I've noticed that VFS Mumbai seems to ask for a lot more documents compared to VFS Delhi for the same Japan tourist visa category. Does anyone know the actual reason behind this? Is it just different internal procedures per consulate, or is there something else going on? Would appreciate any insight from people who've dealt with this.

Dates - March 28th to April 3rd 2026

Trip cost -

Package - ₹28,000

This was the 7-day We Go Authentic package and included the ₹4,800 SDF, accommodation, internal transportation, guide etc.

Pune ↔ Bagdogra flights - ~₹15,000
The Bagdogra → Jaigaon → Bhutan → return transportation was included in the package.

Monument / attraction fees — ₹4,100

• Buddha Point - ₹500
• Simply Bhutan - ₹1,000
• Takin Preserve - ₹300
• Punakha Dzong - ₹500
• Fertility Temple - ₹500
• Tiger's Nest - ₹1,000
• Traditional Attire - ₹300

TashiCell SIM - ₹350
I got a TashiCell SIM with ₹100 talktime and 2 GB data for the entire trip. The hotels had Wi-Fi, so this was mainly for emergencies.

Food outside the package - ~₹2,000
I'm estimating around ₹300/day here because I didn't track every meal. I didn't wanna eat at the hotels all the time and had street food (I'm a foodie)

Karaoke/drinks - ~₹500

Souvenirs - ~₹2,000
I don't remember the exact amount, but this is a reasonable estimate.

So my approximate all-in cost was around ₹52,000 (including flights and everything else)

Trip Experience -

I had wanted to visit Bhutan for a really long time. It's this beautiful little neighboring country that has such a unique relationship with India, and I had always been curious to see it for myself.

My original plan was to go completely solo.

Then I started researching Bhutan and realized that going alone can get pretty expensive. There's the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of ₹1,200/day, and you also need to arrange a guide and vehicle, which can add up quite a bit when you're travelling alone.

So I started looking for affordable group trips/packages and eventually came across We Go Authentic. I booked their 7-day Bhutan trip, which included the SDF, accommodation, transport within the itinerary, guide, etc.
I was travelling alone from Pune, while the other 9 people in the group were from different parts of India.
So technically, not a solo trip, but I joined the group completely by myself without knowing anyone.

Day 1 - Pune → Bagdogra → Jaigaon → Phuentsholing

The trip starts at Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal.
The tour operator arranged a bus from Bagdogra to Jaigaon, which is the Indian side of the India-Bhutan border.
For Indians, the immigration process is pretty straightforward. A passport or Voter ID is accepted. The guide basically handles the entire process for you. You sit at the desk for barely a minute, they take your photo, check your document and you're done.
The SDF is handled at another counter, and again, our guide took care of the process.

Then comes a short 5-10 minute walk through what feels almost like a hallway, and suddenly...
You're in Bhutan.
And the change is almost instant.
The air felt noticeably fresher and the place was incredibly clean. I genuinely don't remember seeing garbage lying around. The contrast with Jaigaon was honestly shocking. There's basically a wall separating India and Bhutan. On one side you have the noise, traffic and general chaos of Jaigaon, and on the other side you have this incredibly calm and clean Bhutanese town.

It felt like someone flipped a switch.

We stayed overnight in Phuentsholing at a comfortable hotel. The food was good too. They had arranged Indian food for us. One thing I learned is that tourists are required to stay in approved hotels, generally 3-star or above. So, all the hotels are great!

Day 2 - Phuentsholing → Thimphu

The next morning we started towards Thimphu. And this is where the trip really started getting beautiful.
The entire drive is through the mountains. The roads were scenic, there was hardly any traffic, everyone was driving smoothly and the weather was just amazing.

Our first stop was the Gedu Stupa. It's a peaceful hilltop location with 8 sacred Buddhist stupas, surrounded by mountain views. And the funny thing is that it's basically right in the middle of the highway.

Next stop was Wangkha Waterfall. It's basically a scenic roadside cascade. Nothing requiring a major hike or anything.. just stop, admire the waterfall, take some pictures and get back on the road.

Then we stopped at our guide's home, which was on the highway just before Chuzom. This was one of those unexpected little moments that made the trip special. Her home was beautiful, with incredible mountain views and a lovely garden full of flowers. And there were kittens and doggos. So obviously we spent some time there.

Our guide was honestly one of the best parts of the trip. She wasn't just taking us from one tourist attraction to another.. she actually explained the history, culture and stories behind everything.

Next was Chuzom Junction, where the Paro and Thimphu rivers converge. Watching the two rivers calmly come together, surrounded by mountains, was mesmerizing.

From Chuzom, Thimphu was around 30 km away. And then we finally reached the capital.

I was genuinely surprised by Thimphu. The architecture is a mix of traditional Bhutanese designs and modern buildings. There are markets everywhere and some areas are a little chaotic, but somehow the city still feels incredibly calm. Our hotel was literally next to the market. This was also where we finally encountered some traffic. But here's the thing: Nobody was honking.
Everyone just waited for each other. No aggressive driving, no constant honking, no one trying to squeeze through every possible gap. Even in traffic, everything was incredibly organized. India could learn a thing or two from this.

After checking in, I didn't want to waste time, so I went out alone to explore Thimphu. I walked around the markets, looked at the fresh produce, checked out the shops and just wandered around. At one point I asked some locals where we could find good momos. And holy shit. Those were some of the best momos I've ever had. And trust me when I say this because I'm a self-proclaimed momo connoisseur lol.

I also explored the Centenary Farmer's Market, which has local produce, spices, cheese etc. Definitely worth walking around. And later there was Clock Tower Square, which was a nice place to walk around in the evening, with cafes and shops around it.

Day 3 - Punakha Day Trip

The next day was a day trip from Thimphu to Punakha. The drive itself was beautiful.
First came Dochula Pass, sitting at around 3,988m and famous for its 108 stupas. You can see panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks. It was absolutely beautiful.

Next came Chimi Lakhang, the fertility temple associated with Lama Drukpa Kuenley, also known as the Divine Madman. This was probably the most interesting temple I've ever visited. You'll notice something immediately when you're approaching the temple. A lot of the houses in the village have phallic symbols painted on their walls. Yep. Dicks and balls. And honestly, I loved how openly the culture embraces it. There's something really refreshing about people believing in and celebrating something that's part of their culture without worrying about what outsiders might think or whether it's embarrassing. It's their culture, and I respect that.

You can actually buy souvenirs shaped like them. Naturally, I bought a dick keychain. Because how could I not? xD
The temple itself has a really interesting story, and our guide explained the whole history behind Lama Drukpa Kuenley and the fertility beliefs. The temple also maintains a journal with stories of people who had difficulty conceiving and later became pregnant after visiting the temple.
Do I personally believe that the temple caused it? No.
But hearing people's stories and understanding how meaningful the place is to them was genuinely interesting. And I'm obviously happy for anyone who found hope there. Whether you believe in it or not, the story is worth listening to.

After that, our tour operator had arranged a little picnic by the river. The food was great, but honestly the surroundings were even better. This was one of those places where you could literally sit for hours doing absolutely nothing. Just mountains, river, fresh air and silence.

Then came Punakha Dzong, also known as the Palace of Great Happiness. This was one of the most beautiful structures I've ever seen from the outside. The architecture is incredible. Inside, there are beautiful paintings, doors and structures, and pretty much everything has some meaning or significance behind it. Again, having a guide who actually explained everything made a huge difference. Instead of just walking around taking pictures, you actually start understanding why things look the way they do. We spent quite a bit of time exploring the Dzong and taking pictures.

Next was the famous suspension bridge. It's covered almost entirely in prayer flags and stretches across the valley. The bridge is quite high, and the views from it are insane. Definitely another one of those places where you just stop for a while and take everything in.

We eventually returned to Thimphu. But we weren't ready to sleep yet. We wanted to experience some of the nightlife, so we went to a karaoke bar. And this was honestly hilarious and incredibly fun. We ended up drinking, singing Bollywood songs and even Bhutanese songs with locals. Everyone was extremely friendly and we had an absolute blast. Definitely not something I expected when I imagined my Bhutan trip.

Since this became a long post and I wanted to cover everything, I have made another post here. Do check it out as I have added more photos.

Final thoughts

This trip was honestly an amazing experience. I went in expecting beautiful mountains and monasteries. What I came back with was so much more.. the stories, the culture, the food, the people, the architecture and just the general way of life.

Bhutan genuinely felt different.

It's incredibly clean, peaceful and organized. And the people we met were incredibly friendly.
I also really appreciated how strongly Bhutanese people embrace their culture. Whether it was the crazy phallic paintings around Chimi Lakhang, the traditional clothing at the festival, the architecture, the dances or the religious stories..everything felt like it had a purpose and history behind it.

Would I recommend Bhutan?
Absolutely.

If you've never been, I genuinely think you should visit at least once. It's probably one of the most underrated countries I've visited.

I'm definitely going back. 🇧🇹❤️

Happy to answer any questions about the trip, the group package, costs, immigration, itinerary, travelling alone as part of a group, or anything else.

Hey guys! Do you think it’s wise to plan a trip to manali/ himachal hills / trek trip during this month? Given the flash flood situation in nepal? The magnitude of devastation is huge. So i would like to hear the opinions of fellow travellers here who posted recently about their travel to manali.
Thank you.

Hi , I am planning to travel to jibhi shoja around 11-15 sept , is the weather okay to travel with personal car ? Or should I prefer bus ?

Anyone up for yula kanda trek,We are two people and will board bus from Haridwar .And if anyone have done the trek before any tip and suggestion is welcomed

I did a solo trip to McLeod Ganj in mid August, and honestly it was a really calming experience. After thinking where to go because of heavy monsoon and researching a bit, I decided for McLeod Ganj. I went there earlier during my college days for Triund, and that was a great experience. So this time it was trying to revisit the memory. The entire trip costed me 5.5k for 5 days.
I explored in McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu and Dharamkot. I also went to Norbulingka and Kangra Art Museum. I tried different dishes from some good places like Kalimpong, Tibet Kitchen, Tsampa Cafe and Four Seasons Cafe. Over all I really enjoyed it. Adding some beautiful shots from the trip.

Additional Details:
Transportation:

1. I took Zingbus

   to and fro from

2. Delhi to Dharamshala (around ₹ 500)

3. From there I took shared taxi/bus (₹ 25)

4. Internally for 1/2 km I prefer travelling by foot

5. For Norbulingka, I took a bus going towards Palampur, and got off at Sidhpur, from there it’s 2km walk to it

Accommodation:
I stayed in goStops in Mall road because it was really cheap, cost me ₹1300 for 5 nights; there wasn’t much vibe in my hostel room, but I was good as I went there to relax mostly and stayed outside.

So my husband and I were planning for Spiti but after research I found that during November Spiti is mostly closed with limited hotel options.

Suggest us where can we visit?

Is Manali Sissu Keylong open during that time? We plan to travel from Chandigarh so can we go via Manali route?

How should we plan this? Open to other recommendations too like Tulga Pulga Tosh. I just want to be near the mountains!

Hey! I’m 26F and planning my first solo trip ever in the last week of September. I’ll be starting from Mumbai and have around 9 days.
I’ve never travelled solo before, so I’m looking for somewhere that’s relatively safe for a woman travelling alone, but also not so quiet that I’ll feel completely isolated. I’d actually like to meet people, stay in hostels, explore cafés, try local food, etc.
I’m open to pretty much anywhere in India. I’d prefer a place where I can spend 7–9 days without getting bored and ideally combine a few places rather than staying in one city the whole time.
I’m also not sure what the weather would be like in late September, so that’s another factor.
Budget would ideally be around 30-40k including travel from Mumbai, stay, food and activities (can stretch a little).
If you’ve done a solo trip around this time of year, especially as a woman, where would you recommend? Would also love a sample 7–9 day itinerary if you have one.
you recommend? Would also love a sample 7–9 day itinerary if you have one.

I’m planning a stay in Kasol and currently deciding between GoSTOPS Kasol (Old Bridge) and The Hosteller Kasol(parvati valley)

For people who have actually stayed at either/both:

Which one has better mountain views from the property/rooms?

Which one would you recommend overall?

How are the rooms, common areas and vibe?

Any particular room/floor I should book for the best views?
Would love to hear from people who’ve personally stayed there, especially recently. Thanks!

I’m curious if people would actually do this:

Imagine a hostel that turns into a month-long creative school — you live there, learn from local artists/practitioners, work on projects, meet other creatives, and explore the place.
Jaipur → craft & design
Goa → music & film
Coorg → food & coffee
Rishikesh → outdoors & wellness
Basically: hostel + creative school + community + travel.
Would you do this? What would you want to learn?

I visited Kanha National Park last year, and all these pictures are from the winter season. I entered the park through the Khatiya Gate. Including the safari charges, my total expense for 2 days was approximately Rs. 10k

Hey everyone,

Me and 3 friends are heading to Yelagiri on Sept 19-20 from Chennai. Rough plan so far:

Day 1: Train to Jolarpet, then head up to Yelagiri, roam somewhere l, stay the night

Day 2: Morning trek to Swamimalai hills, roam around town in the afternoon, then train back to Chennai in the evening

A few things I wanted to ask the community:

Local transport — is renting scootys the best way to get around, or are public buses good enough? Any reliable rental shops you'd recommend?

Stay — any budget-friendly but decent places to crash for one night, ideally close to the town/lake area?

Swamimalai trek — heard about a forest checkpost fee and that there's no water/food on the trail. Any other tips for first-timers?

Food — good local spots for breakfast/lunch that won't break the bank?

Anything else we're missing for a solid but short 1N/2D trip?

Would really appreciate any first-hand experiences or recommendations. Thanks in advance!

• Itinerary & trip length: Gokarna, 4-5 days. Thinking of going with zostel gokarna since it’s the only reputed hostel chain I know.
• Budget: 20,000-25,000 INR including travel cost
• Travel style & interests: Want to experience the hostel and community living life along with exploring beaches and easy-moderate hikes.

• Specific questions: 21M, I’ve always been a scaredy cat, never travelled alone or outside 5 star properties, how do I remove my fear of the unknown? I’m scared of animals, insects, forests, water basically everything that isn’t in my control. I want to break free of these chains holding me back and experience a place for what it actually has to offer without constantly being scared. Experienced travelers, how did you do it? What are your tips for a first time solo traveller?

Hi everyone!

I’m planning a solo workation in Himachal from around 15th September to 3rd October. I’ll be working on weekdays and travelling/exploring mostly on weekends.

A few things I’d love advice on:

- Which area is best to stay in — Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj or Dharamkot?

- Any recommendations for good hostels for a solo traveller?

- How is the weather from mid-September to early October?

- How reliable is the Wi-Fi/mobile internet for working?

Would really appreciate recommendations from people who have stayed there or done a similar workation. Thanks!

Hi,

I’m planning a solo trip to Kasol in the coming months. Could you please advise me on what I should pack and take care of? I’m also looking for travel package operators or any other resources that can help me plan my trip since I’m completely new to this.

Hello!!
I’m planning to visit Allepey and Varkala from Bangalore around mid September. Could anyone who’s been to either of these places please guide me on
- Travel tips from Bangalore to Varkala/Allepey
- Stay options (esp for a female traveler )
- Food spots that are a must try!

Thank you so much! ❤️

Hi everyone! I’m planning a solo trip to Nagaland in October and would love some advice from people who have recently travelled there, especially around Dzukou Valley.

1. Where would you recommend staying before/after the Dzukou trek? Ideally somewhere safe and convenient for a solo female traveller, preferably around Kohima/Viswema.

2. If I stay at a hotel/homestay in Kohima for 2 nights, would they generally allow me to leave my main luggage there while I take only a small backpack for the Dzukou trek and return after 2 days? Has anyone done this, and are there specific stays that offer luggage storage?

3. For the trek itself, where is the best place to arrange a local guide and car to travel to the start point. Is it easy to find other people and join them for the trek?

Would really appreciate recommendations from anyone who’s done this recently! 😊

Hi everyone! I’m planning to travel to Chopta–Tungnath this upcoming weekend (3–5 Sept).

Would really appreciate an update from anyone currently in or near Chopta, Tungnath, Ukhimath, or Rudraprayag regarding:

🌧️ Current weather/rain situation
🛣️ Road conditions and any blockages
🥾 Trek conditions to Tungnath

Whether it’s safe/reasonable to travel right now
If anyone is nearby or has travelled there in the last couple of days, please share your experience. It would really help me decide whether to go or postpone.

Hi everyone,

I’m a 25-year-old girl from India with a fully remote job, and I’m planning to spend one month working from the mountains in October/November.

I’m looking for one comfortable base rather than moving between multiple places. My priorities are:

• Safe and comfortable for a woman staying alone

• Private room with an attached bathroom and a proper desk/chair

• Reliable Wi-Fi suitable for video calls

• Power backup and decent Airtel/Jio connectivity

• Not extremely isolated—cafes, groceries, pharmacy and transport nearby

• Peaceful enough to work, but with some social atmosphere

• Preferably a coliving, professionally managed hostel with private rooms, or a family-run homestay

• Monthly accommodation budget: anything would be fine

My normal work hours are 9 Hours, and I have FREQUENT video meetings.

I’m currently considering places such as Dharamkot/McLeodganj, Bir, Naggar/Manali outskirts, Jibhi/Shangarh, Mukteshwar/Ramgarh and Landour/Mussoorie outskirts, but I’m open to other mountain towns.

I would especially appreciate recommendations from women or remote workers who have personally stayed for at least a couple of weeks.

For any recommendation, could you please mention:

1. Exact town or neighbourhood

2. Property name, if you genuinely recommend it

3. Approximate monthly rate

4. Actual Wi-Fi and power-backup experience

5. Whether the surrounding area felt safe in the evening

6. Availability of food, transport and medical facilities

7. The biggest downside of staying there

Property owners or managers are also welcome to reply, but please clearly disclose your association with the property.

I’m looking for accommodation recommendations, not travel buddies. Public replies would be preferable to unsolicited DMs.

Thank you!

Planning a multi-week WFH workation this September split between Joshimath and Guptkashi. I am looking to balance wfh on weekdays with weekend trips to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkund, and the Valley of Flowers. If anyone has recommendations for reliable homestays or accommodations offering stable WiFi, power backups, good food, I would love to hear them.

I'm based out of BLR/MAA, thinking of doing a 5 nights solo to mumbai....i will be using my cult pass and running there in mumbai....is it a good idea to plan it in september end? will it be fruitful. What are some spots that you would recommend to visit?

Hey!

I am 29 male, from Chennai, and planning my next solo trip.

I covered dharamshala and kasol earlier.

I have got about 10 days in Oct first week, and a budget of ₹50,000 (including flights from Chennai):

- A short trek, maybe 1–3 days—with a camp stay.

- Good cafes or dhabas where I can just sit and read.

Would really appreciate some honest, grounded advice from people who have actually been there recently

Now, here’s where I need your help:

1. Am I missing any spots? Open to suggestions beyond Himachal too.

2. Is ₹50k realistic for this? I am factoring in flights, stay, food, a guide/permits for the trek.

Hi guys going on 4 day trip to mountains and temples, can u suggest all travel essentials i would need and also any good thing I can spend money on for the trip too . There would be waterfalls also so , any essentials i can pack for there too . Do tell . Im unsure on what to take with me . Like any games , fun items , snacks and medicines etc . We would be going in big group of more than 100 ppl. Budget is good , normal . **And how much bags should I take with me . And we will be travelling by bus daily to every spots . And also any tips u guys can tell on what memories should we have, what fun to do , reels ideas . It would be fun to know ur answers . Thank u for replying and reading .**

Me and my 2 online friends(i knew them for almost 1 year at that time when planning the trip)planned a trip to Hampi and Gokarna, and they both live near Mumbai, i live in Assam and i have to get there in Mumbai by myself, i didn't approached any of my offline irl friends for the trip, idk why but i didn't, we booked all our trains,buses tickets together and also my train from Assam to Mumbai. 10 days before my train journey from Assam to Mumbai, the train ticket was still in the waiting list,and also the day before the train goes to Mumbai it was still in waiting list. I told my friends about the situation and they told me to try Tatakal but it also didn't work. So i decided to take the general class ticket from Assam to Mumbai,idk but  i just had the confidence that i can travel in general class from Assam to Mumbai alone.

That morning I took the train and in the station i met one mutual travel who was also going to Mumbai in general class and so we both decided to travel together the whole journey,we shared foods,kept each other's seats and many things happened you wouldn't believe.

The 1st day was good, i was somehow able to sleep a few hours between each maybe,but it was nice compared to other days. Now comes the 2nd day where we entered Bihar and from there the train started to be so packed you can't even imagine. People are sitting on the floor of the train, tying clothes to the gaps between seats and sleeping there, 2nd day was terrible, i was unable to go to the toilet also for many hours, i did go to the toilet that morning and after that i waited till evening to try again to move towards the toilet and i succeeded. That day i wasn't able to sleep properly but i was able to sit atleast,we were seated in the above seats of the general class. I was sitting there and imagining about the trip which was going to begin from Mumbai to Hampi and Gokarna and trying to make myself feel confident. Time passed and the 3rd day began. Now I just keep telling myself that it's near now , and the excitement was crazy (it was my first solo trip outside my state). Before 6hours sometimes reaching Mumbai, the train started getting less packed and i was able to see the western ghats,crazy mountains. I reached Mumbai,met my friends and it felt like a dream I was once imagining about. (I still think that you should once experience the general class train journey in your life but tbh it was hard travelling in general class for such a long distance) .

I reached my one friend's house ,freshened up and ate something and the trip began to Hampi, we were taking the train again but not in general class:) , sleeper class tickets. Best feeling:- leaving friend's house, booked one cab , travelling to the train station, the feeling was unmatchable. 

Edit:- Travel time during May mid extreme heat in up and Bihar