We visited Bhutan in the month of November, 2013. The weather was pleasant, as it was post monsoon and beginning of winter. Clear sky, cold in the mornings and cherish after noon.
The overall experience is out of the world, far much exotic then we have expected. It carried us to a conclusion that “this is humble country of Rich people!”
We spend 10 days in 5 different places in Bhutan. We decided to enter Bhutan from Phunshilling then drive to Thimpu, from Thimpu to Wangdue Phodrong then further to Trongsa and back to Wangdue, from Wangdue to Paro and from Paro to back to Phunshilling.
We Fly to Kolkata and took an overnight train to New Jalpaiguri (NJP). There are plenty of options available from Kolkata to NJP.
The border town of Phunshilling is 4 to 4 ½ hours drive (170 km app) from NJP railway station. There are 2 ways to cover this distance, mostly knows as upper rout (from Sevoke Bridge) and lower root (from Jalpaiguri). We took upper root as suggested by most of the taxi drivers. In rout there is a Kali mata and Shiv temple just before the Sevoke Bridge, just 5 min uphill walk from the road.
We also had a break at village called Banngudi for purchasing bamboo handicraft items.
Itinerary
Day1 – PhunshillingDay 2 & 3 – Thimpu
Day 4 - Wangdue Phodrong
Day 5 & 6 – Trongsa
Day 7 - Wangdue Phodrong
Day 8 & 9 – Paro
Day 10 – Phunshilling
Day1 – Phunshilling
The movement you enter into Phunshilling from the ‘Bhutan Gate’ (it’s the same town, known as Jaigon from India side) you can brightly spot the difference in the building structure and people clothing. For pedestrian there is Entry and Exit gate, on the small partition wall dividing the town into 2 countries. Obviously you don’t have to show any document while entering into Bhutan. Perhaps you need to arrange the permits for your further traveling from the Immigration office.
Immigration office is on the right side of yours when you enter from Bhutan gate. Opens at 9 am Bhutan Time (IST 8:30 am), works on Mon-Sat. We had collected the Immigration form at our Hotel desk itself. Submit the filled form, 2 photos and copies of passport. Indicate that you want to travel to Thimpu and Paro (only these 2 places are permitted from this Office).
In Bhutan we saw less two wheelers on the road as compared with SUV or small cars as taxis.
We stayed in this hotel, Centennial Hotel 2008, Phuntsholing. We loved the food served in the hotel's restaurant.
We also visited the Gharial Conservation Program, it’s like 10 min walk from Phunshilling town center.
For shopping, look for the “Import Export shop” for good deals on cloths. Over all, we see there is good collection of winter ware in market especially for kids and ladies.
Next day we start early for Thimpu. In route we spend some time at Royal Management Collage of Bhutan. And had lunch at restaurant run by Indian army, called as Dunkans Canteen.
Day 2 & 3 – Thimpu
Capital Thimpu is small town though it could be divided into 2 parts, old town and new town. Most of the tourist places and hotels are in old town itself. Streets of Thimpu are very clean and ample space of pedestrians. There are lots of taxis available and you can easily hire one on meter.
By considering the size of the capital of the country, you can imagine the size of other town we going to visit!
It was freezing in the morning when we went to look for weekend vegetable market (7:30 am or something) . Vegetable market is on the Chhogyal Lam, East direction from Archery ground.
We stayed in Hotel Destiny, opposite to Clock Tower Square. Its just a budget kind of place and could be value to money due to location! We did not try the food at their restaurant because there was just plenty of option in the town. We tried Red China on the Nordizin Lam, too good for cheese balls.
We check some of the super markets on the town. They are mostly filled with Malaysian or Chinese products. Occasionally you could see some local products too. We resistor ourselves from shopping in Thimpu, as we already had seen some good deals in Phuntshiling.
Day 4 - Wangdue Phodrong
On the way to Punakha from Thimpu you cannot miss the 2 things which you came across. First is Druk Wangyal Chortens which is construction of 108 chortens or stupas like structure and Royal Botanical Garden. We stopped at both the places and spend plenty of time. Botanical Garden got a small size lake inside it with pedal boating facility.
We visited the Punakha Dzong which is like 30 min drive from Wangdue. This Dzong is the biggest of all the Dzong we visited so far also very pictures; make sure you got plenty of time in hand to visit it. There is grassland around the Dzong. We took good walk on it, it’s refreshing and spiritual.
In particular Wangdue is small village with just few hotels and shops for locals.
In our stay in Wangdue, we had all our meals in Hotel SNS restaurant, we definitely recommend you this restaurant for Indian food.
We discover a shop in Wangdue, which rents bikes for day or hourly basis. Rate was like 250 Rs. per hour.
Day 5 & 6 – Trongsa
We stayed in Trongsa for 2 days in Tashi Ninja Hotel. Our room number is 308 and it got beautiful balcony facing to the Trongsa Dzong. Hotels restaurant was serving good food, though we also liked food at Oyster Cafe.Trongsa Dzong is also as big and pictures as Punakha Dzong.
Trongsa museum got good collection of history of Wangchuck family, which is currently ruling the Bhutan. Car can drive up to the gate of museum or you can take a uphill walk from main road to the museum. The second option is recommended as this little uphill climb is very well constructed by Cobblestones.
We visited the Royal Trongsa Hospital, as Minal was suffering from vehicle sickness. There we discover a wonderful thing about hospital facility of Bhutan. All the medical checkup as well as medicines provided at hospital are free of cost to Bhutanese’s as well as tourists. The hospital is very clean and very well organized. It was not so crowed and doctors also treated us very well.
We also came to know that all the education is also free of cost to Bhutanese!
Day 8 & 9 – Paro
We stayed in Paro for 2 days in Hotel Sonam Trophel. It got no view but back side room got Evening sun light. Food is average. We experience that restaurants in Paro are get closed early in evening. We are not able to get dinner after 8pm.
On the way to Paro after crossing the Bridge from Thimpu highway, we came across a private monastery. There was a metal bridge to cross before reaching to monastery. We had fun and thrill to cross the bridge. The monastery and surrounding are beautiful and one could spend some time there.
On the next day we start early for Tigers Nest (Taktsang Palphug Monastery).Only way to Tigers Nest Monastery is by foot or by horse back. It is like couple hours trek one way, but one should spend more time than that, as surrounding is beautiful and worth exploring.
We started a trek at 9 am and reach top by 12 pm. Monastery get closed for lunch in noon for some time, so better you reach before that. On rout to Monastery every one stops at canteen, which is exactly half way to Monastery. They serve tea, coffee and lunch at very high cost. But restrooms are clean and much needed!
Experience inside Tigers Nest is magical. It may take around our and so explore entire Monastery.
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