How to Reach Bhutan From Mumbai

One of the fastest growing metropolitans in the world, Mumbai is a wonderful destination for those who are smitten by the travel bug to visit Bhutan. Adorned by the alluring beauty of the vast Arabian Sea, this city is in fact one of the idealistic destinations to reach the Land of Thunder Dragons.

Well, before you plan an amazing tour from the City of Dreams to the Land of Thunder Dragons, you must have some insights on how to reach Bhutan from Mumbai! Located on the western corner of India, Mumbai experiences busy air traffic, huge influx of trains from different corners of India, and a diversified network of roads. With such an ease in transportation, this city truly serves as ideal destination to explore Bhutan, the Happiest Himalayan Kingdom!

How to Reach Bhutan from Mumbai by Air

Mumbai doesn’t have any direct flights to Bhutan. Hence, travellers yearning to reach Bhutan from Mumbai by air, should fly to Delhi, Gaya, Kolkata, Bagdogra, or Guwahati, to board in into one of the direct or connecting flights to Bhutan. Most of these connecting flights fly via Kathmandu (the capital city of Nepal). Also, these flights are operated either by Druk Air, which is the official carrier of Bhutan, or Bhutan Airlines. However, Kolkata and Bagdogra would be the most preferable airports to reach Bhutan from Mumbai by air.

How to Reach Bhutan from Mumbai by Train

Bhutan, the Land of Thunder Dragons doesn’t have any international railway connectivity. Thus, one cannot reach Bhutan from Mumbai by train directly. In order to complete this journey, visitors must book a train journey from Mumbai to any of these destinations: Kolkata, Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri, New Alipurduar, Hasimara, Bongaigaon, and Guwahati.

Upon arrival at any of the above-mentioned destinations, visitors can make an entry to Bhutanese land by covering the remaining leg of the journey by roadways. Jaigaon, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Gelephu are the only three points that allows foreign nationals to enter the Land of Thunder Dragons by road. Among these, the first one is in West Bengal, and the latter two are in Assam.

For visitors deboarding the train at any given point in West Bengal, they can easily hire a local cab or avail the local buses to reach Indo-Bhutan Border in Jaigaon. From here, they can get the Bhutanese Visa by showing required details and enter into Bhutan via the town of Phuentsholing.

Anyone willing to take a train to Assam, they can either get down at Bongaigaon Railway Junction or Guwahati Railway Station to continue with their journey to reach Bhutan from Mumbai by train. From either of these destinations, they can grant permission to enter Bhutan via Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelephu points. Bongaigaon in Assam is merely 50km (1 hours’ drive) away from Gelephu and about 145km (3 hours’ drive) away from Samdrup Jongkhar. On the other hand, Bongaigaon itself is around 186km (4 hours’ drive) away from Guwahati.

Here is a list of some of the trains between Mumbai-Kolkata and Mumbai-Guwahati:

Gitanjali Express (12859)

Jnaneswari Delx (12101)

Howrah Superfast Express (12869)

Howrah Mail (12809)

Lokmanyatilak Terminus Kamakhya Special (05611)

Guwahati Express (15645)

Karmabhoomi Express (15611)

Guwahati Express (15647)

Lokmanyatilak Terminus Kamakhya Superfast Special (22519)

Lokmanyatilak Terminus Kamakhya Ac Express (12519)

How to Reach Bhutan from Mumbai by Road

Planning a road trip from Mumbai to Kolkata would the befitting option to reach Bhutan from Mumbai by road. Here is a route map to plan the most exciting road trip from Mumbai to Kolkata: Bombay – Nashik – Dhulia – Jalgaon – Khamgaon – Akola – Amaravati – Nagpur – Raipur – Sambalpur – Keonjhar – Baharogara – Kharagpur – Kolkata.

Once in Kolkata, visitors can begin with the second half of their journey to make an entry into the Last Himalayan Kingdom by driving from Kolkata to Jaigaon in New Alipurduar district of West Bengal. Interestingly, this small township called Jaigaon shares international boundary with Phuentsholing town of Bhutan. Visitors can acquire Bhutanese Visa from Immigration Office across the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing check gate, and proceed towards stepping onto Bhutan.