolkata to Bhutan
The train journey from Kolkata to Siliguri
If you want to travel a little further, we suggest taking a train from Kolkata to Falakata, Siliguri/New Jalpaiguri (NJP), or Hasimara. From there, you can take a car, shared jeep, auto-rickshaw, or taxi to Phuentsholing and then continue onwards after obtaining your permit.
Trains from Kolkata to Jalpaiguri cost approximately INR 875. (Kanchanjunga Express – 3AC)
Travel To Bhutan From India – From Kolkata, there are numerous day and overnight trains. The train ride to Siliguri takes about 12 hours, but if you decide to visit other points near the border, it will add a few hours to your journey. However, the frequency of direct trains to Falakata and Hasimara is lower.
Train tickets from Kolkata to Hasimara cost approximately INR 1014. (Kanchan Kanya Express – 3AC).
The third choice is, of course, to travel from Kolkata to Bhutan in a private vehicle. If you want to rent a car, Kolkata has plenty of options, and this is an excellent way to travel if you want to be completely self-sufficient. Keep in mind that you’ll need to obtain a vehicle permit before you can finally drive on Bhutan’s roads.
Permits can be acquired for a fee at the Regional Transport office in Phuentsholing. Please bring your vehicle documentation (original and copies), as well as your passport as well as driver’s license.
Bus or taxi from Bagdogra or Siliguri to Bhutan
The journey from Siliguri to Phuentsholing is much shorter, covering only about 157 kilometers. When you arrive in Siliguri, you can take a bus, shared jeep, private taxi, or another mode of transportation. The bus ride takes about 5 hours, and you can enjoy the mountainous scenery along the way. Regrettably, the roads are frequently poorly maintained, making for a bumpy ride.
The Bhutanese government operates two buses on this route daily, at 07:30 and 13:30. There are taxis as well, and a non-AC taxi that can carry 5 persons will cost around – 3000 for a one-way trip. Prices vary greatly, and you may need to bargain to get a fair deal.
Bhutan to Siliguri
You can travel to Phuentsholing via one of two routes from Siliguri. This is a way to Travel To Bhutan From India. The first, using the NH31C, travels a shorter distance. The second route, via the Siliguri-Guwahati National Highway, maybe a better option, despite being slightly longer. You can also take the train from Siliguri to Falakata or Hasimara and then drive to the border.
Train tickets from Siliguri to Hasimara cost approximately INR 495. (Indore – Guwahati Weekly Express – 3AC).
Hasimara in Bhutan
The distance from Hasimara to Jaigaon is only 15 kilometers, which is a much more pleasant distance to travel. It only takes about 30 minutes to get to the border from there, and there are several options for transportation, including an auto-rickshaw, shared jeep, or taxi. Traveling this way will also save you money.
An auto-rickshaw will cost you around INR 100, a shared jeep will cost you around – INR 50 per person and a private taxi from Hasimara will cost you around INR 400. The cheapest option is to take a bus, which costs around INR 15 per person. Please keep in mind that prices are subject to change at any time.
Keep in mind that many of these vehicles will decline you on the Indian side of the border, and you may need to take another vehicle to get to Phuentsholing. This border-to-border trip is inexpensive.
Bhutan to Bagdogra
Bagdogra, India’s nearest airport, is about 9 kilometers from Siliguri. Flights arrive at the airport from major Indian cities including Mumbai and Delhi. It also has international flights to the Paro Airport, which connects it to Bhutan.
As you drive to the border, you can watch tea gardens pass by your car window as you follow the digressive course of the Teesta (and several other rivers). The roads are generally in good condition, and the four-hour journey from Bagdogra to Phuentsholing can be completed in relative comfort. The distance is approximately 164 kilometers, and buses, jeeps, and taxis are available.
Travel To Bhutan From India – When traveling from Bagdogra Airport, the cheapest option is to take a shared taxi from the airport to the Nepal border.
Bus or taxi from Phuentsholing to Thimphu
Travel To Bhutan From India – Once you arrive in Phuentsholing as well as obtain your permits, you are officially a tourist in Bhutan. The following step will be to travel and explore this wonderful nation. If you desire to travel to Thimpu from the border, there are buses and private taxis available.
The journey is approximately 164 km or 5 hours by road; however, the quality of the roads varies and can make the journey longer. The bus fare is roughly INR 250, and there are both shared as well as private taxis available.
A four-seater private taxi will cost you around INR 2,500. Keep an eye out for the lovely teak forests that line the road as you travel. You can also stop by the Kharbandi Gompa, a lovely monastery with a view of the hills.
Several checkpoints and landmarks will be encountered along the way. Rich ending checkpoints, Takti-chu, Gedu village, Wangchu, Tsimakoti pass, and so on are examples. Keep your eyes peeled for waterfalls, mist-covered towns, and winding streams as you relax and take in the mountainous landscape. This is one of the most popular road trips from India to Bhutan.
The bottom line
Here are all the ways Travel To Bhutan From India we would like to share with you all. I hope that this article is helpful to you!
