Driving from Dārjiling to Thimphu
Thimphu lies 144 km (90 mi) east of Dārjiling, +0.5 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 2 h 12 min without stops, over roughly 176 km (109 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Dārjiling | Thimphu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | India | Bhutan |
| Population | 123,797 | 98,676 |
| Elevation | 2,127 m (6,978 ft) | 2,307 m (7,569 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+5:30 (Asia/Kolkata) | UTC+6 (Asia/Thimphu) |
Clocks in Thimphu are 30 min ahead of Dārjiling right now, so a 2 h 12 min journey lands 2 h 42 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Thimphu
Crossing from India into Bhutan: money changes from the Rupee to the Ngultrum (BTN); sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 1363, BS 546, Euro, Schuko; the dialling code becomes +975; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648804.
Where to book car hire from Dārjiling to Thimphu
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Thimphu
Live rooms and prices for Thimphu are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Thimphu
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Thimphu from Dārjiling?
144 km (90 mi) in a straight line, east of Dārjiling; by road roughly 176 km (109 mi).
How long does it take to get from Dārjiling to Thimphu by car?
About 2 h 12 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Dārjiling and Thimphu?
Thimphu is 30 min ahead at the moment (Asia/Thimphu against Asia/Kolkata).
What currency do I need in Thimphu?
The Ngultrum (BTN).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.