Samdrup Jongkhar

Samdrup Jongkhar is regional head of Samdrup Jongkhar district and the largest town in Eastern Bhutan.

Understand

Samdrup Jongkhar has little of interest to tourists. Generally, the town acts a hub for Bhutanese and Indian traders to conduct business and as an entry point for travellers heading to other areas of Eastern Bhutan. Still, the town does offer a clean and pleasant environment with an eclectic mix of Bhutanese and Indian shops, restaurants, and hotels, which makes it at least worthy of spending a few hours there before moving on.

Get in

Indian nationals are exempt from visa requirements to visit the town.

By bus

• Northern route. S/Jongkhar is a three day bus ride from Thimphu, and the nearest direct services terminate in Trashigang and Mongar, where travelers will need to spend the night before departing on a different bus the next morning (consider purchasing an onward ticket on arrival as buses on the final leg of the journey are often full). Prior to that, there is a one night stop in Bumthang, but it is the same bus that continues the next morning. The most comfortable buses are the small Japanese coaster buses, which operate as far as Mongar and Trashigang.
• Southern route. Buses depart Phuentsholing at 06:00 (non A/C - Nu600) and 06:30 (A/C - Nu685) every morning. The journey takes around 9 hours, and non-Indian and non-Bhutanese travellers require a valid Indian visa as the buses pass through the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam. The Bhutanese immigration post is open 24 hours - seven days a week .

By plane

• Domestic: Yongphula in Trashigang - around 7 hours. International: Guwahati, in the neighbouring Indian state of Assam - Approx 3 hours. There are no buses connecting Guwahati with Samdrup Jongkhar.

By train

• Rangiya Junction in Rangia, a 90-minute drive from S/Jongkhar, is the nearest station.

Get around

This compact little town is easily covered on foot.

See

• Zangtopelri Lhakhang - a new temple near the centre of town. Lacks the character of older monasteries, but worthy of a visit.

Buy

• Just past the border gate is the Indian town of Darranga (AKA Mella Bazaar). The town is home to a number of small restaurants, some specializing in Assamese and northern Indian food.

Eat

• South Indian cuisine. Hotel Shambhala on the main street offers a simple but authentic selection of South Indian dishes; dosa are a speciality.
• Cakes and pastries. Pema Bakery located in the bazaar area has a small, but good selection of bakery items.

Sleep

The town has no tourist class hotels.

• Hotel Peljorling, On the main street, ☏ +975 7 251-094. One of the town's best hotels. All rooms have attached bathroom and cable TV. 
• Hotel Shambhala, On the main street, ☏ +975 7 251-222. All rooms have attached bathroom and TV. 
• T.L.T. Hotel (near the town's market), ☏ +975 7 251-470, +975 7 251-069. All rooms have attached bathroom and TV. 
• Friends Hotel. This hotel has got decent clean rooms. An attached bar serves Bhutanese liquor and some Bhutanese food plus regular Indian food along with a selection of Chinese and Tibetan food. 

Connect

• The area code for S/Jongkhar is 07. When calling from overseas, dial +975-7-XXXXXX

Go next

• Bangter - an area inhabited by many Bhutanese of Nepalese descent. The clean river and wide valley offer a good place for a picnic and swimming (though not in the rainy season).
• Dewathang - a hill station-like town about 18 km from S/Jongkhar. A visa is required to reach the town, even for Indian nationals.
• Guwahati - a 110 km (a three-hour drive) from S/Jongkhar. There are no direct buses between the two places.
• Phuentsholing - Buses depart Samdrup Jongkhar for Phuentsholing at 06:00 (non A/C - Nu600) and 06:30 (A/C - Nu685). The journey takes about nine hours and passes through the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal. (Updated Oct 2024)
• Tashiyangtse - a day's drive. Many sacred sites. Chorten Kora Stupa.
• Trashigang - a six to seven hour drive