Entering Bhutan
You can travel by land or by Air. The Kingdom of Bhutan remained largely cut off from the rest of the world up until the early 1960’s. Entering the country was difficult as it was only accessible by foot from two main entry points, one in the North and another from the South. The Northern route was through Tibet, crossing high mountain passes that were inaccessible throughout the winters. The second entry route from the South came through the plains of Assam and West Bengal. The high, frozen passes in the North and the dense, jungles in the South made it extremely difficult to enter the country. However, carefully planned economic development has made the country much more accessible and there are now a network roads entering and traversing the country, as well as one international and multiple domestic airports.
Today the main roads entering the country are through Phuentsholing in the South, linking Bhutan with the Indian plains of West Bengal, through the border towns of Gelephu, in the central region and Samdrup Jongkhar, in the East, that link with the Indian state of Assam. All visitors to Bhutan require a visa to enter the country. Visa clearance must be obtained before coming to Bhutan and travel must be booked through a Bhutanese tour operator, like Himalaya Karakoram Travel, or their international partner. Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals can receive a visa on entry and it is not necessary for them to book travel through a tour operator, however it is recommended. In the case of Indian nationals a passport or voters card are acceptable on entry.
Travel to Bhutan by Air
| Country | City | Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | Paro | Paro airport |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport |
| India | Delhi | Indira Gandhi International |
| Kolkata | Airport Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport | |
| Gaya | Gaya Airport, Gaya | |
| Guwahati | Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport | |
| Bagdogra | Bagdogra International Airport | |
| Singapore | Singapore | Changi International Airport |
There are flights to destinations that include Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore and Mumbai. Paro is situated at a height of 2,225 m (7300 ft) above sea level and is surrounded by mountains as high as 4,876 m (16,000 ft). At present two carriers operate to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. And there are domestic airports in Yongphula in Eastern Bhutan, Bumthang in Central Bhutan, and Gelephu in South-Central Bhutan. A second international airport is currently under construction in Gelephu along the southern border to India. Flying into Bhutan’s Paro International Airport is typically an exciting experience as the descent into Paro valley brings you closer to the mountain tops than most other flights in the world. The flight between Paro and Kathmandu is one of the most exciting ones as the aircraft passes over four of the five highest mountains in the world. In fine weather, as you soar higher up, you can enjoy the spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga at their best.