India to Bhutan Road Trip

India to Bhutan Road Trip: A 7 Day Plan

 Excited to plan a visit to the ‘happiest country in the world’?

Bhutan, also known as the ‘Land of Thunder Dragon’ is one of the most popular sought-after places for tourists. But planning to visit Bhutan from India may be a hard decision to make. Many of you may be confused about how many days to plan for it, and how to prepare for the long road trip.

Now it’s not every day that you get to plan such a journey, so why not make the best out of it? Here in this article, I have mentioned both a 7-day plan and a 10-day plan. You can easily choose based on what suits your taste.

But before jumping right into it, let’s first discuss how I have structured the article. This will only help you cover the whole article without much hassle.

First, we start with why ‘India to Bhutan Road Trip’ has to be on your bucket list. Secondly, we will discuss the beauty of Bhutan and how much the trip will be worth it. Third, we will come to the planning part. Finally, we will discuss the necessary precautions needed to be taken before your journey.

Now let’s get started:

Why India to Bhutan Road Trip is a must –

• You’ll get to explore the numerous monasteries while enjoying the cultural delights.
• On the way to Bhutan, you can drop sweat on the treks of – Thanza, Laya-Gasa Trek, Jhomolhari, Soiyaksa Trek, etc.
• If you are an enthusiast of mountain biking, mountaineering, and rafting then this is for you!
• Are you a nature-loving person? Get the pleasure to catch on camera a few of the bird species among 600 on your way to Bhutan.
• The pristine environment with rich educational and historical significance will sure leave a mark on you. After all, this country is known as the ‘country of happiness’ not for nothing.

Draped in the charm of Buddhist monasteries, Bhutan pays tribute to ‘mother nature’ in its smiling and charming ways. The breathtaking landscapes, the vibrant color all throughout the country, the mesmerizing land and people, the cultural diversity gives Bhutan the unique package of happiness and delicacy.

Shrouded with mystery and magic these monasteries, cultural arts, mountains, and landscapes urge you constantly to put down your work and relax your body and mind amidst this beautiful place.

Most people prefer to take a sip of road journey within this landlocked country to experience the calmness and eloquence of nature, culture, and traditions.

How to start the journey 

The easiest way to prepare for the road trip would be to start from Delhi by road and enter the country from any of the three borders. These borders are open for tourists from India. They are – the Jaigaon – Phuentsholing Border, the Bongaigaon – Gelephu border, and lastly the Darangmela – Samdrup Jongkhar border.

The most preferable is the first one, the Jaigaon – Phuentsholing border. Most people prefer to go through this than the other ones. It’s simply a preference matter. You can also decide on your own about the entry.

The 7 Day Plan:

I will give you a 7-day plan for the road trip to Bhutan from both Bagdogra (Siliguri), and from Delhi. And will only discuss in detail the tour from Phuentsholing onwards. So either choose to start from Bagdogra or from Delhi.

From Bagdogra:

• Day 1: Bagdogra to Phuentsholing
• Day 2: Phuentsholing to Thimphu
• Day 3. Thimpu Sightseeing/Rest Day
• Day 4. Thimpu to Punakha
• Day 5: Punakha to Paro
• Day 6: Tiger’s Nest Hike and Hot Water Bath (or your choice for the day)
• Day 7: Paro to Phuentsholing and back.

The 10 Day Plan

From Delhi: (with a break and a bit extra)

This is mostly the same routine like the above, but with a bit more details and added information. 

• Day 1: Delhi to Siliguri
• Day 2: Siliguri to Phuentsholing
• Day 3: Phuentsholing to Paro
• Day 4: Paro (Rest day/local sightseeing)
• Day 5: Paro to Thimpu
• Day 6: Thimpu to Punakha
• Day 7: Punakha to Phobjikha Valley (return to Punakha the same day after visiting Phobjikha Valley)
• Day 8: Punakha to Phuentsholing
• Day 9: Phuentsholing to Siliguri
• Day 10: Siliguri to Delhi (and back to busy lifestyle)

If you want to make a stop at Siliguri go ahead and do that. As you can see there’s a lot for you to cover in the next 7, or 10 days. Places to visit in Siliguri are:

• Hong Kong Market
• Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Coronation Bridge
• Savin Kingdom
• Dudhia
• Chipata Forest, etc.

The distance between Phuentsholing (the border town of Southern Bhutan) and Siliguri is approximately 94 km. On this journey, you can relax and take a break by visiting some famous attraction sites in Phuetsholing. Like:

• Tiger’s Nest Monastery
• Rinpung Dzong
• Rafting in Paro Chu river
• Trekking at Samtengang
• Paro Taktsang
• Chele La Pass, etc.

As you are staying in Paro the next day, you can exhaust and refresh your body from the long journey by visiting these places, or by simply resting in your room.

Thimpu the largest city in Bhutan pockets quite a bag of popular places for tourists. Some of them are:

• Dochula Pass
• Buddha Dordenma
• Thimpu Chorten
• Royal Botanical Garden
• Jigme Dorji National Park
• Motithang Takin Preserve, etc.

The beautiful architectured town Punakha is situated at the crossroad of two rivers namely, the Pho and Mo Chu rivers. Punakha to Phobjikha Valley is a 88 km ride. So many people tend to cross-check it thinking of the way back again. But once again, it’s up to you. I am just giving you informative options.

It takes approximately 7 hr and a half to return to Phuetsholing from Punakha. And again you have to cover a distance of 4 hrs, to get to Siliguri from Phuetsholing. After that, you can either go by train, or by car to reach Delhi or Bagdogra. Do visit Bumthang Valley and Gangtey Valley, as they are two of the must-visit places among others.

Necessary Precautions/Points You Need to Remember –

The best time to visit Bhutan is during Spring when the flowers will be in bloom, i.e, between March-May.

Necessary documents are required before you get the permit from the Immigration Office in Phuetsholing. The documents and some important tips are:

• A duly filled form
• Copy of Voter Id card or Passport
• An itinerary on an A4 sheet
• Booked Hotel’s Voucher
• Passport size photo
• Mention the position you work at (not just the company name/type of job)
• Be around 8 am to 8.30 am to avoid long queue
• A separate permit is required to visit Bumthang

Conclusion:

Well, this is it! We have completed our list. If you have any further questions write them down below and we will get back to you soon. Apart from this road trip to Bhutan, if you want to know about any more road trip journeys let us know in the comment section.

Hope you enjoy a wonderful journey filled with amazing memories. Enjoy your tour. Stay healthy.

All the best for your journey! Adieu!

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