How to Reach Bhutan from India?

Is Passport Required for Bhutan?

Among the common and frequently asked questions, while planning a trip to Bhutan from India is whether a passport is needed.

The best thing that a citizen of India can hear is that he or she does not even require traveling with a passport to get to Bhutan. This can be replaced by the local, government-issued, photo-ID documents which are legal in India like the PAN card, Aadhaar, & Voter ID.

Do Indians need Visa for Bhutan?

Even though an ID or a passport is not mandatory for citizens from the Republic of India, they do require a visa to enter Bhutan. Nevertheless, the visa procedures are not very complicated.

There are two ways how to reach Bhutan from India. Either you get it in advance or you can get a visa on arrival at the border of Bhutan. To use a visa in advance you will have to fill in the application form from the Bhutanese tour operator or travel agent. Attach your valid ID and a passport-size photograph.

You can also obtain a visa on arrival although it is advisable to get one in advance. The main immigration point between India and Bhutan is the Phuentsholing border crossing. You have to submit your Indian ID, a photograph, and the fees for the current visa which is INR 1,200(Price may change) to the equivalent value in other currencies.

How to Reach Bhutan from Delhi

Bhutan is usually accessed through the Indian city of New Delhi. This is the capital city of India. There are several options for how to reach Bhutan from India, Delhi,

1. By Air: The most preferred and quickest means of getting to Bhutan from Delhi is through a flight. The Bhutan Airlines, Drukair, has a daily/ almost daily flight between Delhi-Paro the only international airport of Bhutan. It is a 1 hour and 45 minute duration flight.
2. By Road: If you are interested in road transport then you can either go by bus or you can hire a taxi to travel from Delhi to Bhutan. Despite what many people believe, it takes between 12-14 hours to travel on the road. It depends on the starting point and the chosen trajectory.

How to Reach Bhutan from Kolkata

There is another important gateway to Bhutan from India which is Kolkata. It is the capital city of the eastern Indian state, namely West Bengal. Here are the options for how to reach Bhutan from India, Kolkata

1. By Air: Drukair operates on a direct flight from Kolkata to Paro which is the only International airport in Bhutan. The duration of the flight is between 1 hour and 20 min.
2. By Road: Another mode by which you can reach Bhutan is through motor transportation starting from Kolkata. The road trip will take between 8-10 hours. This depends on the departure point and the most suitable route you decide to use.

How to Reach Bhutan from Mumbai

Bhutan is a small country located in the lovely Lap region, unspoiled by the tumults of modernity. As one of the most adventitious countries. Bhutan is quite hard to reach for many of the people. If you are residing in Mumbai and want to reach Bhutan then you can have the following possibilities to reach Bhutan.

The gateway to Bhutan is easily accessible from Mumbai which, however, takes slightly longer time as compared to the other big cities of India. Here’s how to reach Bhutan from India, Mumbai:

1. By Air: Drukair also operates direct flights between Mumbai and Paro. It is the international airport of Bhutan. The flight time that is available for the trip is between 2 and a half to 3 hours.
2. By Road: If you have your transport then by road also you can reach Bhutan from Mumbai by car or by bus. The trip should last between 20 and 24 hours depending on the destination that you are coming from and the predominant route.

How to Reach Bhutan from Bangalore

Another city that directly connects to the kingdom of Bhutan is Bangalore, which is also known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’. Here are the options to reach Bhutan from Bangalore: Here are the options to reach Bhutan from Bangalore:

1. By Air: Drukair is the national carrier of Bhutan that operates airplanes and flies from Bangalore to Paro circuit, the only international airport of Bhutan. Flight time is about 135 minutes; the time is in the local language, and the meaning was translated into English manually.
2. By Road: There are also roadways to reach Bhutan from Bangalore which is for 34 hrs. The entire journey can take between 18-22 hours based on the origin of the journey and the route that is taken.

 

Also, read How to Travel the World on a Budget

How to Reach Bhutan from India by Train 

Currently, there is no railway transportation within Bhutan. But one can easily travel by train from one of the neighboring states of India into Bhutan. The adjacent rail head is in Jaigaon, West Bengal which is almost 40 kilometers away from the border of Bhutan. From there you can take a taxi or bus to get to the border of Bhutan known as Phuentsholing.

How to Reach Bhutan from India by Road?

One of the major ways through which tourists can enter Bhutan is via the mode of Road where tourists use roads from India heading to Bhutan. The border between India and Bhutan is kind of like a story in itself. There are several of them across the country. Some of the popular road routes to Bhutan from India include:

1. From West Bengal: The main route is the border point from West Bengal which is Phuentsholing about 170 kilometres from Kolkata.
2. From Assam: The Gelephu border check post in Assam is yet another entry to Bhutan at approximately 300 km distance from Guwahati.
3. From Arunachal Pradesh: The Nathula Pass which is the only border link connecting Arunachal Pradesh to Bhutan is also marked by difficult terrain, especially during winter.

No matter the case, on arrival, you will need to get immigration permits and other documents before crossing the border of Bhutan.

India to Bhutan Flight Price

Flights from India to Bhutan can be cheap but depend on the company, the city of departure, and the date of the trip. The one-way flight fare from major Indian cities to Paro, the only international airport in Bhutan is in the range of INR 8000 to INR 15000 on average(price may change). Just like the tip mentioned above, It’s always wise to book your flights as early as you plan to travel so that you benefit from the early bird discount.

Is Bhutan Open for Indian Tourists?

Yes, The citizens of India are allowed to visit Bhutan. The citizens of India benefit from a more favorable position than those representatives of other countries who are attracted to the attractions of The Kingdom. There are no restrictions if an Indian national intends to visit Bhutan without prior arrangements for a pre-paid package tour. The visa fee for Indians is substantially less. I am sure till now you must have a clear idea of How to Reach Bhutan from India.

However, it may be useful to know that Bhutan has adopted a “High-Value, Low-Volume” tourism policy that is, the country does not allow a large number of tourists to visit the country because of the purpose of sustainable development and the protection of cultural and natural resources.

That is why you might have to arrange your travel and accommodation well in advance. Set your dates for traveling and booking your accommodations in advance. This also applies to how to reach Bhutan from India, as Indian tourists need to plan their trip carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.