Bhutan travel guide for Indians 2026–27

Plan Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha: permit and Sustainable Development Fee for Indians, flights and the road from Bagdogra, best time, festivals and how many nights.

By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read

Why go

Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom that measures progress by Gross National Happiness. Forest covers most of the country. Dzongs, fortress monasteries, guard every valley. Prayer flags line the passes. The pace is calm and the air is clean.

The trek to Tiger's Nest monastery, clinging to a cliff above the Paro valley, is the moment most visitors remember.

Permit and fees for Indians

Indian citizens need no visa. You need an entry permit, issued at the point of entry, and a valid ID:

• An Indian passport, or
• A voter ID card

Children under 18 can use a birth certificate along with a parent.

Indian travellers pay a Sustainable Development Fee, SDF, per person per night. The rate is set by the Bhutan government and has changed in recent years. Children below a certain age are exempt or pay half. Our quotes include the current SDF.

Travel beyond Thimphu and Paro needs a route permit, issued in Thimphu. A licensed Bhutanese guide is required for most travel. We include the guide and arrange all permits.

When to go

March to May is spring. Rhododendrons bloom on the passes, days are warm, and the Paro Tshechu festival falls in spring.

October and November bring the clearest skies and views of the high Himalaya from Dochula. The Thimphu Tshechu falls in September or October.

December to February is cold and dry. Snow falls on the passes. Black-necked cranes winter in the Phobjikha valley from late October to February.

June to August is the monsoon. Rain, leeches on trails and road closures from landslides. Fewer tourists and lush valleys.

Month by month

Average night low to day high, from long-term climate averages. Higher places run colder.

How many nights

• 4 nights: Paro and Thimphu
• 5 nights: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha
• 6 nights: add Phobjikha valley
• 7 nights: add Bumthang by road or flight

If you travel by road from Bagdogra, add one night at Phuentsholing at each end.

Getting there

By air, Paro is the only international airport. Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines fly from Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Guwahati and a few other cities. The approach into Paro, between mountains, is one of the most dramatic landings in the world. Flights run only in daylight and are weather-dependent.

By road, fly to Bagdogra, then drive about 4 hours to Jaigaon on the Indian side and Phuentsholing on the Bhutan side. The entry permit is issued at Phuentsholing. From there, Thimphu is about 6 hours by road.

Indian vehicles do not travel inside Bhutan on our tours. A Bhutanese car and driver meet you at the border.

Paro

The stops that appear most often in our Bhutan itineraries:

• Paro
• Thimphu
• Punakha
• Phobjikha
• Phuentsholing

Taktsang, or Tiger's Nest, sits about 900 m above the valley floor. The trek takes 2 to 3 hours up and 1 to 2 hours down, on a steady trail through pine forest. A café halfway gives a rest and a view. Ponies carry riders to the halfway point. Start by 8 am. Phones and cameras are left at the monastery entrance.

Also in Paro:

• Rinpung Dzong, with the bridge below

• The National Museum in the old watchtower above the dzong

• Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan

• Chele La pass, at about 3,990 m, with views of Jomolhari on clear days

Thimphu

Thimphu is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. A policeman directs traffic at the main junction.

• Buddha Dordenma, a 51 m bronze Buddha on a hill above the city
• Tashichho Dzong, the seat of government and the main monastery. Open to visitors in the evening
• The Memorial Chorten
• The Folk Heritage Museum and the Institute of Zorig Chusum, where students learn the 13 traditional arts
• The Motithang Takin Preserve, home of the national animal
• The weekend market

Punakha and Phobjikha

The drive from Thimphu to Punakha crosses Dochula pass, at about 3,100 m, with 108 chortens and a view of the high Himalaya on clear days.

Punakha Dzong, at the meeting of two rivers, is the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. In spring, jacaranda trees bloom purple around it. The suspension bridge nearby is one of the longest in the country.

Chimi Lhakhang, the temple of the Divine Madman, is a short walk through rice fields.

Phobjikha, a glacial valley at about 3,000 m, is the winter home of black-necked cranes. Gangtey monastery stands above the valley. The Crane Festival takes place in November.

Festivals

Tshechus are religious festivals held in the courtyards of dzongs, with masked dances that tell stories of Guru Rinpoche. Locals dress in their finest gho and kira.

• Paro Tshechu, in March or April. On the last morning, a huge thangka is unrolled at dawn
• Thimphu Tshechu, in September or October
• Punakha Drubchen, in February or March
• Black-necked Crane Festival at Phobjikha, in November

Hotels fill months ahead for tshechu dates.

Rules to know

• Dress modestly at dzongs and temples. Long sleeves, long trousers or skirts, no caps
• Walk clockwise around chortens and prayer wheels
• Sale of tobacco is restricted. Smoking in public places is banned
• Plastic bags are banned
• Ask before photographing people. Photography inside temples is not allowed
• Tuesdays are dry days in many districts

Food

Bhutanese food uses chilli as a vegetable. Ema datshi, chillies in cheese, is the national dish. Also try kewa datshi with potato, red rice, momos, and suja, butter tea. Hotels serve Indian food on request, and most tourist restaurants offer a mild version of local dishes.

Our Bhutan packages

Prices start from ₹34,000 per person on twin sharing, including the current Sustainable Development Fee, guide and permits.

Practical tips

• Carry a passport or voter ID for every traveller
• Carry Indian rupees. The Bhutanese ngultrum is pegged at par, and Indian notes of ₹100 and below are accepted widely
• Indian SIMs on roaming work near the border and in some towns. Buy a local B-Mobile or TashiCell SIM
• Keep the morning of the Tiger's Nest trek free of other plans
• Carry warm layers in every season

Tell us whether you prefer to fly or drive. Both work well, and the road route costs less.