One can travel to Bhutan in only two ways – by air and by road. Because Bhutan has no maritime share, you can either book flight tickets or hire cars to approach Bhutan. Here, Jaigaon makes the wonder. It’s a census town in the Alipurduar district and serves as the best gateway to Bhutan by road from India. You might contact RS Travels, a reputable travel agent in Jaigaon that offers all-inclusive, transparent, and customizable packages to make your Bhutan trip incredible.
While Bhutan is India’s neighboring country, it’s a foreign country. Therefore, the vibe is there while crossing the border from Jaigaon to Bhutan via the majestic Bhutan Gate. A unique experience that combines cultural beauty, stunning Easter Himalayan scenery, views of lush forests, vivid valleys, and the opportunity to enter one of the happiest nations on earth is crossing the border from Jaigaon to Bhutan’s Phuentsholing.
Being prepared, however, is essential for ensuring a comfortable and simple journey. Before crossing the border, you should be aware of the following information.
- Jaigaon-Phuentsholing Setup
Under specific accords, the border between Jaigaon, India, and Phuentsholing, Bhutan, is open to people of both nations but needs to be properly documented. Both Jaigaon and Phuentsholing are border towns from different countries, making the Bhutan tour by road from India seamless.
Distance: Jaigaon is about 4 km away from Phuentsholing by car.
- Immigration Office and Permits
Location: Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelephu, and Samtse is home to four regional immigration offices. The Regional Immigration Offices in Bhutan allow all travelers traveling by road to enter and exit validly and legally.
Indian people do not need to get or show a visa in order to enter Bhutan. They will, nonetheless, receive entry permission. The Department of Immigration will provide an "entry permit" at the Phuentsholing pedestrian terminal based on a legitimate document of travel.
The following services are offered by the regional immigration offices:
- entry permit
- route permit
- student permit
- work permit
- dependent permit
- investor permit
Getting Permits: Show original voter ID card or Indian passport (valid for at least six months). A passport or birth document in English is required for minors under the age of 18, and a legal guardian must accompany them. Two passport-sized photos are needed for the entry from Jaigaon to Bhutan.
Bhutanese insurance companies also sell domestic travel insurance at the Pedestrian Terminal in Phuentsholing. A Bhutanese tour guide will take care of all these things. Tourists should buy travel insurance for the length of their journey.
Regarding Foreigners: A registered Bhutanese tour operator provides non-Indian visitors with a Bhutan visa in advance. That visa will be stamped at the border, and travelers must have a confirmed itinerary.
Permits and Access: Typically, permits given in Phuentsholing only permit travel to Paro Valley and Thimphu in Bhutan. If you want to tour beyond these locations like Punakha, Phobjikha, Haa Valley, or Bumthang, you will need extra licenses at the Immigration office in Thimphu.
- Sustainable Development Fee
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for visitors to India is INR 1,200 per person each night and children under the age of five are free from SDF. However, kids between the ages of six and twelve receive a 50% discount on SDF.
The SDF is a daily levy that must be paid by the tourists and collected by the national exchequer to support Bhutan’s development. The fund is utilized for the environmental, social, economic, and cultural development of the nation.
Visitors are not required to pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) if they stay in the towns of Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jonkhar for a whole day (for day trips). A reliable travel agent in Jaigaon makes all these steps easier for you.
Car Permits from India
There will be no fees for cars registered in India to enter the specified area in Bhutan. While Indian visitors may bring their own cars, including two-wheelers, to Bhutan, they will be made available upon payment of Nu 4500/-per day at the port of entry following the car and document examination and verification.
For driving outside of Phuentsholing, a green tax of 4,500 Bhutanese Ngultrum per day is charged. The car must be registered within ten years of the date of registration to travel to Bhutan from India.
Rules and required documents:
- Original driver's license
- Original Certificate of Registration
- Vehicle/ car insurance
- Vehicle emission and roadworthiness certificate
- The owner of the car must be the primary driver
- Major towns have petrol stations and fuel costs are comparable to those in India.
For all-inclusive Bhutan tour packages from India that include car rental to accommodation to sightseeing, contact the most trusted travel agencies.
- Currency
The Ngultrum (BTN), which is equivalent to the Indian Rupee (INR), is the currency used in Bhutan. In Bhutan, Indian money is largely acceptable, except for 2000-rupee notes. Make sure you carry enough cash because ATMs and card payment systems might not be common in every area in Bhutan.
You can guarantee hassle-free admission and an unforgettable trip to the Land of the Thunder Dragon Bhutan from India by being well-prepared for regional customs. Although the people of Bhutan are renowned for their warmth, it is crucial to respect their traditions and customs.
Bhutan provides a unique experience, whether you choose to see heritage and cultural sites, monasteries, glacial valleys, and tranquil river streams, walk across beautiful landscapes, enjoy adventure with treks and hikes, or just take in the peaceful ambiance. Book your package from the best Bhutan travel agent in Jaigaon today.