Bhutan-The land of Thunder Dragons!!
Happiest country in the world with just 9 lacs population and a hidden Himalayan Beauty.
Here is a small itinerary which may help you for exploring Bhutan in just 5 days!!
You have to reach Jaigaon to go to Bhutan..Jaigaon is the India-Bhutan Border..Indian Side is known as Jaigaon and Bhutan side as Phuntsholing.
Jaigaon can be reached in Bus or Train From Siliguri (West Bengal) or Guwahati(Assam).
Documents required for Bhutan Permit:
1.Valid Indian photo I'd other than Aadhar
2.Hotel booking details
3.Small hand Written Itinerary on a white paper which explains your plan,starting from where ,going where,with date
4.2 or 3 Photos
Reach Jaigaon..walk and cross Bhutan Gate.
Here you are in Bhutan!!!
Walk 5 minutes ahead to reach Immigration office.
You will get A Bhutan Permit Form over there..fill the form,write a small declaration in a white paper if you are travelling solo and give it along with above mentioned documents.Biometrics is done and you will get Bhutan Permit.Take a Photo and keep it safe with you.
Now walk towards Bus Stand,buses are rare here.Buses leave early morning itself towards Paro or Thimphu.. Now you can hire a cab also..share cabs are readily available..600 Rs per head to Paro. Do bargain and try to decrease it further.
You will reach Paro in the evening...find a hotel..By paying 800 or 1000 Rs you will get nice hotels in Paro.Explore night beauty of Paro.
Move towards Tigers Nest Monastery in the morning... Trekk and come back...its really amazing to see the monastery locked inside rocks.
Now move towards Thimphu..cab will take 200 Rs.Reach Thimphu and explore night in Thimphu and note that all shops in Thimphu even hotels will close by 10 pm.So tell your hotel person before you leave from room itself to keep the hotel gate open or take his Phone no .It's very easy to get cheap rooms in Thimphu.
Next day morning itself go and take permit for punakha.You will get permit for Punakha only from Thimphu immigration office.Photocopy of Bhutan Permit,Indian I'd proof and photo is required for punakha permit and give it in Thimphu immigration office along with a form you will get there.They will ask you to come by evening.Punakha is in restricted part of Bhutan that's the reason why you have to get special permit for punakha
Now go and explore Thimphu.. Places to visit
1.Tashichong Dzong
2.Geordenma- Big statue of Budha
3.Thimphu view point
4.Art musuem
Etc etc..
Thimphu is a lil bit city..so I didn't felt like exploring more over there...so we left to left punakha that day evening itself after collecting permit..you can stay one more day in Thimphu if you have time and if you feel like exploring more.
Cab to Punakha is 300 Rs per person.
You will Reach punakha by night-you will be travelling via Dochula pass.Stay in Punakha that night.
Next day morning go to Punakha Dzong..you can do rafting in Punakha River ,which is near to Punakha Dzong.From punakha Dzong its walking distance to punakha's suspension bridge ..Which is another attraction of punakha.
Now you can explore villages and markets of punakha till night.
Again everything closes here also by 10 pm.
Next day take a cab back to Thimphu on the way ask driver to stop at Dochula.Dochula is a photo click place. It's a war memorial.Click some pics and travel back to Thimphu.
From Thimphu you will get buses and cabs for Jaigaon/ Phuntsholing
So the conclusion:
Day 1:Reach Jaigon by morning itself,take permit and travel to Paro
Day 2:Trek to Tiger nest and travel to Thimphu
Day 3:Take permit to
Punakha explore thimphu and travel to Punakha
Day 4:Explore punakha
Day 5:Visit Dochula, Back to Thimphu, from there back to Jaigaon/Phuntsholing
Tiger best entry fee is Rs 500..you have to take ticket from trek base point.If you don't want to enter into Monastery and just want to click pics from outside no need to take ticket. Actually view is from outside only..but yaa once you are there go visit inside also that's what I will say.
You will get mobile sim very easily by giving Indian I'd copy and photo.
Now go and Explore Bhutan!!
