Bhutan Diaries Chapter 1 - The Journey towards the Goal

Prayer wheels at Zangto Pelri Lhakhang(Phuentsholing)

So I decided to start my journey on the Leap day Saturday 29^th Feb 2020.  My travel partner was my car Mahindra XUV 500 – My BOY. After quite a deliberation and guidance from HV Kumar. finalized the route to Bhutan and back.

And when you have so many loved ones caring and helping you , one is never alone. Let me feel blessed to acknowledge my parents and close friends ,who very actively helped me to plan , to suggest places , hotel bookings , things to see/purchase , monitoring me , boosting me  and really making me feel like a superstar who is out to conquer his dream.

Aai , Baba ,Anagha tai , Renuka , Pritesh , Shivangi , Rahul, Himanshu , Ketki  , Bhavi , Sanat , Nirupa , Advait , Vaishnavi , Tushar Varangaokar , Dependra and HV Kumar sir.

Something about HVK : The HiVayKingClub There is nobody as expert as HV Kumar (HVK) on knowledge about Indian Highways and Automotive Transport. The magnitude and the detailing of precious and up to date information he has is mind boggling and absolutely unmatched. He and his team has been assisting thousands of people so far in navigating the treacherous and unpredictable Indian Highways. Their motto is ‘when you travel, we travel with you’. Web portal http://www.hivayking.in/

Mr.Kumar helped me decide the route till Bhutan and thanks to him , I reached from Pune to Bhutan border in 3 and half days. Kumar and his team of volunteers were monitoring my progress and guiding me all the time. Each day when I was nearing the day’s destination , he would book a hotel room for me.

About the route:  I would have never imagined highways in India to be so amazing. World class , 4 lane highways and having Highway Nests (Mini)- kiosks selling dry snacks, tea and coffee vending machine and water, ATM etc. In addition, there is a provision of washrooms at Toll plazas of NHAI for convenience of Highway users. All big cities are bypassed making it a super smooth and comfortable drive.

Dilse thank you to National Highway Authority of India @Nitin Gadkari 

On these superfast highways ,daily drive of around 800KM wasn’t tiring at all. Only price one pays is the tolls. I spent Rs.5600/- on tolls in total (only in India , Bhutan has no tolls)

• Day 1 - 29^th Feb 2020- Pune to Bhopal

Distance – 825KM . Start 5.30am reached – 7.00pm 

Crossing from Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh today.

Taking blessings from parents ,my Boy - XUV500 topped up , did the Shri Ganesha to my exciting journey. Taking NH60 from Pune to Nashik and Dhule and further NH52 to Indore and then Bhopal. On way an interesting patch was while driving through Sehore. It’s a place where famous Sehore wheat is grown. 

It was a lovely drive with long stretches of lush green and yellow wheat fields on both sides . Midway halt for quick breakfast then lunch (Taste of India Julwania(MP) )  and couple of tea breaks covering a distance of 825Km , reaching Bhopal at 07.00PM.

Fresh and excited at end of first day , after check-in in the hotel Shagun (Bhawani chowk,Peer gate) I went to capture the amazing lights at the Upper lake of Bhopal.

Accidently dropped by mobile in the deep upper lake of Bhopal. I would be lying if I say that I wasn’t panicked at that moment. So much is dependent on mobile these days , maps , bookings , connectivity , pics and much more. Instead of seeing it as hurdle I took it as a challenge. From nearby mobile shop , which was the only one open at that time ,brought a simple mobile and a new number. Connected with my family and friends and decided to continue as planned

• Day 2 – 1^st March 2020 – Bhopal to Lucknow

 Distance – 686KM . Start 7.00am reached – 8.00pm
Crossing from Madhya Pradesh today into Uttar Pradesh.

NH44 - part of North-South corridor and then from Jhansi onto NH27 which is East West Corridor.

Bhopal – Khurai – crossing Betwa river – onto Jhansi – Then NH27 crossing Yamuna to Kanpur – Crossing river Ganga to Unnao to Lucknow.

Stay at Hotel Treebo Trip Metro Inn on Faizabad road.

• Day 3 – 2^nd Mar 2020 – Lucknow to Purnea (bihar)

Distance – 804KM Start at 6am and reached at 7.00pm

Crossing from Uttar Pradesh over to Bihar.

Lucknow – Faizabad – Gorakhpur – Muzaffarpur – Purnea

All the highway is 4 lane , super fast safe driving conditions. Lunch at Hotel Blue Sky around 22km before Muzaffarpur.

Stay at Hotel Highway King , Purnea

• Day 4 – 3rd March 2020 – Purnea to Phuentsholing

Distance -  314KM Start at 6.00am and reached at 1.00PM
Crossing from Bihar to West Bengal to reach Bhutan border.

Purnea – Bagdogra - Siliguri -Jaigaon –Continuing on NH27 – East West corridor passing through lovely tea estates for miles, over the Coronation bridge , passing by Mahanand Wildlife century and through Chapramari Wildlife forest ; crossing several rives like Fulahar, Balason , Panchai , Mahananda, Teesta, Murti , Jaldhaka

Had a tasty breakfast on way in West Bengal.

Stay at Centennial Hotel , Phuentsholing.
Each day I was crossing one state to other and could really sense the diversity of India. Diversity in terms of landscape , nature the vegetation... When crossed from familiar Maharashtra surroundings to MP , it was mostly barren studded with dry vegetation and miles and miles of plains and fields. Crossing over to  UP the looks of villages on way changed , could find more domestic animals , large sheds built to contain these grazing animals. Crossing Bihar was going through industries and the heavy truck traffic associated with it. While in WestBengal could feel the wetness in air , loads of crossing rivers. The food delicacies , local transport (eg.ToTo in WB) etc varied across the states.

Phuentsholing –

On reaching Phuentsholing , first thing I did was to reach the Immigration office to get the permit.

A solo traveler not much preferred by Bhutanese officers (quite understandable)  , so had to write a undertaking along with my documents and take approvals from senior officer at the office and in an hour I had my Passport stamped with the Entry permit for Bhutan. My friend Dipen staying at Phuentsholing was a great help.
Jaigaon(India side) and Phuentsholing(Bhutan side) are twin towns at the border.One can easily pass through the Bhutan gate without restrictions or permissions.

Evening was spent watching the Bhutan Gate and Zangto Pelri Lhakhang

Zangto Pelri is a Buddhist Monastery and an exquisite example of ancient architecture of Bhutan. Built-in 1990 by Dasho Aku Tongmi, who also composed the National Anthem of Bhutan, this beautiful structure houses several statues of Buddhist Gurus

Royal Bhutan Gate

Royal Bhutan Gate at Night

And so here I was in Bhutan …and I was thrilled to spend the next few days in this Happiest country in world.

My experiences and drive and the marathon and some unique beautiful places ..coming up in my next Chapter..

“A visit to the capital – Thimphu”

Stay tuned.


Link to the previous Chapter.↺

	Itinerary/route till Bhutan
Day No	Day	Date	From	To	KM	hrs.mins
1	Sat	29-feb	Pune	Bhopal	825	14
2	Sun	1-Mar	Bhopal	Lucknow	686	13
3	Mon	2-Mar	Lucknow	Purnea	804	13
4	Tue	3-Mar	Purnea	Phuentsholing	312	7