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@Matta! Welcome to the forum.
How to Reach Bhutan from Delhi?
There are two ways of reaching Bhutan from India, either by air or by road. Although Indian nationals don't require any visa to enter Bhutan, you still need your passport plus another identification proof like voter's identity card for acquiring an entry permit. You can obtain this from the different border points in Bhutan, which we will highlight in the later part of this guide. Delhi itself is about 1,964 kilometres away from Bhutan. It can take you around two to three days to reach Bhutan from Delhi.
By Air
1. Direct Flight from Delhi to Bhutan - The Paro International Airport is the only airport in Bhutan that has international flights. It has direct flights from Bagdogra, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata and Mumbai. The only airlines operating from it are Bhutan Airlines and Druk Air. Flights can be booked only through the websites of these airlines.
Flights from Delhi to Paro (Bhutan)
| Airline | Flight Number | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Schedule | Fare |
| Druk Air | 205 | 6:30 | 10:25 | Monday, Wednesday and Friday | Rs. 31,623 (Economy) |
| Bhutan Airlines | B3774 | 12:35 | 16:15 | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday | Rs. 31,623 (Economy) |
As you can see, flights from Delhi to Paro in Bhutan can be quite expensive. Journey duration is very short though as compared to road journey as it is only about 4 to 5 hours in total. Once you reach the Paro International Airport, you just need to show your passport and identification proof then you're entry permit would be given to you.
2. Alternative (Road + Air) - Another good option is to reach either Kolkata and Bagdogra by land and then from there, take a flight to reach Paro. This would cost considerably less although you do have to spend some money on your road journey too.
Flights from Kolkata and Bagdogra to Paro (Bhutan)
| Airline - Route | Number | Departure | Arrival | Fare | Schedule |
| Bhutan Airlines - Kolkata to Paro | B3701 | 8:15 | 9:55 | Rs. 20,039 | Daily except Wednesday and Sunday |
| Druk Air - Bagdogra to Paro | 131 | 12:10 | 13:10 | Rs. 12,186 | Saturday |
By Road
There are three entry points in India to reach Bhutan by land. These are the following:
- Jaigaon - Phuentsholing Border (West)
Map Depicting the Different Border Points from India to Bhutan (Image from Google Maps)
Ideally though, most travellers reaching Bhutan by road cross through the Jaigaon - Phuentsholing border. The Jaigaon - Phuentsholing border is located on the southwest region of India, about 1,619 kilometres away from Delhi.
How to Reach Jaigaon - Phuentsholing Border from Delhi
1. By Train and Bus - Since the distance between the border and Delhi is quite long, you cannot reach it by pure bus journey. A better option would be a combination of both train and bus journey. So your route would be:
- Delhi > Train to Kolkata > Train to Hasimara > Bus to Jaigaon - Phuentsholing
There are direct trains plying from Delhi to Kolkata. Journey duration is around 17 hours to 24 hours. Train journey is very comfortable and unlike bus journey, you won't need to break your routes into different sections as this is already direct.
Trains from Delhi to Kolkata
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Udyan Abha Toofan Express Train No. 13008 | Tuglakabad - 7:45 | Howrah Junction - 19:30 | Daily |
| Kalka Mail Train No. 12312 | Delhi - 7:00 | Howrah Junction - 7:55 | Daily |
| Sealdah Rajdhani Express Train No. 12314 | New Delhi - 16:25 | Sealdah - 10:10 | Daily |
| New Delhi Howrah Express Train No. 12324 | Anand Vihar - 7:05 | Howrah Junction - 6:00 | Sunday and Thursday |
| Kolkata Rajdhani Train No. 12302 | New Delhi - 16:55 | Howrah Junction - 9:50 | Daily except Fridays |
| Poorva Express Train No. 12304 | New Delhi - 17:35 | Howrah Junction - 16:55 | Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday |
As you can see, you would either be dropped off at the Sealdah Railway Station or the Howrah Junction. Fares vary but are around Rs. 3,960 for 1A, Rs. 2,310 for 2A, Rs. 1,595 for 3A and Rs. 605 for SL. From Kolkata, you then ride another train going to the Hasimara Railway Station.
Trains from Kolkata to Hasimara
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Kanchankanya Express Train No. 13149 | Sealdah - 20:30 | Hasimara - 10:46 | Daily |
| Karmabhoomi Express Train No. 22511 | Howrah Junction - 21:55 | Hasimara - 12:15 | Thursday |
| Kolkata Alipur Duar Special Fare Train No. 03129 | Kolkata - 22:45 | Hasimara - 12:20 | Sunday |
Journey duration is around 12 to 15 hours. Fares vary but are around Rs. 2,500 for 1A, Rs. 1,450 for 2A, Rs. 1,005 for 3A and Rs. 370 for SL. Hasimara is merely 30 minutes away from the Jaigaon - Phuentsholing border. There are shared taxis at the Hasimara Railway Station itself that you can ride to reach the border area. Taxi rates cost around Rs. 300 per person. Or you can hire an auto rickshaw to take you to the border, which costs merely Rs. 120.
2. Alternative (Train to Kolkata and Bus to Jaigaon) - From Kolkata, there is also a direct bus plying to Jaigaon - Phuentsholing. Your route would be:
- Delhi > Train to Kolkata > Bus to Jaigaon - Phuentsholing
However, frequency of buses are quite minimal and there are days in a week when buses don't operate. Fare though is in the lower side so this is a good option for budget travellers. I've highlighted the Delhi to Kolkata journey above via train so let's go to the Kolkata to Jaigaon journey via bus.
Direct Bus from Kolkata to Jaigaon - Phuentsholing Border
| Bus Operator | Departure Time | Schedule | Fare |
| Royal Bhutanese Government | 19:00 | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday | Rs. 653 |
The bus is operated by the Royal Bhutanese Government and there is one bus plying to the border three days a week. The bus departs from the Esplanade Bus Station in Kolkata. The bus station is about seven kilometres away from Howrah Junction so you need to ride an auto or a taxi to reach it. Journey duration is around 18 hours though it isn't as bumpy since the roads in Kolkata are quite good.
3. Alternative (Train to New Jalpaiguri + Bus to Jaigaon) - You can also reach the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station and from there, ride a bus or shared taxi to reach Jaigaon - Phuentsholing. Your route would be:
- Delhi > Train to New Jalpaiguri > Shared Taxi or Bus to Jaigaon - Phuentsholing
There are direct trains from Delhi to the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. Journey duration would be around one day or more.
Trains from Delhi to New Jalpaiguri
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Avadh Assam Express Train No. 15910 | Delhi - 7:45 | New Jalpaiguri - 17:50 | Daily |
| Mahananda Express Train No. 15484 | Delhi - 6:35 | New Jalpaiguri - 13:30 | Daily |
| North East Express Train No. 12506 | Anand Vihar - 6:45 | New Jalpaiguri - 8:20 | Daily |
| Dibrugarh Rajdhani Train No. 12424 | New Delhi - 16:10 | New Jalpaiguri - 13:10 | Daily |
| Brahmaputra Mail Train No. 14056 | Delhi - 23:40 | New Jalpaiguri - 5:00 | Daily |
| Guwahati Rajdhani Train No. 12236 | New Delhi - 9:25 | New Jalpaiguri - 11:45 | Tuesday |
There are different stations in Delhi that have trains plying to New Jalpaiguri so you can easily pick a station that is close to you. Fares vary but are around Rs. 3,930 for 1A, Rs. 2,290 for 2A, Rs. 1,530 for 3A and Rs. 570 for SL. From this station, the border is about 152 kilometres away or about 3 hours of journey.
To reach Jaigaon - Phuentsholing from the station, you have two options: either hire a shared taxi right from the station or ride a bus from Siliguri to the border. The first option costs higher especially if there aren't any tourist there to split the bill with you. Expect to pay around Rs. 1,700 and above.
On the other hand, you can also opt to reach the Siliguri Bus Stand on Hill Cart Road. By taxi, it can cost you around Rs. 80 to Rs. 100 from the railway station to the bus stand. From here, there are buses plying to the border. But bus timings are infrequent, only two buses leave the station everyday, the first bus leaves at 7:30 in the morning and the other bus at 13:30 in the afternoon. Bus fare costs around Rs. 60 to Rs. 80.
How to Reach Gelephu from Delhi
Gelephu is about 1,757 kilometres away from Delhi. It is located close to Bongaigaon in Assam. This is not the usual border point that tourists take to reach Bhutan since transportation options here are quite limited as compared to the first border.
1. By Train and Taxi (Train to New Cooch Behar and Taxi to Gelephu) - The good news is that you can reach the region of Assam directly by train from Delhi. Journey duration would be around 1 and 1/2 days though so it can take quite long. The nearest railway station to Gelephu is the New Cooch Behar Railway Station. Your route would be:
- Delhi > Train to New Cooch Behar/Alipurduar Junction > Taxi to Gelephu
Alternatively, you can also reach the Alipurduar Junction but trains plying from Delhi to this railway station are less.
Trains from Delhi to New Cooch Behar or Alipurduar Junction
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Avadh Assam Express Train No. 15910 | Delhi - 7:45 | New Cooch Behar - 20:45 | Daily |
| North East Express Train No. 12506 | Anand Vihar - 6:45 | New Cooch Behar - 11:03 | Daily |
| Dibrugarh Rajdhani Train No. 12424 | New Delhi - 16:10 | New Cooch Behar - 15:20 | Daily |
| Brahmaputra Mail Train No. 14056 | Delhi - 23:40 | New Cooch Behar - 8:00 | Daily |
| Mahananda Express Train No. 15484 | Delhi - 6:35 | Alipurduar Junction - 19:30 | Daily |
| Anand Vihar Kamakhya Express Train No. 15622 | Anand Vihar - 23:45 | Alipurduar Junction - 8:55 | Friday |
Fares are around Rs. 4,225 for 1A, Rs. 2,460 for 2A, Rs. 1,680 for 3A and Rs. 810 for SL. From New Cooch Behar, Gelephu is about 170 kilometres away or 4 hours of driving. The downside with this route is that you need to hire a private car or taxi to reach Gelephu from New Cooch Behar as there are no direct buses plying to it. A hired taxi can cost around Rs. 2,000 to reach the border to Gelephu.
How to Reach Samdrup Jongkhar from Delhi
Samdrup Jongkhar is about 1,941 kilometres away from Delhi. Hence, it is not advisable to reach this border just to enter Bhutan from Delhi. Just choose any of the two borders above. However, for those coming from the state of Assam or Meghalaya, this is the better option for them.
1. By Train and Bus (Train to Guwahati + Rangiya and Taxi to Samdrup) - The Guwahati Railway Station is the main railway station of Assam and of Guwahati. There are direct trains plying from Delhi to Guwahati. From Guwahati, you can ride another train to the Rangiya Junction and then hire a taxi to take you to the Samdrup Jongkhar border. Your route would be:
- Delhi > Train to Guwahati > Train to Rangiya > Taxi to Samdrup Jongkhar
Journey duration from Delhi to Guwahati Railway Station is about a day or more. There are only a few trains plying this route though.
Trains from Delhi to Guwahati Railway Station
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Avadh Assam Express Train No. 15910 | Delhi - 7:45 | Guwahati - 3:00 | Daily |
| New Delhi Dibrugarh Rajdhani Train No. 12436 | New Delhi - 9:25 | Guwahati - 19:00 | Sunday and Thursday |
| Kahanvally Express Train No. 14020 | Anand Vihar - 23:55 | Guwahati - 14:55 | Monday |
| Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express Train No. 12502 | New Delhi - 23:45 | Guwahati - 8:45 | Sunday and Wednesday |
Fares for this route would be around Rs. 4,680 for 1A, Rs. 2,690 for 2A, Rs. 1,825 for 3A and Rs. 685 for SL. From Guwahati Railway Station, you can then ride another train plying to the Rangiya Junction.
Trains from Guwahati Railway Station to Rangiya Junction
| Train Name and Number | Departure Station - Time | Arrival Station - Time | Schedule |
| Guwahati New Bongaigaon Passenger Train No. 55810 | Guwahati - 5:00 | Rangiya - 6:16 | Daily |
| Kamrup Express Train No. 15960 | Guwahati - 7:45 | Rangiya - 8:57 | Daily |
| North East Express Train No. 12505 | Guwahati - 9:45 | Rangiya - 10:40 | Daily |
| Manas Rhino Passenger Train No. 55802 | Guwahati - 17:30 | Rangiya - 18:50 | Daily |
Journey duration from Guwahati to Rangiya would be about one hour or so. Fares would be around Rs. 1,200 for 1A, Rs. 695 for 2A, Rs. 500 for 3A and Rs. 140 for SL. From Rangiya, you can take a taxi to reach the border, which is about an hour away from the railway station. Although there are buses plying to reach other areas around the border, they are infrequent and they don't really reach the border per se.
So there you go, I hope this guide helps you in reaching Bhutan if you're from Delhi. Good luck!
