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Voykit pocket guide · Bhutan
Gedu
Gedu is a 2-hour drive from Phuentsholing on the road to Thimphu: stop for a meal and a view, not a night.
Gedu is a hill town in Chhukha district, built around a hydroelectric plant and a small college. Its architecture is plain, but the night view from a distance is pleasant. Most travellers pass through on the Thimphu–Phuentsholing highway, stopping for refreshment at one of the restaurants with valley views.
- Country
- Bhutan
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, landslides on the highway)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BTN
- Money
- Ngultrum (BTN) is pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee; rupees are widely accepted but check which notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget Nu 1,000–2,000 (meal and transport) · Mid Nu 2,000–4,000 (meal, transport, basic guesthouse) · High Nu 4,000+ (meal, transport, hotel) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- B-Mobile (Bhutan Telecom) and TashiCell sell tourist SIMs in Paro and Thimphu with your passport; your guide can help.
- Emergency
- Police 113 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, F, G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Indian-style D sockets are common; a universal adapter is best.
- Tipping
- Guide: About US$10–20 per day per group, at the end.; Driver: About US$8–15 per day per group.; Hotel staff: Nu 100–200.; Restaurant: Not expected; round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; hotels provide bottled or filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in certified hotels and restaurants; squat toilets at some roadside stops. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a restaurant | Nu 300–600 |
| Tea (suja or chai) | Nu 30–50 |
| Taxi from Phuentsholing | Nu 1,500–2,500 |
| Bus from Phuentsholing | Nu 200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PBH · Paro International Airport
- About 4–5 hours by road via Thimphu
Typical fares
- Taxi Phuentsholing → Gedu
- about Nu 1,500–2,500, about 2 hours (check)
- Bus Phuentsholing → Gedu
- about Nu 200–400, about 2 hours (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Gedu is small and walkable. The highway is the main street. Taxis are available for short trips.
See and do
Known for
- Night view from the highway
- Wangkha Dam View Hotel
- Lhamu Restaurant's momos and suja
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phuentsholing | Taxi or bus, about 2 hours | About 2 hours |
| Thimphu | Taxi or bus, about 3–4 hours | About 3–4 hours |
| Paro | Taxi or bus via Thimphu, about 4–5 hours | About 4–5 hours |
Sleep
- Near the highway
- A few guesthouses and hotels; most travellers continue to Thimphu or Phuentsholing.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Kuzuzangpoku-zu-zang-po |
| Thank you | Kadincheyka-din-chay |
| How much? | Gadem chi mo?ga-dem chi mo |
| Goodbye | Lakshaylak-shay |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Kuzuzangpo la' with a slight bow; avoid: Loud greetings in temples
- Dzongs and temples: Formal dress, clockwise circuits, remove hats; avoid: Pointing feet at altars; photos inside
- Offers: Refuse politely once or twice, then accept; avoid: Grabbing the first offer
- Religious objects: Pass chortens and mani walls on the left, keeping them on your right; avoid: Touching or climbing on them
- The King: Speak respectfully; portraits are everywhere; avoid: Jokes about the royal family
- Scarves: Bhutanese wear kabney (men) or rachu (women) in dzongs; visitors do not need them; avoid: Wearing one as a costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Landslides can block the Thimphu–Phuentsholing highway during monsoon; check road conditions before travelling.
- Restaurants may close early; plan your stop before 20:00.
- No ATM in Gedu; carry enough ngultrum or Indian rupees.
Gedu is safe. The main risk is road accidents on the winding highway; drive with a licensed driver.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Gedu yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Night view from the highway
- Wangkha Dam View Hotel
- Lhamu Restaurant's momos and suja
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Gedu, revision 4925871 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4925871
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/gedu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.