Phuntsholing
| Phuentsholing ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་ Phuntsholing |
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Phuntsholing, Bhutan
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 Phuentsholing
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country |  Bhutan |
| Dzongkhag | Chukha District |
| Gewogs | Phuentsholing, Sampheling Gewogs |
| Elevation | 961 ft (293 m) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 20,537 |
| Time zone | BTT (UTC+6) |
Phuntsholing (Dzongkha: ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་, Wylie: phun tshogs gling, Roman Dzongkha: Phüntsho'ling), or Phuentsholing, is a border town in southern Bhutan and is the administrative seat (dzongkhag thromde) of Chukha District.[1][2] The town occupies parts of both Phuentsholing Gewog and Sampheling Gewog.[3] Phuentsholing adjoins the Indian town of Jaigaon, and cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy. The town has the headquarters of the Bank of Bhutan.
In 2005, Phuentsholing had a population of 20,537.[4]
Contents
History
On 5 April 1964, reformist Prime Minister Jigme Dorji was assassinated in Phuntsholing by monarchist cadres as the king lay ill in Switzerland. The Dorji family was subsequently put under close watch.[5] It was 1958 when the first one-storeyed cottage was constructed it housed a shop. The late Prime Minister, Jigme Dorji informed Phuentsholing residents that concrete houses could be constructed. Tashi group of companies constructed the first concrete house, followed by Tibetans and Indians. Some of the structures that exist to this day are the buildings housing Bhutan Enterprise, Jatan Prasad Lal Chand Prasad shop and a beauty parlour near Zantdopelri lhakhang. After the announcement, 18 shops were built around Zangdopelri area. The Zangdopelri area was a bus terminal, and on Saturday a market would be assembled. Apart from the cottages, there were several huts and Phuentsholing was beginning to grow. [6]
Architecture and culture
The India-Bhutan border at Phuntsholing clearly separates two very different peoples and cultures. Jaigaon across the border is larger, bustling and loud, similar to many other West Bengal centres of commerce, albeit with many Bhutanese shoppers. Phuntsholing is uniquely more urban than other Bhutanese towns as it is the Bhutan financial, industrial and trading capital. It has been affected a little by the neighbouring culture, but is distinctly far more quiet and orderly than its neighbour.
Economy
As the majority of goods traded go into Bhutan through Phuntsholing, the town is the gateway to Bhutan for trade with India.
Indian Border Crossing
The border is separated by a long wall with a single Bhutanese gate. Locals can sometimes even cross without being asked for papers. Tourists form India, Bangladesh and Maldives do not need visa to enter Bhutan but have to show proof of identity such as passport or voter ID card and apply for a permit at Phuntsholing to enter Bhutan. Other foreigners need a visa presented by a hired registered tour guide. The entry gate into the town is manned by the Indian Army and Bhutanese Army guards. The terrain inclines soon after the gate.
Transportation
The town does not have an airport or railway. Indian Railways has railway stations nearby. A 20km railway track has been planned from the nearest railway station Hashimara in North Bengal to Phuntsholing.
Siliguri is the nearest large city in India. New Jalpaiguri and New Alipurduar are nearest large railway junctions. Bus are available from the towns in north Bengal. Buses are operated by both travel Indian and Bhutanese government operators. Once at Phuntsholing, the Lateral Road gives travelers access to the rest of Bhutan.
From almost anywhere in the city, one can see the road to Thimphu 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 mi)[7] to Trashigang in the east.
See also
References
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External links
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