Phuntsholing
Encyclopedia
Phuentsholing is a border town
in southern Bhutan
, and is the administrative seat (dzongkhag
thromde
) of Chukha District. The town occupies parts of both Phuentsholing Gewog
and Sampheling Gewog
. Phuentsholing lies opposite the India
n town of Jaigaon
, and cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy. For example, the town serves as headquarters for the Bank of Bhutan.
In 2005, Phuentsholing had a population of 20,537.
node, NJP (New Jalpaiguri
). From the northern towns of West Bengal
, one has to take a bus from any of the local bus terminals to Phuentsholing. Buses are run both by travel Indian and Bhutanese government operators. Once at Phuntsholing, the Lateral Road
gives travelers access to the rest of Bhutan.
There is a stark contrast in the culture across the border, which is separated by a long wall with a single Tibetan-style gate. Locals can sometimes even cross without being asked for papers, but visitors without an Indian passport
will need a visa presented by a hired registered tour guide. The gate is manned by Bhutanese Army
guards. The terrain inclines soon after the gate.
The border clearly separates two very different peoples and cultures. Jaigaon
is bustling and loud, similar to many other West Bengal
centers of commerce, albeit with many conspicuous Bhutanese shoppers. Phuntsholing is uniquely more urban than other Bhutanese towns, having absorbed the neighboring culture, but distinctly far more quiet and orderly than its neighbor. Simply looking at a satellite photo, Jaigaon is packed with small buildings whereas Phuntsholing is dominated by larger edifices placed in rows. Phuntsholing also hosts Bhutan's housing projects for Nepal
ese refugees.
As the majority of goods traded go into Bhutan, and as it hosts the most accessible Indian marketplace to Bhutan, Jaigaon is much larger and receives far more visitors. All Indians are free to enter Bhutan, and the currencies (which are actually equivalent
) are treated equally. Indian rupee
notes are accepted almost everywhere in Bhutan.
snaking up the hillside, and in the evening it is easy to see the headlights of distant vehicles heading towards the capital. Opposite the big ground PSA is the road that connects rest of cities of Bhutan.
The Lateral Road
, Bhutan's main highway, begins in Phuntsholing and winds some 557 kilometres (346.1 mi) to Trashigang
in the east.
was subsequently put under close watch.
Border town
A border town is a town or city close to the boundary between two countries, states or regions. Usually the term implies that it is one of the things the town is most famous for. Border towns can have highly cosmopolitan communities, a feature they share with port cities...
in southern Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, and is the administrative seat (dzongkhag
Dzongkhag
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
thromde
Thromde
A thromde is a third-level administrative division in Bhutan. The legal administrative status of thromdes was most recently codified under the Local Government Act of 2009, and the role of thromdes in elections in Bhutan was defined in the Election Act of 2008.-Thromde administration:Thromde...
) of Chukha District. The town occupies parts of both Phuentsholing Gewog
Phuentsholing Gewog
Phuentsholing Gewog is a gewog of Chukha District, Bhutan. The gewog has an area of 139.8 square kilometres and contains 19 villages. Phuentsholing Gewog is part of Phuentsholing Dungkhag, along with Dala and Logchina Gewogs....
and Sampheling Gewog
Sampheling Gewog
Sampheling Gewog is a gewog of Chukha District, Bhutan....
. Phuentsholing lies opposite the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n town of Jaigaon
Jaigaon
Jaigaon is a small town in Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal, near the Bhutan border. The town lies at the gateway to Bhutan - Phuentsholing, and is thus a very thriving place of trade...
, and cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy. For example, the town serves as headquarters for the Bank of Bhutan.
In 2005, Phuentsholing had a population of 20,537.
Access
Approachable only by road, the city is connected to major Indian RailwaysIndian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
node, NJP (New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri
New Jalpaiguri is a major railway station of the city of Siliguri in the Indian state of West Bengal. The station is popularly known by its acronym NJP...
). From the northern towns of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, one has to take a bus from any of the local bus terminals to Phuentsholing. Buses are run both by travel Indian and Bhutanese government operators. Once at Phuntsholing, the Lateral Road
Lateral Road
Bhutan's Lateral Road is its primary east-west corridor, connecting Phuentsholing in the southwest to Trashigang in the east. In between, the Lateral Road runs directly through Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, and other population centers...
gives travelers access to the rest of Bhutan.
Characteristics
Indian passport
Indian passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. They act as proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, functioning as the central passport organisation, is responsible for issuance of Indian...
will need a visa presented by a hired registered tour guide. The gate is manned by Bhutanese Army
Royal Bhutan Army
The Royal Bhutan Army , or RBA, is a branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Bhutan responsible for maintaining the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty against security threats. The King of Bhutan is the Supreme Commander in Chief of the RBA...
guards. The terrain inclines soon after the gate.
The border clearly separates two very different peoples and cultures. Jaigaon
Jaigaon
Jaigaon is a small town in Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal, near the Bhutan border. The town lies at the gateway to Bhutan - Phuentsholing, and is thus a very thriving place of trade...
is bustling and loud, similar to many other West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
centers of commerce, albeit with many conspicuous Bhutanese shoppers. Phuntsholing is uniquely more urban than other Bhutanese towns, having absorbed the neighboring culture, but distinctly far more quiet and orderly than its neighbor. Simply looking at a satellite photo, Jaigaon is packed with small buildings whereas Phuntsholing is dominated by larger edifices placed in rows. Phuntsholing also hosts Bhutan's housing projects for Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
ese refugees.
As the majority of goods traded go into Bhutan, and as it hosts the most accessible Indian marketplace to Bhutan, Jaigaon is much larger and receives far more visitors. All Indians are free to enter Bhutan, and the currencies (which are actually equivalent
Fixed exchange rate
A fixed exchange rate, sometimes called a pegged exchange rate, is a type of exchange rate regime wherein a currency's value is matched to the value of another single currency or to a basket of other currencies, or to another measure of value, such as gold.A fixed exchange rate is usually used to...
) are treated equally. Indian rupee
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
notes are accepted almost everywhere in Bhutan.
Road to Thimphu
From almost anywhere in the city, one can see the road to ThimphuThimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
snaking up the hillside, and in the evening it is easy to see the headlights of distant vehicles heading towards the capital. Opposite the big ground PSA is the road that connects rest of cities of Bhutan.
The Lateral Road
Lateral Road
Bhutan's Lateral Road is its primary east-west corridor, connecting Phuentsholing in the southwest to Trashigang in the east. In between, the Lateral Road runs directly through Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, and other population centers...
, Bhutan's main highway, begins in Phuntsholing and winds some 557 kilometres (346.1 mi) to Trashigang
Trashigang
Trashigang District is Bhutan's easternmost dzongkhag .-Culture:...
in the east.
History
On April 5, 1964, reformist Prime Minister Jigme Dorji was assassinated in Phuntsholing by monarchist cadres as the king lay ill in Switzerland. The Dorji familyDorji family
The Dorji family of Bhutan has been a prominent and powerful political family in the kingdom since the 19th century. The family has produced Chief Ministers, Prime Ministers, governors, and even monarchs...
was subsequently put under close watch.