Road
to Neighbors
India is lucky to be surrounded by beautiful terrains and neighbors who support tourism as much as they can. Even though Nepal and Bhutan have their separate international airports, anyone can enjoy road trip as well from India, here are the details to enter Nepal or Bhutan via road
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BHUTAN
Want to go on a road trip to Bhutan? Here is all you need to know on how to reach Bhutan by road.
To travel to Bhutan by road, one must acquire an “entry permit” from the Immigration Office of the Royal Government of Bhutan in Phuensholing, located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon, West Bengal. However, this permit only allows Indian tourists to visit Paro and Thimphu. To travel beyond Thimphu and Paro, one must obtain a “special area permit” from the Royal Government of Bhutan Immigration Office in Thimphu. It is also possible to arrange for a visa from the Royal Bhutan Consulate Office in Kolkata, but it is recommended to apply 10-12 days prior to your visit.
To reach Bhutan by road, there are three border points in India. The Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border is the most preferred by travelers as it is easily accessible via Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, and Bagdogra and can get you the entry permit easily. If you are on a tight budget, you can travel by local buses or hire a car or jeep to travel within Bhutan. Private taxis and buses are also available from Bagdogra, New Jalpaiguri, and Siliguri, which connect National Highway NH31 at Sevoke road and will take you to Thimphu.
There are two other ways to reach Bhutan by road. One is through the Samdrup Jongkhar border crossing located in the state of Assam, which connects the town of Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan to the town of Darranga in India. From Darranga, you can travel to various cities in India, such as Guwahati and Shillong. The other is through the Gelephu border crossing, which also goes through Assam.
NEPAL
To travel to Nepal by road, one must obtain a valid passport and visa. Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal, but foreign nationals must obtain a visa in advance. You can obtain a visa at the Nepalese embassy or consulate in India or at the border crossing itself. It is recommended to check with the relevant authorities for the latest travel requirements before planning your trip. There are direct buses that operate between Delhi and Kathmandu.
If you plan to enter Nepal by road, there are various border crossings between India and Nepal that you can use.
The Sunauli border crossing is the busiest and most popular one. It is located in Uttar Pradesh and connects Sunauli in Nepal to Belahiya in India. From Belahiya, you can travel to other cities in India such as Varanasi and Lucknow.
Another border crossing is the Raxaul border crossing, which is located in Bihar and connects Raxaul in Nepal to Birgunj in India. From Birgunj, you can travel to Patna and Kolkata. The Banbasa border crossing is located in Uttarakhand and connects Banbasa in Nepal to Mahendranagar in India.
From Mahendranagar, you can travel to Delhi and Lucknow. It is advisable to check with the relevant authorities for the latest travel requirements before planning your trip. Additionally, Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal, but foreign nationals will need to obtain a visa in advance either at the Nepalese embassy or consulate in India or at the border crossing itself.
