A Kingdom that balances environmental sustainability and cultural preservation
Even the most privileged travelers consider Bhutan a special destination. Its secluded location, limited accessibility, and preservation efforts have shielded many from visiting this jewel in the Himalayas. Bhutan only opened its doors to tourism in 1974, with the number of tourists kept to an environmentally manageable level through government-regulated tourist tariffs. Bhutanese are renowned for their happiness and are proud people who wear their national costumes with pride.
Indians do not need a visa to travel to Bhutan although they do require a valid Indian passport or a Voter Identity Card and an Entry Permit from the Immigration Office of the Royal Government of Bhutan at Phuentsholing. This is located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon, West Bengal. However, travelers can visit only Paro and Thimphu using this entry permit. If you wish to visit other places, then you have to get a special area permit from the Royal Government of Bhutan Immigration Office in Thimphu.
How To Reach Bhutan
How to Reach Bhutan by Road ( Car / Bus)
Traveling to Bhutan by car is a popular way to reach Bhutan especially for those people who love going on road trips. India has three border points - Jaigaon – Phuentsholing Border, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar. Phuentsholing is the more preferred option for those trying to reach Bhutan by road. It is around 170 km from Bagdogra in West Bengal. It is easily accessible and you can even halt here before you head on towards Bhutan.
You can contact CarForSure & hire private taxis from various places such as Bagdogra Airport or Siliguri Phuentsholing is on the Bhutan side of the border and once you reach there, the journey to Thimpu can be around 5 to 6 hours. The journey is rather scenic as you cross various sub-tropical areas or even the alpine zones. For those who love the idea of the journey being as vital as the destination, a road trip can be quite an exhilarating way to reach Bhutan.
You can travel to Bhutan from Kolkata by bus. There are direct buses from Esplanade Station in Kolkata which will take you directly to Phuentsholing. Do be warned though, the bus journey is around 18 hours from Kolkata but around 4 hours only, from Siliguri. The trip is quite comfortable as the buses are maintained in good condition as they are run by the Royal Bhutanese Government.
How to Reach Bhutan by Air
The best way to reach Bhutan is by air. The only international airport in Bhutan is in Paro and it is called Paro International Airport. It is around 7 kms from the city. It has connecting flights from various cities such as Mumbai and Guwahati. Direct flights to Bhutan can be found from Kolkata, Bagdogra International Airport and Delhi. You can also take a direct flight from Nepal to Bhutan. In fact, this journey is quite exciting by air as you can see four of the highest mountains in the world (Mt. Everest, Makalu, Lhotse, and Kangchenjunga) from the airplane. It takes an hour to reach Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, from Paro. Paro itself is surrounded by mountains and it is at a height of 7300 feet above sea level. Descending into Paro to land can be quite a spectacular and unforgettable experience as mountain tops are so close by.
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