Western Bhutan

A spellbinding land that is dotted with breath-taking mountains, pictorial valleys, gorgeous landscapes, lyrical rivers, and lush vegetation, Western Bhutan is surely a paradise in the Land of Thunder Dragons! Adorned with the courteous charm of Himalayan slopes, enchanted by the presence of several ethnic groups, and inhabited by warm-hearted locals, this part of Bhutan is often revered as the most beautiful place to visit in the entire country.

Comprising mainly of six districts – Thimphu, Paro Valley, Haa Valley, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Gasa, and several other popular tourist destinations, Western Bhutan boasts of its tourism marvels and prismatic offerings. Owing to the abundance of tourism options in this part of Bhutan, Western Bhutan experiences the maximum influx of visitors from all across the globe. Also, the fact that this stretch of the Happiest Himalayan Kingdom is among the most developed and modernised regions, it has become an integral part in Bhutan’s tourism map.

Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, is one of the highest visited tourist destinations in Western
Bhutan. Paro being the abode of the sole international airport; Paro International Airport, is also a much-desired Bhutan tourist destination among the visitors. Though Haa Valley is among the most recently opened tourist destination in Western Bhutan, its captivating Alpine valleys offer a magical experience to the visitors.

On the other hand, Punakha in Western Bhutan is known for its temperate climate, and is thronged by visitors looking for pleasant winter destinations in Bhutan. Other districts like Gasa, Phodrang, and Wangdue Phodrang are also known for their untouched beauty, historical importance, many tourist spots and as exciting range of things to do.

The most coveted region in the Land of Thunder Dragons, Western Bhutan is also the home to some of the most popular and desired tourist attractions. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery (or Paro Taktsang), Chele La Pass, Rinpung Dzong Monastery, Drukgyal Dzong Monastery, Paro International Airport, Memorial Chorten, Dochula Pass, Takin Reserve, Buddha Point, Geon Tsachu, Punakha Dzong, Wangchuck Centennial Park, Jigme Dorji National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Haa Gompa, etc. are some of the most visites Bhutan tourist attractions that are located in Western Bhutan.

Tourist Destinations in Central Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Haa, Gasa, Chukha, Samtse, Dagana

Best Time to Visit Western Bhutan

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) is the best time to visit Western Bhutan. However, there are a couple of tourist destinations in Western Bhutan that can be well explored and enjoyed during the winters. Destinations like Punakha and Samtse in Western Bhutan are mostly visited during the winters due to their warm climate. On the other hand, Haa Valley can be enjoyed at its best during the spring season that mostly falls between October and November.

How to Reach Western Bhutan

By Air

Air journeys are in fact the best ways to reach Western Bhutan as the Paro International Airport in located in this region. Visitors from India can book direct or connecting flights to this airport from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati (Assam), Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Bodhgaya Airport in Gaya (Bihar), and Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri (West Bengal).

Visitors flying from outside of India can book flights to Paro International Airport from Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, and Dhaka (Bangladesh).

By Train

Hasimara Railway Station in West Bengal is the nearest railway station to reach Western Bhutan by train. Though there is no direct railway connectivity between India and Bhutan, visitors taking train journeys to Hasimara Railway Station, can reach Western Bhutan easily by taking a further drive to Jaigaon town along the Indo-Bhutan border.

By Road

Visitors can reach Western Bhutan by road via two different points – Kolkata and Jaigaon. From Kolkata, one can board direct buses operated by the Royal Bhutanese Government. From Jaigaon, visitors can take a drive through the Phuentsholing town of Bhutan to reach the popular tourist destinations in Western Bhutan.