Located in the Alipurduar district, Jaigaon is the main gate for entering Bhutan from India. The town on the Bhutan side of the border is known as Phuentsholing. The twin cities of Jaigaon and Phuentsholing are almost continuous with a Bhutan Gate separating the two. Tourists visiting Bhutan by road mostly spend a night on either side of the border as the entry passes are given in the morning from Bhutan.
Jaigaon is the commercial hub of the area. From transporters to wholesalers and distributors flock to the local market catering mainly to Bhutanese clientele. On the Bhutanese side, Phuentsholing is considered to be the financial capital of Bhutan. Jaigaon town by itself is more of a commercial town than a tourist place. But one can cross the border and visit the Bhutanese town which is more peaceful, better organized more friendly towards tourists.
Attractions
The town of Jaigaon is a shopping hub. If you are into shopping you may spend a good part of your time roaming around the variety of shops here. Given the size of the town, the options you get for shopping will amaze you. If you are a nature lover, you may decide to visit the Torsha riverbed on the west side of the town.
Visit Phuentsholing town and its attractions have always been one of the main attractions of people visiting Jaigaon. Indian visitors were allowed to visit inside Bhutan at a checkpost a few kilometres ahead of Phuentsholing town. However, since the Covid Pandemic, the Bhutanese government is wary of allowing Indians to visit without proper permission. The rules change quite regularly and it's difficult to make any authoritative comment on the status of Indian tourists visiting Bhutan without proper documentation in the near future. If you wish to understand the latest scenario, you may contact our travel experts for suggestions.
Two of the most important forests of Dooars, Jaldapara, and Buxa are quite close to Jaigaon. Jaldapara is about 30 km away and Buxa is at a distance of about 35 km. Other places of tourist attractions nearby include Garuchira, Bandapani, Raimatang, etc. For more options about travelling to the area, please get in touch with us by filling out the form below.
Planning to visit Bhutan / Jaigaon / Dooars? Contact our travel experts for suggestions by filling out the form below.
Accommodation
Phuentsholing town has a few budget hotels used by locals and business persons mostly. Tourists who visit Bhutan have to spend a night at Jaigaon in order to get their documentation done in the morning the next day. The accommodation in the Bhutanese town of Phuentsholing may serve you better in this regard.
Within a driving time of about an hour or so there are several tourist destinations in Dooars including Chilpata, Buxa and Jaldapara where tourists can spend the night. This will be an enriching experience for the tourists.
Looking for accommodation near Jaigaon? Get in touch with the Humro Home team. We are the largest network of homestays and lodges in the Dooars region and would be able to suggest the best accommodation for you based on your interest, tour itinerary and budget.
Getting There
Bagdogra, the major airport in the region is about 155 km away and takes about three and a half hours by road. The major railhead of NJP also takes a similar time. Alipurduar Junction is much nearer at 60 km and takes an hour and a half. The nearest rail station is Hasimara (15 km) but only a few trains halt at this station.
Humro Cars is our vehicle division which operates multiple vehicles throughout Dooars and Jaigaon. If you need a vehicle to visit Jaigaon, you may contact our team at Humro Cars or simply check our dynamic tariff for Jaigaon drop.
