🚗 Malda to Bhutan  Trip: My Personal Journey Through Scenic Routes, Culture, and Himalayan Views 🚗
Planning a road trip from Malda to Bhutan? Come along as I share my personal travel experience, stunning road views, and hidden gems captured in these travel shorts. Perfect for anyone dreaming of a Bengal-to-Bhutan adventure!

We took a train to New Alipurduar from Malda town (Padatik )because traveling to Kolkata and flying to Paro airport sounded backward.Plus it was outrageously expensive.

I will be sharing all about my trip in a later post ,so don’t forget to follow the blog for the update.

Bhutan is a carbon negative country with the most beautiful nature scenes and loveliest people.There roads have no traffic signs and cars don’t use horns!

It’s uncanny but the lack of sound pollution makes the long road trips so much better.

I wondered about road safety especially on mountain roads with no honking.But they have a travel rule (less than 60 km/h ) about speedometer and thats it .

Chat gpt helped me quickly organize all my Bhutan jottings into a sensible travel experience.

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✅ BLOG POST: Summer Diaries in Bhutan (May 28 – June 2)

🛤 May 28: All Aboard Padatik Express!

Summer holidays kicked off with the rhythmic chug of the Padatik Express. Destination? Bhutan – the land of Gross National Happiness!

Met our guide, the ever-smiling Mr. Namgay from Uniasia Tours, who knew every secret of Bhutan – from spicy chillies to secret monasteries.

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🌄 May 29: Thimphu Tales & Gross National Happiness

• Bhutan is a tiny kingdom with just about 750,000 people spread over 20 districts.
• Ruled by the Wangchuk dynasty since 1907 – currently the 5th King reigns, the beloved King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (King JIP).
• No traffic lights, no honking — pure bliss! 🚦✖️
• Bhutan runs on hydropower, tourism, and agriculture.
• 75% of land is forested, and mining is banned to protect its precious ecology.
• Free healthcare and education for all.

Fun fact: Bhutanese people often share the same first names, given by lamas from temples or monasteries!

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🏔 May 30: Sacred Peaks and Spicy Eats

• Landscape ranges from tropical valleys to alpine heights.
• 19 dialects are spoken: Dzongkha (national language), English, Hindi, and Nepali.
• Food highlight: Ema Datshi — a fiery combo of chilli and cheese. Perfect for spice lovers! 🌶🧀
• In the 4th lunar month, no meat shops open.
• Bhutanese life revolves around Buddhism. Before Buddhism, they worshipped nature gods.

Guru Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to Bhutan, blending Indian (Duprakaju) and Tibetan practices like Sakyapa and Gelugpa (Dalai Lama’s lineage).

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🏞 May 31: Of Zongs and Zoos

• Visited Punakha, once the winter capital.
• Explored the grand Thimphu Dzong— half monastery, half government HQ.
• Bhutanese architecture = majestic Dzongs (fortresses). The famous ones:
  • Paro Dzong
  • Punakha Dzong
• At Dochula Pass (3,100 m), gazed at 108 stupas honoring fallen soldiers, set against the mighty Eastern Himalayas.
• Bhutan’s national animal is the Takin, a quirky beast with the head of a goat and body of a cow. 🐐+🐄 = 🐲
• Ravens are national birds and blue poppy is the national Flower seen at very high altitude.
• Traditional outfits:
  • Men → Gho
  • Women → Kira
• Justice in Bhutan? Sorted at district courts, handling everything from land disputes to divorces!

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🕌 June 1: Rivers, Rituals & Rhododendrons

• Hiked through the confluence of Paro Chu and Thimphu Chu rivers.
• Bhutanese spiritual rituals:
  • Sky burials
  • 108 white flags for the departed
  • Stupas for 49-day death ceremonies
• Temple of Fertility and Bhutan’s longest suspension bridge? Must-visit!
• Bhutan has 49 varieties of rhododendron in bloom.
• The country became a democracy in 2008, after 100 years of monarchy.

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🍲 June 2: Farewell, Bhutan!

• Wandered local markets like Phuentsholing, Koja shopping, Clock Tower Square.
• Tasted Bhutanese and Indian flavors at:
  • Hotel Gamega Phuentsoling
  • Tashi Namgay Resort at Paro :Perfect
  • Termalinka Thimphu Beautiful property ,okay food ,great staff .
  • Hotel Shambala (lunch at Clock Tower Square)
  • Nimti Dhaba at New Alipurduar was where we ate on the way to Bhutan
• Bhutan’s green air felt like breathing peace itself.

From sacred monasteries to spicy chillies, Bhutan was pure magic. No honking, no traffic lights — just happiness. Can’t wait to return! 🌸

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📝 QUICK FACTS ABOUT BHUTAN

• Population: ~750,000
• 20 districts
• Capital: Thimphu
• Currency: Ngultrum
• National Animal: Takin
• National Flower: Blue Poppy
• National Dress: Gho (men), Kira (women)
• Official Religion: Vajrayana Buddhism
• Forest cover: 75%
• Free healthcare & education

Those students who want to study to become doctors often are funded by the Government to study abroad. They obviously have to come back and serve the nation.The hospitals are Government run totally free and no private hospitals or private practice is allowed.That makes it a tough option for many.The same problem is faced by teachers who often migrate to different countries once their Government obligation is over.Its a beautiful,kind supportive country where social and community support is at the forefront.Personal development is difficult at the individual level.Tour operators are some of the highest tax payers and the Government has great policies in place to support their work.

Because of our tour guide Mr.Namgay our Bhutan trip was one of the best .He was helpful,considerate,told us plenty of history,geography,civics,economics. He was fluent in English ,communication in Hindi ,Bengali was adequate and was absolutely non imposing.He helped with visa,hotel bookings everything .Give him a call if you are planning a trip +97517625924.Whatsapp is how we got in touch.