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Old 27th February 2012, 12:41   #1
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Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

I have been planning this trip for many days but was not getting free time from my busy schedule. Finally the day arrived on 25th feb, I had fully planned a week before and kept myself free for the weekend. The trip had to be made alone as none of my friends were willing to accompany me stating that it would be risky as those areas were militancy prone till recent times.

The night before I couldn’t sleep properly and kept getting up to check the time. Finally woke up at 7 and got ready by 8am to leave for my destination. Filled the bike with xtra premium and I was all set to go. Crossed saraighat bridge in no time as these was less traffic in jalukbari area in the morning. The road after crossing saraighat bridge is not good till baihata chariali, but after that roads are excellent till my last point in Bhutan. After taking left from baihata its a straight road till pathsala where one has to take a right to get into the indo-bhutan highway, NH 152. Entered Bhutan border by 11am. At the Bhutan checkpost one has to show his/her id and after that the Bhutan officials issue a token to enter into a country mentioning the place till where one wants to go. I took permission to go till the cement factory in dungsam.

From the Bhutan border its about 7 kms to the nearest town of nganglam. Its a small n sleepy town with very less people. From there on its about 3 kms to the cement factory of dungsam. I have never seen a cement in my life and what i saw was of mammoth size in Bhutan. Must be one of the biggest in Asia. I am not much of a writer, so let the pictures do the talking.


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Before starting from my place

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Just after crossing rangiya

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Diversion towards indo-bhutan highway from pathsala

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Into the indo bhutan highway

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Official entry sign board to bhutan
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Running out of time now, more pictures and info to follow soon.

Last edited by GTO : 9th March 2012 at 08:57. Reason: general editing
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Old 27th February 2012, 16:46   #2
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Wow, Bhutan is a place most of my friends from Calcutta recommend me to go to, now this thread of you going there is only getting me more interested. Need more details please.

Did you go deep inside Bhutan, or only in bordering areas?
Could you show the map of places you went? and what you saw?
Must see places that you feel one must see, even if you have missed them?

and finally, more pictures please.
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Old 9th March 2012, 08:56   #3
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Travelogues section. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 9th March 2012, 09:11   #4
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Hi Miles_hungry - A road trip to a neighboring country, that too solo, you have guts. Waiting for more. I sometimes feel envious of people staying in the Eastern / North Eastern part of our country since they have easy access to the countries across the border. For people staying on the western part of the country, we know what the border is, and driving to Bhutan etc is a distant dream. Not because its too far, but because its like banging ones head against the wall trying to convince family members about such a trip.

Let more pictures and details keep flowing in. Glued to this thread now. Someday..
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Old 13th March 2012, 13:46   #5
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

thanks for the responses, mayank and yogesh.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mayankjha1806 View Post
Wow, Bhutan is a place most of my friends from Calcutta recommend me to go to, now this thread of you going there is only getting me more interested. Need more details please.

Did you go deep inside Bhutan, or only in bordering areas?
Could you show the map of places you went? and what you saw?
Must see places that you feel one must see, even if you have missed them?

and finally, more pictures please.
1) From the entry point where is went through civilians are not allowed to go much further. I went till a cement factory in dungsam. I had never seen a cement factory before and it was a huge one. There were 3 huge towers similar to the height of 30+ storey buildings.

2) Regarding maps, I will search and try to upload very soon.

3) I visited the towns of nanglam n dungsam. Nanglam is about 7-8 kms from indian border. Its a very small n sleepy town with very less population. People are simple n shy. Most of them seem to work in the cement factory of dungsam. Many indian workers can also be seen here, they get work permit from the border checkpost.



Quote:
Originally Posted by yogeshnagpal View Post
Hi Miles_hungry - A road trip to a neighboring country, that too solo, you have guts. Waiting for more. I sometimes feel envious of people staying in the Eastern / North Eastern part of our country since they have easy access to the countries across the border. For people staying on the western part of the country, we know what the border is, and driving to Bhutan etc is a distant dream. Not because its too far, but because its like banging ones head against the wall trying to convince family members about such a trip.

Let more pictures and details keep flowing in. Glued to this thread now. Someday..

Going on a solo trip is quite adventurous but also risky at a few times. There is a stretch of about 15-20kms from the last indian village till bhutan border which is so isolated that I didn't even see stray animals likes dogs n cows. I have a snap of my bike in the middle of the highway which shows the remoteness of the place. I can just imagine why such places are hideout spots for millitants.


Running late now, will post the remaining batch of pictures by the weekend
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Old 10th April 2012, 19:22   #6
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Sorry for the delayed post, here are a few more pictures.


A lake in bhutan
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Observe the number of fish in it
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Momos are very cheap there, 10bucks for 5 pieces of chicken momo
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Cellular network of bhutan
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Lots of imported suvs there
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The deserted indo bhutan highway
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Attached Thumbnails
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Old 11th April 2012, 10:49   #7
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Nice travelogue.
The road to the Bhutan border looks much much better than the one at Jaigaon / Phuentsholing border.

Don't they allow people to go all the way till Samdrup Jongkhar?
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Old 11th April 2012, 11:44   #8
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Re: Solo Bike Trip To The Mountain Kingdom Of Bhutan

Cross country ride. Keep it up.
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