Team-BHP - Chennai-Vizag-Bhubaneshwar-Thimphu-Paro

Hello Team,

Self and my office mates are planning for a grand gala New Year event in the lands of Bhutan.

We are totally 4 planning to drive down to Bhutan in our Accent - CRDi (2006 model).

I am quite sure of the route (NH-5) till Ichchapuram (AP-Border). Beyond that haven't explored so far.

Kumar Sir, can you pls plot a correct tour plan? We are willing to spend about a week for to/fro journey and a couple of days in Bhutan for the New Year Celebrations.

Look forward to everyone expert guidelines...

Please take a look at the following link, it has the log book of my recent trip to Bhutan:

NORTH EAST 2009 - hvkumar | Google Groups

And this link has details of the route for Madras-Calcutta:

GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL 2008 - hvkumar | Google Groups

The sketchy schedule I would recommend is as follows:

Day 1: Madras-Vizag
Day 2: Vizag-Calcutta
Day 3: Calcutta-Siliguri-Phuntsoling
Day 4: Phuntsoling-Thimphu
Day 5: Thimphu
Day 6: Thimphu/Paro
Day 7: Thimphu/Paro-Siliguri
Day 8: Siliguri-Calcutta-Kharagpur
Day 9: Kharagpur-Rajahmundry
Day 10: Rajahmundry-Madras

But only 2 days in Bhutan - all the way and just 2 days? Why not take 2 more days off and visit Punakha too?

Any plans to stop anywhere else en route?
Maybe you should look at Puri, Chilka Lake and Vizag.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhanasekaran (Post 1600945)

HVK Sir, Thanks for your suggestions.

What are the things to look for in Bhutan? Any website reference... Already applied for 4 more days leave as a stretch...

Hi, check out this thread. Besides a wealth of information, Sudipto Da is known to leave very detailed logs as well.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...en-dooars.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1596250)

Any plans to stop anywhere else en route?
Maybe you should look at Puri, Chilka Lake and Vizag.

In case you do take Kumar Sir's option, my own thread in that case for information on these places ;)

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...al-orissa.html

My travelogue (in the link) also discusses some of the issues relating to permits, etc in Bhutan.

Some quick tips:
- No bribery
- English is widely spoken
- Govt offices work slowly, but are quite efficient
- Traffic follows all rules, just like any civilised country
- No honking
- Fuel supplied by BPCL, almost same rates as India

In Thimphu, make sure you see the National Chorten, Takin National Park and shop for postage stamps in the GPO.

In Paro, make sure you go to Drukyel Dzong, the National Museum.

Entry into most of the Dzongs - especially PUInakha and Paro - are restricted, so if youi want to get in, make sure you obtain a permit from the Cultural Affairs MInistry in THimphu.

Going to Punakha also requires a permit that will be obtained in Thimphu - the one issued at Phuntsoling will not cover Punakha. First on the agenda after reaching Thimphu is to get that permit.