ShashwatThe Land of the Thunder Dragon is a pretty amazing, kind-a hidden and absolutely fascinating place to go on your next adventure!
Bhutan has many things one would want from a perfect, peaceful destination – Colorful Festivals, Wildlife, Natural Landscapes & so much more!
So, today we bring to you this little piece of content where we share with you all that you need to know about How to Travel to Bhutan from India!
Let’s start with the documentations, aight?
Table of Contents
Passport & Bhutan Permit
So, if you happen to be an Indian passport holder, you are in for a treat because there is no VISA requirement for Indians to visit Bhutan – all you need is a valid passport plus a Bhutan Permit – which you can easily get from the connecting point between the two countries – by the Department of Immigration in the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing.
To obtain the permit, you’d need to carry a few important docs so make sure you do that unless you want to go all the way to the border to just shake your hand bye to your fellow passengers, aight?
Here’s the required docs list:
- Original Indian Passport (with minimum 6 months validity)
- 02 passport sized photos
- Travel Insurance*
*If you book your tour through an online operator, you might not need to worry about this stuff much.
Things to remember:
- You can obtain the permit from any entry points in Bhutan through the Immigration Office or at the Paro Airport.
- This permit allows you to travel in Paro & Thimphu only.
- If you plan to travel to other areas in the country, you must obtain a special permit from Thimphu.
How to go Bhutan from India?
Now that we know How easy it is to get an entry into Bhutan from India, let’s talk about the best ways to get there.
There are majorly two ways you can enter Bhutan – via road or via flight.
You can get a train to the nearby station (Hasimara, West Bengal – 17km from Jaigaon, border town) and then travel via road towards Phuentsholing, Bhutan.
by Air
The best way to reach Bhutan via flight is to take a flight towards Paro from the major airports of India: Mumbai, Kolkata & New Delhi.
- The cheapest flight will be from Kolkata and the cheapest months are mostly July & September.
- Flights mostly take about 1 or 1.5 hours to get you to Paro.
- From Kolkata to Paro, the cheapest cost for a flight will be around ā¹35k per person.
- Major airlines you’ll find for the route are: DrukAir & Hahn Air.
by Road
The more adventurous and lately, trending way for getting to Bhutan from India is via a road trip.
There are majorly three entry points to enter Bhutan:
- Phuentsholing: The most common entry point, at the West Bengal-Bhutan border.
- Gelephu: Closer to Assam, located in south-central Bhutan.
- Samdrup Jongkhar: Near Assam, located in south-eastern Bhutan.
You can easily find your way to these points via train journey, a flight into West Bengal or Assam, etc.
Once there, people usually take taxis or buses towards the border, show passport and enter Bhutan.
What is the cheapest way to go to Bhutan?
The most cheapest option when planning how to go to Bhutan from India, is the journey through road. The most recommended route into Bhutan is said to be via Jaigaon due to it being pretty accessible as well as because the immigration office here is open for later hours when compared to other borders.
You can take a train or flight to Kolkata or Hasimara or Jaigaon in WB and then move on ahead towards Phuentsholing in Bhutan without any such hassle.
What is the best time to visit Bhutan?
Spring season is considered to be the most amazing time to visit Bhutan to intake all that it has to offer.
Spring i.e. between March to May hence, sees a significant increase in visitors from many different places across the world.
As the ice melts away and the entire premise is beautifully filled with new flowers blooming, providing a more vibrant look to the overall landscape – the destination becomes quite a peaceful and ambient place to be for travelers of any zone.
Another pretty popular time to visit Bhutan is Autumn i.e. during the months of September to early November.
The climate is super pleasant and mostly sunny as the mountains seem to evolve in a magical state with leaves falling off the large trees and pretty blue skies making sure your days in the country are filled with happy vibes and a relaxing ambiance.
Now, as these two seasons (Spring and Autumn) are the best times to visit Bhutan from India, you must plan your travel keeping in mind these would also be the most busy times for tourism in there.
Which means, travelers, explorers and bloggers will be jam-packed at the most beautiful sites most of the times.
If you love having people around and want to experience the best weathers of Bhutan, surely visit during these seasons.
But, if you want a more – me time, a more relaxed, less noisy, more peaceful atmosphere at your most favorite spots in the country – you must visit in the months of June or August.
These are the monsoon months of Bhutan and is considered to be the cheapest time to travel in the country.
Although, you get an overall affordable travel experience with cheaper travel and cheaper accommodations, but you also loose on trying out the best treks and hikes in the hilly areas.
How much does it cost to visit Bhutan from India?
To answer the question how to travel to Bhutan from India is all its aspects, we must also talk about what is the actual cost for visiting this neighboring country.
The cost to visit Bhutan from India can vary greatly on several factors including your style of travel, preferences or the season you’ve choses to travel.
Still, we have here – a cost breakdown to help you understand what potential cost would you need for your trip:
- Flights from India to Bhutan, as of now, approximately would cost you about ā¹30-35k for a round trip.
- Budget Accommodation in Bhutan is pretty cheap, starting from approximately ā¹1-3k per room on double sharing.
- Budget Meals in Bhutan mostly range anywhere around ā¹300-500 per meal.
- Transportation in and around Bhutan costs around:
- Buses: ā¹50-ā¹200 for shorter distances
- Local Taxi: ā¹200-ā¹500 for shorter distances
- Private Cab: ā¹2000-ā¹5000 per day, depending on the vehicle
- Activities in Bhutan while you travel around cost you about ā¹100-ā¹500 per person
ESTIMATED COST FOR VISITING BHUTAN FROM INDIA (for 5 days trip):
- Budget Trip – ā¹18,000 – ā¹28,000 per person
- Mid-Range Trip – ā¹28,000 – ā¹50,000 per person
- Luxury Trip – ā¹70,000+
Can you use Indian rupees in Bhutan?
Yes, INR or Indian Rupees are widely accepted in Bhutan, particularly the lower denominations like ā¹100 or less.
Bhutan’s official currency is Ngultrum (BTN), which is mostly the same as an INR.
It is advisable to carry the local Bhutan currency for a seamless experience, especially at rural areas for small purchases, etc.
ATMs in Bhutan accept Indian debit/credit cards but you must always check with your bank for any international transaction fees, etc.
Can Indians travel freely in Bhutan?
Yes, there is no doubt that Indians can easily, freely travel in and around Bhutan without any sort of hassle. You just need to have a valid passport, a valid entry permit and you’re good to go!
Travel across the beautiful cities like Paro and Thimphu, explore the various monasteries, understand the unique culture and traditions of the country, dive deep into the incredible and adventurous jungle hikes, treks and do not miss a visit to the most popular spots like the Tiger’s Nest, Zuri Dzong, etc.
Does Indian SIM work in Bhutan?
While you can use your Indian SIM card in Bhutan with international roaming packs, it is highly recommended to get a local SIM card if you really need internet on the go – it’ll be a more economical choice for extended stays.
If you are going for a few days of travel with family or friends, you might get a decent level of network in the country.
Major Indian telecom operators like Airtel, Vodafone and Jio offer roaming services in Bhutan, although the network coverage can vary – mostly in remote or mountainous regions.
Is Bhutan safe for solo female travelers?
Bhutan has been called time and again the most happiest, safest carbon-free country in the whole wide world. And that means that it is absolutely favorable to travel there as a solo female traveler.
Petty crimes like pickpocketing, etc. might be seen just like any other country across the globe, but nothing major has ever been recorded from this little, magnificent country till now.
Just keep a few things in mind and there’ll no hassle in your solo venture whatsoever:
- Dress modestly, especially when visiting the monasteries or temples. As it is a way to show respect to their traditions. Modest here means try to dresses which cover your shoulders and knees.
- Stay connected with people back home. Invest in a local SIM if you are facing network difficulties with your SIM card.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
Conclusion
And that is all in my opinion about how to travel to Bhutan from India.
If you think I missed something, feel free to correct me out in the comments down below.
Bhutan is a lovely country, but it seems to be ignored for quite a long time now. And so, I decided to blog it out and share how wonderful and easy it is for us Indians to plan our next big adventure in this lovely neighboring country.
What are your thoughts? Have a suggestion for a blog? Comment down below!
That’s All Folks!
