Bhutan is one of the cheapest international destinations for Indian. Bhutan can be easily reached by train, air and also a road. There is something about Bhutan and the mesmerizing land touches your soul with peace. The breathtaking views, majestic monasteries, and the salubrious climate are some ways to describe the beauty of Bhutan. This article shows you the ways to reach the beautiful country.
By air
Flying to Bhutan from India is the easiest way to reach Bhutan. Paro international airport is the only international airport and it is the only way to reach Bhutan by air. Paro international airport is situated at the height of 7300 feet above sea level and the airport is surrounded by mountains.
Drukair and the Bhutan airlines operate regular flights to and from Paro to Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Kolkata, and Gaya. Bagdogra airport is located in West Bengal and it is the nearest airport of the Indian state. It takes a four-hour journey to the Bhutanese border town Phuentsholing.
While traveling by plane, Bhutan’s Paro international airport brings an exciting experience. The amazing Paro valley will definitely give you a wonderful experience and the mountain tops are closer than the other flights in the world.
By train
Traveling Bhutan by train is one of the cheapest ways from India. There is no straight train route in Bhutan. You have to reach the defined station and then you have to take the local transport or cab to reach Bhutan. The great options from India are Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri Station, New Alipurduar, and Hasimara.
Hasimara is the nearest railway station situated in West Bengal and it is only 17 kilometers away from Jalgaon. There are trains to Hasimara from Kanpur (1197kms), Delhi (1663 kms), Ranchi (749 kms), and Kolkata (690 kms).
Another railway station is situated in New Jalpaiguri that also offers a decent connectivity. You can see the timetable and tickets from the Indian Railway’s IRCTC Website. Traveling by train may take longer, but it is quite cost efficient and great for budget travelers.
By road
Here, the simplest and most convenient road trip. There are three places where you have to cross over the Indian border and enter into Bhutan. These are Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelephu, and Phuentsholing.
Samdrup Jongkhar and Gelephu are connected to the Indian state of Assam. The route Jaigaon-Phuentsholing point is the most common way to reach Bhutan. It is located in the West Bengal and shares the border with Bhutan. Traveling through the Phuentsholing is the simplest and the most convenient route to reach. Here, we are focused on this route. By taking this route you can quickly reach Bhutan’s capital Thimbu within a few hours.
Visitors from India, Maldives, and Bangladesh don’t require a visa to reach Bhutan. They can take a permit from the entry point by using their valid passport. Indians also used their voter ID card to get the entry permit.
From Kolkata to Phuentsholing
You can spend the very nominal amount to reach the India-Bhutan border town of Phuentsholing if you take the bus. There are several buses runs throughout the week by the Royal Bhutanese Government. But, you need to travel a long journey around 22 hours. Sometimes, the roads are not in excellent condition.
Another recommended route takes the train from Kolkata to Siliguri. From there, you can take an auto-rickshaw, taxi or a car to reach Phuentsholing. There are many trains available to Siliguri from Kolkata. You have to travel around 12 hours to reach Siliguri.
The other option to travel Kolkata to Bhutan is taking a private vehicle. Kolkata has an abundant option to rent vehicles. Before enter to Bhutan’s road, you need to take a permit for your vehicle.
From Siliguri to Phuentsholing
The travel from Siliguri to Phuentsholing is one of the easiest routes and it is only about 157km. when you reach Siliguri, your options are to take a shared jeep, private taxi or bus. The travel by bus takes around 5 hours to reach and while traveling you can enjoy the hilly vistas. On this route, the government of Bhutan runs two buses daily at 7:30 hours and 13:30 hours. There is also a taxi and non-AC taxis available.
From Siliguri, you can take two routes to reach Phuentsholing. Using the NH31C is the first route and also shorter distance to cover. Siliguri-Guwahati national-highway is the second route to reach. You also can know about ever green city of india
From Phuentsholing to Thimbu
Once you reach Phuentsholing, you need to obtain your permits and then you are a tourist in Bhutan. After obtaining your permit, the next step is to travel to this beautiful country.
There are buses and private taxies available to go from the Phuentsholing to Thimbu. You have to travel 165 km to reach Thimbu. Read more here why do people stay in hotels