A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia

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Photo of A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia by Siva Ilankumaran

Go to the gem located close to India before the world flocks and make them what they are now a history. The famous things to do and lot of people fly to Bhutan and do is trekking. Bhutan offers easy to difficult trekking ranging from a day to 31 days. This itinerary excludes trekking as they have their own itinerary. Bhutan has lot more to offer than trekking and devised an itinerary for a peaceful vacation.

Day 1

There are only limited entry option to Bhutan through Air. I traveled from Kolkata to Paro as Kolkata is well connected to Paro.

Keep Day-1 for travel. From Paro travel to Thimphu and take rest, start tour next day.

First glimpse-Paro Airport!

Photo of Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Paro to Thimphu en route

Photo of Paro International Airport, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Thimphu is the Capital of Bhutan.

To Stay : Hotel Gakyil

Thimphu - City tour

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 2

Timings 9Am to 5 PM. Entry Fee 300 Nu

Picturesque Chorten

Photo of Memorial Chorten, Chhoten Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Chorten amid the green carpet

Photo of Memorial Chorten, Chhoten Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 6Am to 6 PM. Entry Fee - Nil

Prayer wheels!

Photo of Changangkha Lhakhang, Changangkha Lhakhang Footpath, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Praying Tradition!

Photo of Changangkha Lhakhang, Changangkha Lhakhang Footpath, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Candid click

Photo of Changangkha Lhakhang, Changangkha Lhakhang Footpath, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9Am to 5 PM. Entry Fee 300 Nu

Entry Point

Photo of Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Grand Edifice

Photo of Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Tourist place amidst official building

Photo of Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Palace of their kind

Photo of Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9Am to 5 PM. Entry Fee - Nil

Yet another Dzong!

Photo of Pangrizampa monastery, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Amid the nature

Photo of Pangrizampa monastery, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Exterior View

Photo of Pangrizampa monastery, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

On the way back to Thimphu from Pangri Zampa Monastery

Watch out for every nook and corner of Bhutan to get surprises!

Photo of A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia by Siva Ilankumaran

Raidak River

Photo of A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia by Siva Ilankumaran

Get lost in the nature all for yourself

Photo of A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9Am to 4 PM. Entry Fee 50 Nu

Exterior Museum view

Photo of Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9Am to 5 PM. Entry Fee - Nil

Typical Bhutan architecture

Photo of Semtokha Dzong, Semtokha, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Giant prayer wheel

Photo of Semtokha Dzong, Semtokha, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Exterior View

Photo of Semtokha Dzong, Semtokha, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9Am to 5 PM. Entry Fee - Nil

Bronze Buddha!

Photo of Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Perfect shot!

Photo of Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 1

Roam around & Shop in Nordzin Lam street, sit in clock square tower and catch up a match in the stadium. There are lot of Karaoke bars to spend night partying.

Caught up with football game

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Outside clock tower towards Nordzim Lam st

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Clock Tower!

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Check out Thimphu and check in Punakha.

To Stay : Dhensa Boutique Resort

Thimphu - Punakha Trip Plan

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 3

Timings 6 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee 300 Nu (incl Dzong)

Dochula Pass Stupas

Photo of Dochula, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Dochula, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Zoomed out View

Photo of Dochula, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Dochula, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Dzong opposite Dochula

Photo of Dochula, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Dochula, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Dochula Cafe!

Photo of Dochula, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Dochula, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Midday Mist!

Photo of Dochula, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Dochula, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 4 PM. Entry fee 300 Nu

Punakha Dzong and its natural moat

Photo of Punakha Dzong, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Holy place!

Photo of Punakha Dzong, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Exterior View

Photo of Punakha Dzong, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Suspension Bridge of Punakha Dzong

Photo of Punakha Dzong, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Punakha suspension bridge - 24 hours

Famous Suspension Bridge of Punakha

Photo of Punakha Suspension Bridge, Punakha, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Complete View

Photo of Punakha Suspension Bridge, Punakha, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee Nil

Monastery

Photo of Chimi Monastery, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 1

As it is 50 kms or 2 hours away from Punakha Dzong, it is better to plan this a day trip, if you could afford one. Swap day 4 plan with this based on your preference.

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee 150 Nu

Welcome to National Park

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Punakha - Sight Seeing

Punakha is the old capital of Bhutan but uncommercialized. Spending a day in Punakha would be refreshing. Festivals are very famous and a must-to-experience thing. Plan your Punakha stay according to Festival date (if possible).

Punakha - Day Tour

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 4

Timings 6 AM to 6 PM. Entry fee Nil

Khamsum Yulley

Photo of Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Choeten, Thimphu-Punakha Highway, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee Nil

Nunnery

Photo of Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Mo Chhu river & water sport activities

Rafting & Kayaking in Mo Chhu

Photo of Mo Chhu River, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 1

Check out Punakha and Check in Paro Via Chele La Pass

To Stay : Hotel Khamsum

Long way to Chele La Pass

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 5

Timings 6 AM to 6 PM. Entry fee Nil

Stretch your legs along the way!

Photo of Chele La, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Complete view of Chele La Pass

Photo of Chele La, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Amid Prayer Flags

Photo of Chele La, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Unwinding!

Photo of Chele La, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 1

Walk along the Paro Chhu river and do shopping in the main street overlooking Paro Dzong.

Paro Chhu River

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Walk looking at the beauty of Paro Dzong

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Paro Dzong glitters in the dark

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

City Square

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran

Paro - A day trekking to Bhutan's Icon Tiger Nest

Paro -Day 1 Tour Plan

Photo of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), Jessore Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal, India by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 6

Timings 8 AM to 6 PM. Entry fee 500 Nu

Starting point of a trek

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

View Point

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Picture Perfect

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Falls on the way

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Almost There!

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Unsurfaced Trail

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Slightly better path

Photo of Tiger’s Nest, Taktsang Trail, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 7 AM to 6 PM. Entry fee Nil

Drukgyel

Photo of Drukgyel Dzong, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 7

Paro - Sight Seeing

Paro -Day 2 Tour Plan

Photo of Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee Nil

Kyichu

Photo of Kyichu Lhakhang, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 8 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee Nil

Exterior View

Photo of Jangtsa Dumtseg Lhakhang, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee Nil

Exterior View

Photo of A gem at the neck of India, all you need is a week to bask: Bhutan #nearindia by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry fee 25 Nu

Circular Construction

Photo of National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Exit of Museum

Photo of National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Overlooking the Paro City

Photo of National Museum of Bhutan, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran

Timings 8 AM to 6 PM. Entry fee Nil

Rinpung or Paro Dzong

Photo of Rinpung Dzong, Paro, Bhutan by Siva Ilankumaran
Day 8

Addio Bhutan!

Day 1

I flew from Paro to Guwahati and then back to Chennai.

P.S: All the entry fee mentioned above are for SAARC nationals traveling without tourist agency.

Check out my detailed Bhutan trip for more details

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