How To Reach Thimphu From Kolkata

By Air: Kolkata is the only airport that has regular flights to Bhutan. Kolkata to Thimphu flights actually land at Paro, which is an hour’s drive away from the capital. Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan and receives flights every day from numerous international locations like Kathmandu and Bangkok as well. Kolkata to Thimphu by air takes 3 hours in total – 1.30 hours from Kolkata to Paro and another 1.30 hours to drive from Paro to Thimphu.

By Road: Kolkata to Thimphu distance is around 875 kilometers via NH12, and this is a very commonly used route by those who want to avoid the flight for some reason. There is Kolkata to Thimphu bus service from the Esplanade area in Kolkata which leaves every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7 PM. These buses take 22 hours 30 minutes to go from Kolkata to Thimphu by road. A car trip will also take nearly the same amount of time. The vehicles will enter Bhutan at the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border and from there drive up the remaining 165 kilometers to Thimphu.

By Rail: One cannot go from Kolkata to Thimphu by train because there are no networks. However, trains go till New Alipurduar or Hasimara stations in North Bengal which are very close to the Bhutan border. There are buses, taxis, and autos available till Phuentsholing, from where the tourists can take another transport to reach Thimphu.