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

Understand

Often referred to as Phuentsholing's little sister due to the similarity in architectural style and the fact that both towns are on the border with India, Samdrup Jongkhar has, in fact, little of interest to tourists. Even the dzong is new and lacks the charm and artistic treasures of the traditional dzongs. However, the town is a very clean and pleasant place with an eclectic mixture of Bhutanese and Indian shops, restaurants and hotels, so it is worth a look around if visiting the area.

Get in

• Four day bus ride to/from Thimphu. There are no direct bus links to the capital, only as far as Trashigang and Mongar, and you will need to spend the night in one of these towns. From both Trashigang and Mongar there are direct buses to Thimphu. However, you'll still need to make another one night stop - in Jakar - before reaching the capital.
• On Monday, Wednesday and Friday the border opens at 7AM to allow vehicles under escourt from the Indian army to travel through Assam to Phuentsholing. There are no buses and you'll need to be at the border crossing around 6AM to get a ride (just ask drivers - no need for thumb waving). The journey takes about ten hours. However, because the escourt doesn't stop, it is necessary to visit the Indian foreign check post at Darranga (5 kms from S/Jongkhar) early in the morning or the evening before to get your entry stamp. Also, if you are leaving Bhutan from Phuentsholing, then you'll need to visit the immigration check point above P/ling to get your exit stamp as there is no Bhutanese border immgiration check point in S/Jonkhar with authority to issue exit stamps (there are plans to introduce this service, so it may be advisable to check with the local immigration office before heading out).

Get around

• This compact little town is easily covered on foot.

See

Do

• Just past the border gate is an Indian market called Mella Bazaar. Here, there are an array of stalls selling goods at much lower prices than in S/Jongkhar and some specializing in Assamese and northern Indian food. The chaos and noise is quite a contrast to the peace and harmony that exists just the otherside of the gate in Bhutan.

Buy

• If you are staying long term in Bhutan, S/Jongkhar is the place to purchase Indian made clothes and dry food items. However, these things will be of little interest to tourists. The town does not have any gift shops, even in the hotels.

Eat

• Run by Indians from Kerala, Hotel Shambhala on the main street offers great South Indian food - dosa are a speciality.
• Craving western style cakes and bread? Pema Bakery located in the bazaar area has a small, but good selection.

Drink

Sleep

The town has no tourist class hotels.

• Hotel Peljorling, Tel:+975 7 251-094 - on the main street is one of the town's best hotels. All with attached bathroom and cable TV - single: 250Nu, double: 350Nu.
• Hotel Shambhala, Tel:+975 7 251-222 on the main street. All with attached bathroom and TV - single: 250Nu, double, 350Nu.
• T.L.T. Hotel, Tel:975 7 251-470, 251-069 - located near the town's market. All rooms with attached bathroom and TV. local rate: 400Nu, tourist rate: 1,300Nu - the rooms in this hotel are not bad, but certainly not worth the tourist rate. If they won't offer a more realist price, try another hotel.

Get out

• Deothang - the hill station like town about 18kms from S/Jongkhar.
• Bhangtar, an area inhibited by many Bhutanese of Nepalese origin. The clean river and wide valley offer a good place for a picnic and swimming (though not in the rainy season).
• Guwahati is 110 kms (a three hour drive) from S/Jongkhar.

Contact

• The area code for S/Jongkhar is 07. When calling from overseas, dial +975-7-XXXXXX
• If your vehicle is having problems, then you are in luck. S/Jongkhar has one of the best vehicle repair shops in Bhutan: Pema Khangsar Motor Works. Tel:251028 - located on the main road into town from from the north, near the entrance to the dzong.