The Monk

I am planning a ride to sikkim and bhutan this april. Below is the tentative route chart that we have planned out. Two bikes and riders. Any comments and suggestions are most welcome. Thanks..



Day 1 (Apr 28) – Gurgaon to Varanasi – 799 kms – 10.5 hours riding time Gurgaon, Delhi to Unknown road - Google Maps
- Meet up with Avinash in Kanpur, proceed onwards to Varanasi. 4 hours from Kanpur.
- Stay the night in Varanasi.
- Costs – Petrol 2000/750 – Food 150 – Lodging 250 (ASSUMPTION – Bike gives 30kmpl at Rs. 75/- a litre)

Day 2 (Apr 29) – Varanasi to Malda – 726 kms – 10 hours riding time Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to Malda, West Bengal - Google Maps
- Continue along the NH2 till Raniganj, 491 kms after Varanasi
- At Raniganj turn left onto the NH 60 towards Suiri
- Continue along NH 60 till Moregram, 146 kms after Raniganj
- At Moregram turn left onto the NH 34 towards Malda.
- Cs – P 1800 – F 125 – L 200

Day 3 (Apr 30) – Malda to Pelling (via Darjeeling) – 401 kms – 7 hours riding time Malda, West Bengal to Pelling, Sikkim - Google Maps
- Keep to NH 31 till Siliguri, 255 kms after Malda
- At Siliguri turn left onto NH 55 towards Darjeeling 68 kms after Siliguri
- At Darjeeling turn right onto the Melli-Nayabazar road, after 30 kms get onto the NH 31A
- At Melli turn left towards Nayabazar
- After Nayabazar turn keep moving towards Geyzing and Pelling
- Reach Pelling roam around close by. Visit Pemayantse Monastery and Khecheopalri Lake
- Cs – P 1000 – F 100 – L 250
Day 3 – Malda to Pelling (Alternate) – 373 kms and 6.5 hours riding time Malda, West Bengal to Pelling, Sikkim - Google Maps
- Same as above except no left turn at Siliguri, instead continue along NH 31 till Melli and turn left
- Cs – P 930 – F 100 – L 250

Day 4 (May 1) – Pelling to Gangtok – 110 kms – 3 hours riding time Pelling, Sikkim to Gangtok, Sikkim - Google Maps
- Ride through west Sikkim to Gangtok
- Reach Gangtok by 9 am. Offices in Gangtok open at 10 am and close at 4 pm
- Spend the afternoon and evening roaming around Gangtok city.
- Gangtok – Tsongmo – Nathu La – Gangtok – 112 kms and 3 hours riding time Gangtok, Sikkim to नाथू ला - Google Maps
- Gangtok to Tsongmo (changu) lake – 44 kms and 1 hour riding time
- Tsongmo (Changu) lake to Nathu La – 12 kms and .5 hours riding time
- Nathu La to Gangtok – 56 kms – 1.5 hours riding time
- Cs – P 550 – F 150 – L 200

Day 5 (May 2) – Gangtok-Chungthang-Lachung-Yumthang-Zero Point-Chungthang-Lachen – 246 kms approx and 6.5 hours riding time Gangtok, Sikkim to Lachen, Sikkim - Google Maps (google map incomplete, refer Sikkim distance map)
- Gangtok to Chungthang 100 kms and 2.5 hours riding time
- Chungthang to Lachung 20 kms and .5 hours riding time
- Lachung to Zero Point 44 kms approx and 1.5 hours riding time
- Zero Point to Lachen 89 kms approx and 2 hours riding time
- Cs – P 625 – F 200 – L 250

Day 6 (May 3) – Lachen – Gurudongmar Lake – Gangtok – 210 kms and 7 hours riding time
- Lachen to Gurudongmar Lake at 17000 ft above MSL – 50 kms approx 2 hours riding time approx Lachen, Sikkim to Gurudongmar Lake - Google Maps
- Gurudongmar Lake to Gangtok 160 kms approx and 5 hours riding time approx Lachen, Sikkim to Gangtok, Sikkim - Google Maps
- Cs – P 525 – F 150 – L 200

Day 7 (May 4) – Gangtok – Phuentsholing – 250 kms and 4 hours riding time Gangtok, Sikkim to Phuentsholing, Bhutan - Google Maps
- Get back onto the NH 31A till Sevoke(West Bengal), which is 92 kms after Gangtok and turn left at Sevoke onto the NH 31 towards Chalsa
- Continue on NH 31 for 40 kms till Chalsa
- Continue along NH 31C till Jaigaon (last city of India) and cross borders into Phuentsholing (Bhutan) 110 kms
- Cs – P 625 – F 150 – L 250

Day 8 (May 5) – Phuentsholing – Thimphu – 175 kms and 5 hours riding time Phuentsholing, Bhutan to Thimphu, Bhutan - Google Maps
- At Thimphu get permits for rest of Bhutan and sight-seeing in Thimphu
- IMPORTANT NOTE: Google maps of Bhutan are terribly inaccurate. Refer attached Bhutan map.
- Cs – P 438 – F 175 – L 250

Day 9 (May 6) – Thimphu – Punakha – Wangdue Phodrang 98 kms and 4 hours riding time Thimphu, Bhutan to Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan - Google Maps
- Thimphu to Punakha 77 kms and 2 hours riding time
- Punakha to Wangdue Phodrang 13 kms and 45 minutes riding time
- Cs – P 250 – F 200 – L 350

Day 10 (May 7) – Wangdue Phodrang – Jakar – 197 kms and 7 hours riding time Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan to Jakar, Bhutan - Google Maps
- If required night halt can be Trongsa which is 129 kms and 5 hours from Wangdue
- Cs – P 500 – F 200 – L 400

Day 11 (May 8) – Jakar – Mongar – 200 kms and 8 hours riding time Jakar, Bhutan to Mongar, Bhutan - Google Maps
- Cs – P 500 – F 200 – L 400

Day 12 (May 9) – Mongar – Samdrup Jongkhar – 280 kms and 10 hours riding time mongar Mongar, Bhutan to Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan - Google Maps
- Complete all formalities at the Bhutan border
- Cs – P 700 – F 200 – L 400

Day 13 (May 10) – Samdrup Jongkhar – Guwahati – 110 kms and 3 hours riding time Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan to Guwahati, Assam - Google Maps
- Cs – P 275 – F 150 – L 200

Day 14 (May 11) – Guwahati – Siliguri – 476 kms and 8 hours riding time Guwahati, Assam to Siliguri, West Bengal - Google Maps
- Take the NH 31 from Guwahati, continue along NH 31 avoiding the left onto NH 31C @125kms after Guwahati
- Take right to stay on NH 31, straight is NH 31B @ 160kms after Guwahati
- Stick to the NH 31 upto Siliguri
- Cs – P 1200 – F 100 – L 150

Day 15 (May 12) – Siliguri – Varanasi (Alternate 1) – 1072 kms and 17 hours Siliguri, West Bengal to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh - Google Maps
- Siliguri to Malda as done on UP trip
- Malda to Varanasi as done on UP trip
- Cs – P 2680 – F 150 – L 200
Day 16 (May 13) – Varanasi – Gurgaon – 799 kms and 10.5 hours riding time. Refer above for UP route.
- Cs – P 2000/750 – F 100 – L nil

Day 15 (May 12) – Siliguri – Kanpur via Bihar (Alternate 2) – 1100 kms and 17 hours Siliguri, West Bengal to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh - Google Maps
- Siliguri to Dalkola 135 kms on NH 31
- Dalkola to Purnia all along NH 31, 50kms
- Purnia to Bengusarai, along NH 31, 181 kms
- At Bengusarai turn towards Muzzafarpur on the NH 28, 117 kms
- Muzzafarpur to Gopalganj along the NH 28, 140 kms
- Gopalganj to Gorakhpur along NH 28, 122 kms
- Gorakhpur to Faizabad along NH 28, 170 kms
- Faizabad to Lucknow along NH 28, 130 kms
- Lucknow to Kanpur 80 kms
- Cs – P 2750 – F 150 – L nil
Day 16 (May 13) – Kanpur – Gurgaon 480kms and 6.5 hours riding time
- See Day 1
- Cs – P 1200/nil – F 100/nil – L nil

Total Anticipated Cost – Petrol 15668/- + Food 3000/- + Lodging 4500/- = Rs 30000/-


References -


1. 2011 Sikkim/Bhutan[Planning & Discussion thread]
2. BHUTAN-Eastern India 2011 - Revival of the THUNDER DRAGON DREAM
3. North Sikkim, Nathu La & Bhutan on Pulsar 150
4. Sikkim Bhutan 2009
5. The thunder-dragon ride(sikkim-bhutan 08)
6. http://arnscafe.blogspot.com/2009/11...wo-wheels.html
7. Official Sikkim website :: Welcome to the Official Web Portal of Sikkim Tourism ::
8. Across the Border on two wheels
9. firaa!: Photoblog: Sikkim - Bhutan on Motorcycle
10. Distances for travelling - Distance Chart of Bhutan
11. Destinations in Bhutan - http://www.triptobhutan.com/tourist_destinations.html
12. Official Bhutan website Tourism Council of Bhutan (Official Website)
13. Bhutan info - Motorcycling Across Bhutan (May 2-14) Aviram's World
14. Sikkim Bhutan comprehensive log - kumar'sdrivinglogbooks46 - hvkumar

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Noor

Discussion thread approved

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nelson_sanjoy1

Wow that's quite some research - must say very god start. April would be a good month to visit specially with cloudless skies Kanchenjunga should be clear . Keep a check on the road conditions since its no NH1 but good. In remote places people may not be good in Hindi but manageable. The locale would be a bit different from Leh/Ladakh in many ways. I stayed both in Sikkim & Siliguri.

Your 1st ,2nd , 3rd and 15th day are quite doable but tediously planned. I suggest you not to exert so much initially before landing in hills.

The Monk

Language is never a problem with me. I am good at communicating without knowing a single word of the local language.

Yes road conditions is something I have no way of keeping tabs on. Will just hope for the best and improvise and change as and when required.

Day 3 we might not go to darjeeling, depends on how tired we feel. But riding for long hours in the plains is no biggie for both the riders. Used to stretching it. In the hills we will be going slow and steady

Questions - What I needed to know was for which places do I require to take a permit for in Sikkim? And to get into Bhutan is a DL good enough for ID proof?

@ Noor Thanks for the approval

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Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!

shashi_m8

wow!!! you seem to have planned it quite a bit in detail.

The only problem I see is that there is no gap between the rides, everyday you plan to ride.
- You wont get quality time at any place
- I am not sure how much your butt can handle it; I struggled to sit any longer after covering 1800km over two days on GQ in a P220
- No buffer days to coverup any delays

All the best & ride safe!!!

The Monk

Thanks man!

Hope that it goes to plan. Not mentioned any buffer days as we are not transporting our bikes, riding it back and forth. So even if we do get delayed anywhere, we will just end up finishing our trip a day or two late. Also the plan is flexible, decide along the ride.

Yeah thats one way of looking at it. But we spend quality time on the road. Not really into staying at places for long. More of a gypsy/ rolling stone mentality

Well in 2010 I did a Kanpur-Kanyakumari 7000kms ride on my p220, without too many day halts. And spiti in 2011 without a single days halt. So hopefully will be able to carry this off as well

PS- Hey xbhpians some advice and guidance from all the been there done that guys will be greatly appreciated.

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n_sandy

hey buudy!! really nice plan... even i'm planning for Nepal & Bhutan in 2013...
With ref to ur question, u only need to carry any ID card to get into Bhutan eq. DL/Voter card etc..

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The Monk

Thanks bro! Really helpful because I don't have a passport.

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hrishi_from_pune

Now that is some research! It would be better if you add some buffer time for getting permits for North Sikkim in Gangtok. Overall the plan seems quite tight. I think you may consider skipping east Bhutan and utilize your time in Sikkim, esp, North Sikkim. There aren't any high altitude roads in Bhutan unlike in Sikkim.
Thimpu, Paro, Tiger's nest and Punakha pretty much gives you overview of Bhutan. Again, you can tweak your plan on the fly.

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The Monk

The plan is made assuming everything goes perfect. Their are Plans B, C, D .... Z, incase anything goes wrong. No point posting all those minor plans, because most are not going to be used. Similarly I have not added any buffer days during the ride, if required dates can be adjusted on the go. Like you said, plans can and will be tweaked on the fly.

And I must thank you, your blog and thread have been most helpful.

Could you also please comment on the assumed costs. I know this ride is tight, but is it possible?

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Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!