Bhutan is the only country with a Happiness Index! Tourists from all over the globe visit Bhutan for either cultural trips or trekking expeditions. Our trip was more of a cultural excursion. We visited Monasteries and Dzongs which are spread throughout the country. The experience of visiting these peaceful structures made our stay in Bhutan a spiritual sojourn.
This post will let you know how to reach Bhutan. Also, I have appended some recommendations and suggestions which you can consider during your trip.
So, go through the pointers and let me know your concerns or questions in the comments section.
If you are planning to go by road, continue reading.
1) Reach Kolkata
You will have to reach Kolkata in order to embark a train which will take you further towards Bhutan. If you are traveling from North India, you can consider reaching Delhi, Kanpur or Ranchi. In addition, there are direct flights from Kolkata to Paro (Bhutan). Hence, you will have more options from Kolkata to reach Bhutan.
2) Reach Hasimara by Train
Hasimara is a small town in the Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. The town is situated at a distance of 17 KM from the Indo-Bhutan Border. In order to reach Hasimara, you will have to board a train from Kolkata. For North Indians, you can take a train from Delhi, Kanpur or Ranchi as mentioned earlier.
You can visit the Indian railway website to know about the timing, duration & timetable of the trains. We had boarded the Kanchankanya Express from Kolkata which reached Hasimara at 10:30 AM in the morning.
3) Reach Jaigaon By Taxi/Bus
Jaigaon is the Indian town touching Indo-Bhutan Border. All the formalities to acquire permission, in order to enter Bhutan, will be carried out here at the immigration office. Every individual will have to acquire permission to enter Bhutan. You can take an Indian car in Bhutan, but you need a separate permit for the car.
When you get a permit for Bhutan, it will only cover Thimpu & Paro. In case you want to go to Bumthang or any other distant destinations, you need a separate permit.
You can take help of local tour operators or do it yourself. Kindly note, you will have to provide a pre-decided itinerary to acquire the permit. In our case, we had taken help of a local tour operator and he got all the essential permits quickly.
Documents you need to carry
To get your permit, you require either a Passport or Voter’s ID. Because of the friendly relations between India and Bhutan, you would not require Visa. In case you do not have a passport or Voter’s ID, please carry any other identity proof like driver’s license or Pan Card. You will have to visit the Indian immigration office and ask for the further procedure to acquire a permit. They will provide you the assistance required.
Once you have executed the required formalities, you can enter Bhutan and proceed according to the itinerary. In our case, by the time we got permits, it was quite late. Hence, we had to stay in Jaigaon for a night.
Also read: 25 Places to visit in Bhutan
Things to do in Jaigaon
Jaigaon is like an average Indian town with average infrastructure. In case you need to stay here for a day, I have added some recommendations which you can consider.
1) Have a scrumptious thali at Barsana Restaurant
Before you enter Bhutan, you can savor Indian food in Barsana Restaurant. The restaurant is clean and well maintained. You can choose from a variety of Indian dishes. The price range is not very high.
I would recommend the Veg Thali available here. It will provide you a sumptuous meal which you would not get in Bhutan. However, there are many interesting places to eat in Bhutan where you can savor local cuisine.
2) Savour lip-smacking sweets at Sheetal Sweets & Snacks
Sheetal Sweets & Snacks can offer you a wide variety of delicious snacks and lip-smacking sweets. You can have Samosas, Pani Puri, Dhoklas etc in snacks. In sweets, you can taste Rasgullahs, Gulab Jamun, Ras – Malai and much more.
I would highly recommend this place as I simply loved the taste here.
3) Get a taste of Bhutan by visiting Phuntsholing
At night, you can visit the border town, Phuntsholing, in Bhutan. Simply walk through the streets and lookout for shops where you can purchase anything local. You do not need a permit to enter Phuntsholing. Just cross the gate and explore the Bhutanese town. However, the gates close at 9:30 PM. So, it is advisable to return before that. Apart from these, there is nothing in Jaigao worth recommending. Just stay in your room and get ready to battle the temperature difference you will face in Bhutan.
You might not have heard about the India Bhutan train earlier.
Is There A Train From India to Bhutan?
Unfortunately, there is no direct India Bhutan Train. However, you can reach Bhutan by train up to a certain point and then transfer to another mode of transportation, like a taxi or bus, to cross the border. Here’s what you need to know:
Train Options
- Closest stations: The closest railway stations to Bhutan are Hasimara, New Alipurduar, New Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri, all located in West Bengal, India. These stations are within 17-60 kilometres of the Bhutan border town of Phuentsholing.
- Train routes: You can find trains to these stations from major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Bangalore. You can check train schedules and book tickets on the Indian Railways website.
- You can also take a flight from Bangalore to Bhutan. When you choose this Bhutan flight from Bangalore, you will reach Paro in Bhutan as you can find many flights that take you from Bangalore to Paro.
How To Reach Bhutan from the Border?
- Taxis: The most common option is to hire a taxi from the nearest station to Phuentsholing. The journey takes about 1-2 hours depending on the traffic and road conditions. You can negotiate the fare with the taxi drivers beforehand.
- Buses: You can also find shared buses or private buses from the stations to Phuentsholing. Buses are generally cheaper than taxis but may take longer due to more stops.
- When it comes to a road trip, Guwahati to Bhutan Distance is around 358 km. You can take the Sarpang – Gelephu – Trongsa Highway route in this mode.
- Similarly, Siliguri Bhutan distance is around 491 km. You can take this road trip from this West Bengal City to reach Bhutan via the PNH1 road.
Important Things to Remember
- Visa requirements: All foreign nationals, including Indians, require a visa to enter Bhutan. You can apply for a visa online through the Bhutanese government website.
- Border crossing: The border crossing at Phuentsholing can be busy, especially during peak season. Allow enough time for immigration formalities.
- Permits: Depending on your itinerary, you may also need to obtain additional permits for trekking or visiting certain areas in Bhutan. You can find information about permits on the Bhutan Tourism Council website.
Alternative Options
- Flying: Flying is the fastest and most convenient way to reach Bhutan. The only airport in Bhutan is Paro Airport, which has flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati. Apart from a flight from Bangalore to Bhutan, you can find flights from other major Indian cities as well to Paro.
- Road trip: If you have a valid Bhutanese visa and driving permit, you can also drive to Bhutan from India. However, this option requires careful planning and knowledge of the border crossing procedures.
I hope this information helps you plan your trip to Bhutan!
I hope you find this post helpful. Feel free to browse through my experiences and recommendations by reading articles mentioned below.
2) Reason to avoid Bhutan Nightclubs
4) Places to visit in Bhutan, 25 best picks
In case you have specific queries about reaching Bhutan, kindly comment here J