Bhutan Travel: Bhutan in INR 25,000: A dream itinerary (travel included) |
Bhutan is a dream destination of many, especially Indians. Being a neighbouring nation, Indians do not require a passport or a visa to visit the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.” This is a country of ancient monasteries, unspoilt Himalayan beauties and unique wildlife. This is the nation with a picture of prayer flags fluttering on mist-laden mountains, where time passes at its own pace, slowly. This is the country where people visit when they wish to relax and enjoy a laid-back holiday.For centuries, Bhutan has been famous for its “high value, low impact” tourism. This is a country ideal for travellers wondering if they could ever afford it. But hey, the good news is if you plan earlier, smartly, then you can experience Bhutan’s beauty in under INR 25,000 all-in, including travel.Though it is not a luxury escape, when planned carefully, you can cover Bhutan in a 4-day/3-night itinerary without stretching your wallet. Let’s find out how:Things Indian travellers must know:
No visa needed: The best thing is that Indians don’t need a visa to explore Bhutan. All you need is an Entry Permit. This allows you to enter at Phuentsholing (land border) or at Paro Airport. Do carry a valid voter ID or passport. Sustainable Development Fee (SDF): So SDF is Bhutan’s official “low impact” tourism tax. Indians need to pay INR 1,200 per person, per night (kids 6–12 half price, under 5 exempt). How to plan under ₹25,000 (One person)A 4-day trip with 3 nights in Bhutan. Here’s how the itinerary looks:Entry Permit: INR 200 SDF (INR 1,200 × 3 nights): INR 3,600 (Unavoidable)Land Travel (India → Bhutan → India): INR 3,500–INR 5,000Local transport (sharing basis): INR 3,000Stay (budget hotels/homestays at INR 1,500– INR 2,000/night): INR 4,500–INR 6,000Food: INR 2,500–INR 3,000Guide (shared cost for Paro/Thimphu): INR 1,500–INR 2,500/day That brings us neatly to around INR 20,000–INR 25,000. You can save on shopping, transport and meals.The Dream itinerary
Day 1: Phuentsholing — Entering Bhutan (Land Border)You can enter Phuentsholing from Jaigaon (West Bengal, India). You’ll see an instant transformation from The vibe changes instantly from India to Bhutan in seconds! You’ll find yourself with fresh and crisp mountain air, cleaner streets and big gates. You’ll get your Entry Permit, then pay the first SDF. On the first day, you can spend the evening mingling with the locals, shopping at the pretty markets. Day 2: Head to Thimphu (the capital city)
Wake up, have your breakfast and head to Thimpu, the heart of Bhutan. You can take an early shared taxi or bus. You’ll be pleasantly shocked to see monks with iPhones roaming on the streets. Some of the must visit attractions here include Tashichho Dzong, Memorial Chorten, and the craft bazaar. Stay overnight in a family-run homestay and enjoy the local cuisine which is world famous!Day 3: Paro
Make sure you pack your hiking shoes as Paro has some amazing hikes including the renowned and iconic Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). Set dramatically on a cliff, this is a legendary gompa where every step takes you closer to nature. Later, you can explore the National Museum and spend a night in a guesthouse. You can also do some shopping and buy souvenirs for friends and family. Day 4: Back to IndiaTime to come back to your home country. Get a taxi and come back to Phuentsholing, and cross the border. Tips for staying within budget
Choose land travel instead of flights: Flights to Paro from India are limited and are expensive. But if you enter Bhutan via Jaigaon–Phuentsholing border, you can save a lot.Choose shared travel: It’s always recommended to choose shared travel. From guides to taxis, split costs with fellow travellers.Eat local: Stick to Bhutanese and Indian thalis in small eateries. Ema datshi (chillies with cheese), momos, and red rice are a must relish delicacies in Bhutan.The question is, is INR 25,000 enough?The simple answer is yes. If you travel light and avoid air travel, you can easily cover Bhutan on a budget of INR 25,000. The SDF, however, is the unavoidable big-ticket item but it’s worth the price!(Disclaimer: The prices mentioned in the article are according to recent market rates and are subject to change.)
var _mfq = window._mfq || [];
_mfq.push([“setVariable”, “toi_titan”, window.location.href]);
!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {
function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) {
if (!isFBCampaignActive) {
return;
}
(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {
if (f.fbq) return;
n = f.fbq = function() {
n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(…arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments);
};
if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n;
n.push = n;
n.loaded = !0;
n.version = ‘2.0’;
n.queue = [];
t = b.createElement(e);
t.async = !0;
t.defer = !0;
t.src = v;
s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s);
})(f, b, e, ‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’, n, t, s);
fbq(‘init’, ‘593671331875494’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
};
function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) {
if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) {
return;
}
var id = document.getElementById(‘toi-plus-google-campaign’);
if (id) {
return;
}
(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {
t = b.createElement(e);
t.async = !0;
t.defer = !0;
t.src = v;
t.id = ‘toi-plus-google-campaign’;
s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s);
})(f, b, e, ‘https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-877820074’, n, t, s);
};
function loadSurvicateJs(allowedSurvicateSections = []){
const section = window.location.pathname.split(‘/’)[1]
const isHomePageAllowed = window.location.pathname === ‘/’ && allowedSurvicateSections.includes(‘homepage’)
const ifAllowedOnAllPages = allowedSurvicateSections && allowedSurvicateSections.includes(‘all’);
if(allowedSurvicateSections.includes(section) || isHomePageAllowed || ifAllowedOnAllPages){
(function(w) {
function setAttributes() {
var prime_user_status = window.isPrime ? ‘paid’ : ‘free’ ;
var geoLocation = window?.geoinfo?.CountryCode ? window?.geoinfo?.CountryCode : ‘IN’ ;
w._sva.setVisitorTraits({
toi_user_subscription_status : prime_user_status,
toi_user_geolocation : geoLocation
});
}
if (w._sva && w._sva.setVisitorTraits) {
setAttributes();
} else {
w.addEventListener(“SurvicateReady”, setAttributes);
}
var s = document.createElement(‘script’);
s.src=”https://survey.survicate.com/workspaces/0be6ae9845d14a7c8ff08a7a00bd9b21/web_surveys.js”;
s.async = true;
var e = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0];
e.parentNode.insertBefore(s, e);
})(window);
}
}
window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps || {};
var TimesApps = window.TimesApps;
TimesApps.toiPlusEvents = function(config) {
var isConfigAvailable = “toiplus_site_settings” in f && “isFBCampaignActive” in f.toiplus_site_settings && “isGoogleCampaignActive” in f.toiplus_site_settings;
var isPrimeUser = window.isPrime;
var isPrimeUserLayout = window.isPrimeUserLayout;
if (isConfigAvailable && !isPrimeUser) {
loadGtagEvents(f.toiplus_site_settings.isGoogleCampaignActive);
loadFBEvents(f.toiplus_site_settings.isFBCampaignActive);
loadSurvicateJs(f.toiplus_site_settings.allowedSurvicateSections);
} else {
var JarvisUrl=”https://jarvis.indiatimes.com/v1/feeds/toi_plus/site_settings/643526e21443833f0c454615?db_env=published”;
window.getFromClient(JarvisUrl, function(config){
if (config) {
const allowedSectionSuricate = (isPrimeUserLayout) ? config?.allowedSurvicatePrimeSections : config?.allowedSurvicateSections
loadGtagEvents(config?.isGoogleCampaignActive);
loadFBEvents(config?.isFBCampaignActive);
loadSurvicateJs(allowedSectionSuricate);
}
})
}
};
})(
window,
document,
‘script’,
);
Source link
