Bhutan Tour - in the land of Jigme Sigme Wangchuk

📅 DETAILED DAY-WISE TIMELINE 

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🗓️ Day 1 — 21 January 2026 (Wednesday)

Kolkata → Overnight Train

• 20:30 – Board Kanchankanya Express from Sealdah

• Overnight on train

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🗓️ Day 2 — 22 January 2026 (Thursday)

Arrive Hasimara → Jaigaon → Enter Bhutan (Phuentsholing)

• 07:30 – Arrive Hasimara

• 08:00 – Take shared shuttle/auto to Jaigaon (20–25 minutes)

• 08:30 – Walk across the gate to Phuentsholing (Bhutan side)

• 09:15 – Visit the Permit Office / Immigration (if offline permit needed)

• 1. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

     • 2 passport-size photographs

     • Valid Photo ID (Voter ID/Passport)

     • Hotel booking details (Subrata Da's address)

     • Return train tickets

Online Permit?

• Currently, tourists arriving by land MUST do permit biometrics in Phuentsholing.

• So you cannot fully complete the entry permit online.

• You can preregister online, but physical verification is compulsory.

Go Striaght to Thimpu. 

Check in at Subrata-da’s house

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🗓️ Day 3 — 23 January 2026 (Friday)

• Full Day Thimphu Sightseeing

  Suggested timeline:

  • 09:00 – Tashichho Dzong

  • 10:30 – Buddha Dordenma

  • 12:00 – Folk Heritage Museum

  • 13:30 – Lunch

  • 15:00 – Simply Bhutan or Bhutan Postal Museum

  • 17:00 – Craft Bazaar

  Evening:

• Walk around Clock Tower Square

• Light dinner and rest

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🗓️ Day 4 — 24 January 2026 (Saturday)

One-Day Punakha Tour from Thimphu 

Total Duration:

8–10 hours (full day trip)
Thimphu ↔ Punakha: 70 km one way
Driving Time: 2.5–3 hours each way

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🕘 1. Start Early from Thimphu

08:00 am – Leave Thimphu

• Roads are beautiful but winding.

• The drive slowly climbs to the Dochula Pass.

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🌥 2. Dochula Pass (Mandatory Stop)

09:00 – 09:45 am
Altitude: 3,100 m
Highlights:

• 108 Druk Wangyal Chortens

• Panoramic Himalayan views (if the weather is clear)

• Small temple & viewpoint

• Tea/coffee shops

Time Needed: 30–45 minutes

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🕌 3. Reach Punakha

11:00 am : Punakha is warmer and lower in altitude, with beautiful green valleys.

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📍 Main Attractions in Punakha

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(A) Punakha Dzong – “Palace of Great Happiness”

11:00 – 12:15 pm

Must-See

• One of the most beautiful dzongs in Bhutan

• Meeting place of the rivers Pho Chhu & Mo Chhu

• Built in 1637–38 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

• Winter residence of the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot)

Time Needed: 1 – 1.25 hours

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(B) Lunch in Punakha Town

Recommended: Ema datshi, fried rice, momos, thukpa, etc.

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(C) Suspension Bridge

1:20 – 1:50 pm

• One of Bhutan’s longest suspension bridges

• Fantastic photo spot

• Light walk (takes 20–25 minutes total)

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(D) Chimi Lhakhang – Temple of Fertility

2:10 – 3:00 pm

• Built in 1499

• Dedicated to Lama Drukpa Kunley, the “Divine Madman"

• Short, beautiful walk through village farms

Time Needed: 45–50 minutes

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🚗 Return Journey

03:00 pm – Start for Thimphu
05:30–06:00 pm – Reach Thimphu

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📌 Final Time-Line Summary

Time	Activity
08:00	Start from Thimphu
09:00 – 09:45	Dochula Pass
11:00	Reach Punakha
11:00 – 12:15	Punakha Dzong
12:30 – 1:15	Lunch
1:20 – 1:50	Suspension Bridge
2:10 – 3:00	Chimi Lhakhang
03:00	Depart Punakha
05:30–06:00	Reach Thimphu

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✔ Tips

• Wear comfortable shoes — lots of walking.

• Punakha is warmer; carry water.

• The Dzong requires modest clothing (full sleeves recommended).

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🗓️ Day 5 — 25 January 2026 (Sunday)

Thimphu → Paro Day Trip (optional but recommended)

• 07:30 – Drive to Paro

• 09:00 – Paro Dzong & Museum

• 12:00 – Lunch

• 13:00 – Visit Tiger’s Nest Viewpoint (full hike only if you want)

• 17:00 – Return to Thimphu

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🗓️ Day 6 — 26 January 2026 (Monday)

Thimphu → Phuentsholing → Hasimara → Kolkata

• 06:30 – Drive from Thimphu to Phuentsholing

• 11:00 – Reach Phuentsholing

• 11:30 – Enter Jaigaon, take shuttle to Hasimara

• 12:30–14:00 – Train to Kolkata (depending on available train)

Return Train Options from Hasimara

Train No.	Train Name	Departure	Arrival Kolkata
13150	Kanchankanya Express	~15:15	Next morning
12510	Guwahati Express	~13:25 (Alipurduar start, may need transit)	Early morning

➡️ Best: 13150 Kanchankanya Express (15:15).

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✔️ Notes on Bhutan Entry Permit

• Offline biometric verification in Phuentsholing is mandatory for tourists entering by land.

• You can pre-register online, but cannot get the final permit without appearing physically.

• So one-night stay in Phuentsholing is usually required.