Bhutan Tour Guide for Indian Travellers
I’ll never forget the feeling of driving from Jaigaon to Phuentsholing on my first trip to Bhutan. It is soothing to watch the mad rush of the chaotic Indian town turn to serene, immaculate streets within just a few hundred metres. Truth be told, that contrast pretty much describes the experience of Bhutan for most Indians. It is different enough to make it an ideal destination for a holiday, but not far away enough to require planning more than two weeks ahead. The following guide to Bhutan will give you all the information you might need for a hassle-free Bhutan holiday!
Planning Your Bhutan Trip from India: Where Should You Start?
There is only one thing you should take care of before booking anything, and that is figuring out how you actually want to enter Bhutan. This is because that one decision will dictate the course of your entire holiday plan in Bhutan. Whenever any of my friends ask me for advice on their Bhutan travel plans, I always start with locking in the following four things:
- Entry point: Bagdogra and Phuentsholing by road or Paro airport in Bhutan
- Duration: 5 to 7 days is a good choice for visits to Thimphu, Punakha and Paro
- Season: Monsoon season should be avoided when going to Bhutan by road
- Budget: Consider the Sustainable Development Fee, along with accommodation and transportation costs
Once all of these aspects are sorted out, the rest of your Bhutan trip planning will become pretty easy. This is because Bhutan is one of those rare nations where its tourism facilities are very organised for Indian tourists.
How to Reach Bhutan from India Through Bagdogra and Phuentsholing
I would definitely suggest that first-time visitors come to Bhutan by road due to the interesting road route rather than flying by an aircraft.
- Take a flight to Bagdogra> drive for about 170 kilometres till Jaigaon> cross Phuentsholing in 4 to 5 hours> enter Bhutan after clearing some formalities.
It takes some time, but the route through Chukha is really scenic with its pine forest and waterfalls. In case you do not have enough time, you can take a direct flight to Paro. You can take your flight with Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines from these respective cities in India.
· Druk Air- From Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati, and Mumbai.
· Bhutan Airlines- Delhi and Kolkata
The aircraft banks sharply between mountain ridges before touching down in the valley. I’ve done both routes into Bhutan now, and my honest advice is this:
- Fly in if you have five days or fewer.
- Drive in if you have a week or more and actually want to see rural Bhutan properly.
Quick Comparison of Entry Routes into Bhutan
| Mode of Entry | Time Required | Best For |
| Road trip from Bagdogra to Phuentsholing | 4-5 hours’ drive time along with further travel | Long Bhutan tours, road travel experiences |
| Direct flights to Paro in Bhutan | 1–2-hour flight time from most Indian cities | Short Bhutan tours, fewer leave days |
Best Places to Visit in Bhutan on Your First Trip
On your first visit to Bhutan, there is no point in visiting the entire country. Just go to the western circuit, where you will get to see almost all the places which make Bhutan tourism worth experiencing. You can skip the long travel days required in the eastern circuit of Bhutan for your second trip to the country. The top places which I have been to more than once, which I love, include:
- Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang): a difficult journey but completely mandatory in a Bhutan tour
- Punakha Dzong: perhaps the most beautiful fort of Bhutan
- Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu: very beautiful at sunset time
- Dochula Pass: 108 chortens with the Himalayan range on a clear day
- Chele La Pass: highest motorable pass near Paro, prayer flags for miles around
Thimphu, Punakha or Paro: Which Places Should You Include?
That is one question that never gets old, and here is what I say: Visit all of those places if possible, as each one is completely different.
● Thimphu
The capital of Bhutan, and the only one in the world without a single traffic light; police officers still direct traffic by hand instead. A very relaxed place to visit and nice to start with markets and museums.
● Punakha
A warmer place and lower elevation, with the dzong being at the meeting point of two rivers. Punakha suspension bridge was probably one of the most relaxing places during my whole trip to Bhutan.
● Paro
Where all flights arrive in Bhutan and where Tiger’s Nest is located. If your time in Bhutan is limited, you should spend three days there and make a small trip to Thimphu.
What Documents Do Indian Travellers Need for a Bhutan Trip?
Indians do not need a visa for their trip to Bhutan, but they must have a valid Bhutan permit. The documentation and ID authentication are stricter than usual. Here is what you will have to provide:
- A valid Indian passport with at least six months’ validity remaining, or
- A valid Indian Voter ID card
Note that Aadhaar, PAN card, and driving license are not separately considered when applying for Bhutan entry. Have two passport-size photos at hand as an alternative, as digital copies are sometimes not recognised at small checkpoints during the journey.
Bhutan Travel Permit, Border Rules and Things to Keep Ready
The procedure for obtaining a Bhutan permit is two-step, and it will help you avoid misunderstanding when passing the border point.
- Entry permit: only for Thimphu and Paro, provided for free in Phuentsholing or Paro Airport or before your arrival via the immi.gov.bt website
- Route permit: for all other areas except Thimphu and Paro (for example, Punakha), provided from the Thimphu immigration office after your arrival in Bhutan.
I would definitely recommend obtaining your Route Permit before travelling to Bhutan. Otherwise, you may have to wait in line at the Phuentsholing Bhutan Border for several hours. In addition to your passport, have prints of the hotel reservation and route permit at hand, as sometimes authorities ask for them.
How Much Does a Bhutan Trip Cost for Indian Travellers?
That’s how Bhutan differs from the vast majority of foreign destinations visited by Indian tourists. Being an Indian citizen, you will have to pay a concessional Sustainable Development Fee known as Bhutan SDF of 1,200 INR per day per adult traveler. The price for children aged 6-12 years is 50%, while children younger than 6 can travel for free.
My last Bhutan trip, which was an average 6-night holiday for 2 people including hotel, food, car and SDF, cost about INR 35,000 – 45,000 per person. This becomes possible with TrekPanda and their sincere arrangements. Thus, for a budget Bhutan trip, you can take help from the TrekPanda team. Below is the rough breakup of a typical week in Bhutan:
| Cost | Approximate Cost (per person) |
| SDF for Bhutan (6 nights) | INR 7,200 |
| Hotel in Bhutan (average 6 nights) | INR 9,000 – 12,000 |
| Food | INR 4,000 – 6,000 |
| Local transport/car rental | INR 8,000 – 10,000 |
| Airfare (Delhi–Paro return, if airfare applies) | INR 20,000 – 30,000 |
Bhutanese Food Indian Travellers Should Try Along the Way
To be honest, the Bhutanese cuisine was one of my biggest surprises. It is simpler in structure compared to Indian cuisine; however, quite spicier than expected. Here, chillies are not decoration, but rather an integral part of many Bhutanese dishes, just like a vegetable. The dishes I can recommend trying:
- Ema Datshi: chillies cooked in cheese sauce, national dish of Bhutan
- Momos: very similar to those that we have in Darjeeling or Sikkim, but usually made from Bhutanese cheese
- Red rice: chewy and nutty
- Suja (butter tea): try at least once to get its distinct taste
- Phaksha Paa: pork cooked with chillies and radish
In most cases, hotels will try to make Bhutanese food less spicy for Indians tourists if it is not specifically asked. You can try these Bhutanese dishes once or twice during your trip.
Local Markets, Monasteries and Experiences Worth Adding to Your Trip
Apart from all the above-mentioned things that should definitely be seen when visiting Bhutan, several other places make the trip a bit more unforgettable for me personally:
- Market of Thimpu where the farmers bring their produce and cheese
- Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of the oldest temples in the country, less busy than Tiger’s Nest
- Taking part in archery, Bhutan’s national sport; people there are very friendly to tourists wishing to participate
- Short hot stone bath which is really relaxing after the trek to Tigers Nest
- Getting your hands on the handwoven textiles from the weaver herself in Punakha rather than Paro
Best Time to Visit Bhutan from India and What Each Season Feels Like
I’ve now visited Bhutan in three different seasons. Each one genuinely feels like a different country entirely.
- Spring in Bhutan (March–May): Hands down the best season – blooming rhododendrons, bright skies and pleasantly warm weather all over the country.
- Autumn in Bhutan (September–November): The best mountain view in a whole year, along with such festivals as Thimphu Tshechu. Peak season for Bhutan tourism; book accommodation in advance.
- Winter in Bhutan (December–February): Chilly yet crisp, with a minimal number of people and good visibility. Perfect for photography. However, it is not so suitable for those who feel sensitive to cold weather.
- Monsoon in Bhutan (June–August): I’d genuinely avoid this window. Landslides on the Phuentsholing route are fairly common, and several mountain views simply vanish behind cloud cover for days.
Simple Bhutan Travel Tips for First-Time Indian Visitors
A few things I learned the hard way on my own Bhutan trips, so you hopefully don’t have to:
- Carry Indian Rupees; these are acceptable in practically any place in Bhutan together with local Ngultrum
- Make sure to hire a licensed guide for areas besides Thimphu and Paro; it’s mandatory to have a guide there because of route permits
- Pack layers, even in summer, since evenings in Thimphu and Paro cool down surprisingly quickly
- Respect dress codes at Bhutanese dzongs and monasteries; full-length trousers and covered shoulders are expected
- Keep your permit documents accessible at all times; checkpoints between towns are fairly common across Bhutan
TrekPanda team assisted me on this with proper information and assistance on permits. Without their help, it would not have been so smooth to make this trip.
Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Make on a Bhutan Trip
I’ve made most of these myself, so consider this a shortcut. Over three trips to Bhutan, these are the slip-ups I see repeated most often among Indian visitors:
- Skipping the online permit application and assuming the Phuentsholing counter will be quick; it rarely is during festival season
- Underestimating the Tiger’s Nest hike, which is roughly 5 hours round trip and genuinely tiring at altitude
- Packing like it’s a beach holiday, when evenings in Bhutan, even in summer, can dip into single digits
- Not carrying enough cash, since cards will not work anywhere except for Thimphu and Paro
- Overbooking your itinerary to see too many places in too short a time, which usually leads to a tiring and uncomfortable journey rather than to a pleasant one
None of these are dealbreakers, but I wish someone had flagged them before my first Bhutan trip, since each one is completely avoidable with a bit of planning. This is honestly where a lot of Indian travellers benefit from booking a Bhutan trip with TrekPanda.
Is a Bhutan Trip Worth It for Indian Travellers?
In my opinion, yes, you must take a Bhutan holiday not only because of the mountains. The unique thing about Bhutan is that the pace at which the whole nation lives is quite deliberate, with no advertisements on the billboards. There are architectural codes in place for all buildings so that they look distinctly Bhutanese, and the concept of Gross National Happiness instead of GDP is real there. But still, it would be unfair to say that Bhutan is a cheap destination. The Special Destination Fees and the permit costs, along with somewhat higher prices for hotels, make a Bhutan trip more expensive than Indian travellers expect. But when compared to what you get in return – the peace of the monasteries, warm hospitality, and untouched nature, it turns out that most people coming from Bhutan say the same thing – worth every penny.
From India to Bhutan: How to Plan a Comfortable and Memorable Trip
Based on the experiences I have had while visiting Bhutan, the trips that worked out perfectly for me were those in which I took care of the permit and SDF in advance. I chose an achievable itinerary in Bhutan instead of rushing around the cities, and left some time to relax and enjoy the morning in Thimphu and Paro.
- 1-2 Weeks Prior to Trip: Apply for the Bhutan permit on the online portal immi.gov.bt, confirm which point of entry (Paro or Bagdogra – Phuentsholing) and book accommodation in advance, especially if going in the autumn season or a festival season
- Day 1: Arrive at Paro Airport and do the necessary immigration procedures and go to the capital city Thimpu in the evening without sightseeing
- Day 2-3: Leisurely explore Thimpu, such as the Weekend Market, Buddha Dordenma, Tashichho Dzong, and then drive to Punakha, crossing Dochula Pass
- Day 4: Enjoy the day at Punakha, including visiting Punakha Dzong, the suspension bridge, and applying for the route permit in case it wasn’t done
- Day 5: Go back towards Paro, preferably through Chele La Pass if the weather allows, and take the night to rest for the hiking
- Day 6: Go hiking up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, starting early to avoid crowds and daytime heat, and take a hot stone bath after it
- Day 7: Take advantage of the morning to shop locally or visit Kyichu Lhakhang and then go to the airport or start the drive to Phuentsholing
Bhutan, among all other destinations I have visited, gives an upper hand to those who can slow down and enjoy the place rather than following a checklist. It provides Indian tourists a unique and easily accessible Himalayan destination with a lot of culture, peace, and nature. With all permits, budget, and seasons taken into account, the entire trip to Bhutan becomes an enjoyable experience. You can book your Bhutan tour package from Mumbai with TrekPanda just like I do to avoid the last-minute stress.
Follow the rest of the Bhutan series
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