Siliguri to Bhutan Taxi 2026
Siliguri to the Bhutan border at Jaigaon–Phuentsholing is about 160–170 km and 4–5 hours by road through the Dooars. A private taxi costs roughly ₹3,500–₹4,500 in a sedan and ₹5,500–₹7,000 in an SUV, with pickup from NJP station, your hotel or anywhere in the city. Shared taxis and buses cost a few hundred rupees per person. At Phuentsholing, you switch to a Bhutan-registered car for Thimphu or Paro.
- Arriving by train? NJP is the main station; most overnight trains arrive in the morning, just right for a same-day drive to the border.
- Already in Darjeeling, Kalimpong or Sikkim? Your Bhutan car trip can start from there via Siliguri.
- On a budget? Shared jeeps and buses run from Siliguri to Jaigaon.
Siliguri is the crossroads of the eastern Himalaya. Trains from across India arrive at New Jalpaiguri, roads run north to Darjeeling and Sikkim, and the highway east leads through tea gardens to the Bhutan Gate.
That makes it the most flexible starting point for a Bhutan road trip. This guide covers where to get picked up, how to plan around your train, the budget options, and how to combine Bhutan with the hills you may already be visiting.
Where We Pick You Up in Siliguri
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Pickup point
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Good for
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Tip
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New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station
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Train arrivals from Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati and beyond
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Share your train number and coach; your driver waits outside the main exit
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Siliguri Junction station
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Some regional trains
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Confirm your station; NJP and Siliguri Jn are different stations
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Your Siliguri hotel
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Travellers staying a night first
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Pickup at 7–8 am beats the city traffic
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Tenzing Norgay bus terminus area
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Arrivals by bus from Darjeeling, Sikkim or Kolkata
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Agree an exact meeting spot; the area is busy
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Bagdogra Airport
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Air arrivals
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See our Bagdogra to Bhutan taxi guide
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Our Siliguri office (Pradip Nagar, Ward 32)
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Meeting in person, paying, or confirming plans
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Drop by the day before to meet your driver
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From any of these points, the drive east follows the same road through Sevoke, Malbazar and Hasimara to Jaigaon. The Bagdogra guide has the stage-by-stage road log.
Arriving by Train at NJP: Plan by Arrival Time
Trains run late often enough that your plan should bend around the actual arrival time, not the timetable.
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Your train reaches NJP
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Plan for the day
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Where you sleep
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Early morning (before 9 am)
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Breakfast near the station, then drive to Jaigaon and reach Phuentsholing by early afternoon
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Phuentsholing
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Late morning (9 am – 12 pm)
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Drive straight to the border, arriving mid to late afternoon
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Phuentsholing
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Afternoon (12 – 4 pm)
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Drive to the border and arrive around dusk; the immigration office may be closed
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Phuentsholing (permit next morning)
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Evening or night
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Stay in Siliguri and leave at 7 am
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Siliguri, then Phuentsholing or Thimphu the next day
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Running late? Your driver tracks the train. Share the train number and your coach when you book, and send a WhatsApp update if you're delayed.
Taking the train to Hasimara instead? It's only about 20 km from Jaigaon, a much shorter final drive. If your train stops there, it may be the better choice.
Budget Options: Shared Jeeps and Buses from Siliguri
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Option
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Where it leaves
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Approx. cost
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Time
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Good to know
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Shared jeep or Sumo to Jaigaon
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Around the Siliguri bus stands (SNT and Tenzing Norgay terminus area)
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₹300–₹800 per person, depending on vehicle and season
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4.5–5.5 hrs, plus waiting to fill
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Leaves when full; little luggage space
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Bus to Jaigaon or Phuentsholing
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Siliguri bus terminus
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₹300–₹500
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About 6 hrs
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Some services leave in the morning and early afternoon; check the current timings locally
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Private taxi
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Anywhere in Siliguri
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₹3,500–₹7,000 per vehicle
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4–5 hrs
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Door to door, leaves when you want
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When does the budget option stop being cheaper? Four people in a shared jeep at around ₹600 each pay about ₹2,400, against a sedan at ₹3,500–₹4,500 for the whole car. For a group of 3–4 with luggage, a private taxi often costs only a little more, and it saves hours of waiting.
From Phuentsholing onward: Buses run to Thimphu for about Nu 180–225, taking 6–7 hours. A Bhutanese car with driver costs more but stops wherever you want. See the Phuentsholing to Thimphu taxi guide.
Combine Bhutan with Darjeeling, Sikkim or the Dooars
Many travellers already in the hills add Bhutan to the same trip. Siliguri is the link.
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Combo
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Road to the Bhutan border (approx.)
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Suggested plan
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Darjeeling → Bhutan
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~225 km · 6–7 hrs via Siliguri
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Leave Darjeeling early, overnight in Phuentsholing
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Kalimpong → Bhutan
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~170 km · 5–6 hrs via Sevoke
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A direct line east without going into Siliguri city
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Gangtok (Sikkim) → Bhutan
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~275 km · 7–8 hrs via Siliguri
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Too long for one comfortable day; break it in Siliguri
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Dooars (Lataguri, Jaldapara) → Bhutan
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~60–100 km · 2–3 hrs
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Easy; add a jungle safari before crossing the border
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A popular 10-day loop: Darjeeling (2 nights) → Siliguri → Phuentsholing (1) → Thimphu (2) → Punakha (1) → Paro (2) → back to Bagdogra or NJP. One operator can run the Indian taxi in the hills and hand you over to a Bhutanese car at the border.
Remember: the Indian taxi from Darjeeling or Gangtok stops at Jaigaon. Beyond Phuentsholing you need a Bhutan-registered car, because Indian vehicles pay ₹4,500 a day in Green Tax. See Bhutan car rental for Indians.
Siliguri to Bhutan Taxi Fares (2026)
Private vehicle, one way, with driver and fuel. Bhutan-side legs are plus 5% GST unless included.
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Route
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Sedan (₹)
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SUV, Ertiga or Innova (₹)
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Tempo Traveller (₹)
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Siliguri or NJP → Jaigaon / Phuentsholing
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3,500–4,500
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5,500–7,000
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9,000–10,500
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Siliguri → Thimphu (Indian taxi + Bhutanese car)
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7,500–9,300
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10,500–13,500
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On request
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Siliguri → Paro (Indian taxi + Bhutanese car)
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7,500–9,500
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10,500–13,500
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On request
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Darjeeling → Jaigaon
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5,000–6,500
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6,500–8,500
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On request
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Gangtok → Jaigaon
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6,000–7,500
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7,500–9,500
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On request
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Same price as Bagdogra? Almost. Siliguri is about 15 km closer to the border, but most operators charge the same rate for both pickup points.
*For Bhutan-side rates by vehicle, see the Bhutan car rental price guide.
Book from Our Siliguri Office
We're based in Siliguri (Pradip Nagar, Ward 32), so pickups from NJP, the bus terminus or your hotel are what we do every day. Send your train or arrival details, group size and route, and we'll send one quote covering both sides of the border.
WhatsApp +91 89006 56138 · Call +91 89006 56148 · Contact form