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Voykit pocket guide · India
Jaigaon
Skip Jaigaon unless you need to cross into Bhutan; otherwise a few hours at the border is enough.
Jaigaon is a border town in West Bengal, mainly a trading post for Bhutan. It has few attractions beyond the immigration gate, so most travellers only need a few hours if crossing, otherwise a day at most.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, muddy streets)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,500–3,000 excl. bed · High ₹3,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Momo (Tibetan dumplings) | ₹80–150 |
| Coffee at Barsana Cafe | ₹50–100 |
| Auto‑rickshaw shared ride (20 min) | ₹50–60 |
| Auto‑rickshaw reserved ride (20 min) | ₹250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IXB · Bagdogra Airport
- about 30 km (19 mi) north, bus or taxiabout 19 mi (30 km) north, bus or taxi
Typical fares
- Jaigaon → Hasimara (auto‑rickshaw, shared)
- ≈₹50–60, 20‑30 min
- Jaigaon → Siliguri (bus)
- ≈₹300, 4 h
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
Town is walkable; auto‑rickshaw from bus terminal to immigration office (~₹50‑60 shared, ₹250 reserved). Roads become muddy in monsoon.
See and do
Known for
- Border trade with Bhutan
- Auto‑rickshaw rides to Hasimara station
- Budget hotels near the immigration gate
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hasimara railway station | Auto‑rickshaw 20‑30 min, ₹50‑60 shared, ₹250 reserved | ≈30 min |
| Siliguri | Bus 4 h from Jaigaon bus station | ≈4 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Devi
- Budget, basic rooms on N.S. Road
- Hotel Kasturi
- Moderate rates, near Bhutan gate
- Hotel Satyam
- Budget, good veg food, rooms with views
- Barsana Hotel
- Mid‑range, veg restaurant and cafe
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the immigration office? | इमिग्रेशन ऑफिस कहाँ है?immigration office kahan hai? |
| I would like a shared auto‑rickshaw | एक साझा ऑटो चाहिएek shared auto chahiye |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Police patrols are frequent; daytime walking is safe but avoid dark alleys at night.
- Banks do not exchange foreign currency.
Daytime safe with police presence; night caution in alleys.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Jaigaon yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Border trade with Bhutan
- Auto‑rickshaw rides to Hasimara station
- Budget hotels near the immigration gate
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: Jaigaon, revision 5304537 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5304537
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Jaigaon
इस पते पर ले चलें
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police112
US consulate in Kolkata (check address); Indian police stations in Jaigaon.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/jaigaon). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.