Phuntsholing - City of Bhutan

Phuentsholing is a border town in southern Bhutan, opposite the Indian town of Jaigaon, situated in Chukha Dzongkang. Cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy; the town serves as headquarters for the Bank of Bhutan. Population 20,537 .

Approachable only by road, the city is connected to major Indian Railways node, NJP . From the west Bengal northern town, one has to take a bus ride, from any of the local bus terminals to Phuentsholing. Buses are run both by travel operators in India and Bhutan government run buses. Travel time is approximately 6-8 hours and prices range below Rs. 500.

There is a stark contrast in the culture across the border, which is separated by a typical Tibetan-style gate. One can actually walk across it without being asked for papers. The gate is manned by a couple of Bhutanese army guards. The terrain swiftly inclines as soon as you have cleared the gate.

The fact that India and Bhutan are ethnically and socially different becomes obvious at the smallest of observations. The people are largely divided into the two major categories that is typical of the rest of Bhutan. The majority are the light-skinned indigenous Bhutanese, and the minority are the darker-skinned Nepalese.

The streets are filled with small ubiquitous pubs, it is a little startling to see a small town with so many drinking holes. The cars are usually imported SUV's from Japan and America.

From almost anywhere in the city, one can see the road to Thimphu snaking up the hillside, and in the evening it is easy to see the headlights of distant vehicles heading towards the capital. Opposite the big ground PSA is the road that connects rest of cities of Bhutan.