Talk:Jaigaon

Touting

This article is full of touting and self-promotional listings. I'm too tired to deal with it now, but it really needs a major cleanup. (WT-en) Ikan Kekek 06:31, 20 February 2011 (EST)

OK, I did do some work, but I think there's still more to be done. (WT-en) Ikan Kekek 06:45, 20 February 2011 (EST)

Warning about crime

I understand that these warning boxes should be used sparingly, but in this case I believe it is justified. Few people will ever visit this place, but those who do should be aware that it is a major corridor for the trade of hard drugs and trafficked persons. Kids carry huge swords, half the buildings are illegal and most of the people are undocumented, there are Bangladeshi terrorists hiding out here and there are probably only 4 police officers who are scared to leave their station at night.

Many drug addicts in Bhutan move to or visit the Indian side of the border to take drugs which are harder to come by or more expensive in Bhutan, you find them wandering around everywhere and they don't care who's local and who isn't.

None of this is on any travel guide or government advisory I could find, I doubt anyone has even stayed here because most people go straight into Bhutan.

--Billbarrelrider (talk) 07:38, 27 February 2019 (UTC)

While not a pleasant place to hang out and drug dealing is common, Jaigaon is certainly not dangerous enough to warrant a warning box. Many Bhutanese live there because the costs are cheaper than across the border, and it is a major hub for ordering building supplies for Bhutan. There are some crimes linked to protests and drug deals, but it is perfectly safe to wander around in the day and hotels and restaurants are fine at night. Caution is needed in back alleys at night, but most people will merely be surprised to see a foreigner there. This is not Caracas or San Pedro Sula and a warning box is a little over the top. Personally, I think its rough appearance give the impression of danger, which is not really existing 119.2.104.131 10:30, 17 January 2021 (UTC).

Have things notably improved in 2 years, or do you just have a different perspective than Billbarrelrider? Ikan Kekek (talk) 10:56, 17 January 2021 (UTC)

I am familiar with Jaigaon, and have a different perspective. It is a messy place, but I would contend that it is less dangerous than low income areas in developed countries, and cannot be compared to places known for crime in Latin America. Personally, I think a simple warning to be cautious would be appropriate. A Warning Box makes people feel that they should fear for the lives, which is far from the truth. In addition, most of the drugs sold there are cheap prescription drugs, not hard drugs, and so there are no drug cartels or anything like that. Yes, compared to Siliguri or Bhutan it is less safe, but no traveller needs to fear for their lives there. 119.2.104.131 11:06, 17 January 2021 (UTC)

Understood. I'd be fine with your making these changes, but wait at least another couple of days or so to see if anyone objects. Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:54, 17 January 2021 (UTC)

That sounds good. 119.2.104.131 16:46, 19 January 2021 (UTC)

Illegal/ informal crossings into Bhutan

Now I'm not sure how to write this and would like feedback if possible.

It is entirely possible to cross the border here without a visa. It is actually a common practice because the only people who really come here are Indian tourists and controls are incredibly lax. locals just walk across at one of the 4 (?) gates or holes in the border fence and nobody cares in the slightest, no bag check, passport check, documents check.

There is just a old man, a chair and a gate. The gate is always open and the man is sometimes asleep

Locals tell me there is an informal understanding that visiting the area immediately adjacent to to border is acceptable, many Indians have businesses there and the paperwork would be too much of a hassle for anyone to bother with. Leaving the town is an entirely different matter, but locals (at their own risk) seem more than willing to ferry foreign tourists around (very) nearby Bhutanese villages

Now this varies radically from the official process, and attempting it could theoretically land a traveler in serious trouble so I'm reluctant to write about it- but knowing this might very well be in the best interests of the traveler; as it's possibly the only way to visit Bhutan without paying the exorbitant price of the tourist visa and going on a tour.

The fact of the matter is I literally walked into Bhutan, had lunch, met some very friendly Bhutanese people in full view of all the police and border guards- then went back the next day with an Indian friend to play billiards. If other travelers are willing to take the risk for that kind of experience, I think that should be their call.

Feedback greatly appreciated, as it's a very grey area. --Billbarrelrider (talk) 07:48, 27 February 2019 (UTC)

edit help

This sentence in the introduction is nonsense: "If you hang around the border you can see Bhutanese (sometimes in traditional attire) leave their country to smoke a cigarette, then return to Bhutan where cigarette smoking in public is illegal." While purchase of cigarettes is illegal in Bhutan, they are readily available and people smoke on their own homes, while cafes and bars have a designated smoking area. The idea that someone will walk from the town into Jaigaon just to smoke a cigarette is ludicrous. 119.2.104.131 18:06, 17 January 2021 (UTC)

Redirection of article

@Sbb1413: can you explain why you redirected this article? It looks like it was a useful article. Also notifying @SingyeDzong:. Ground Zero (talk) 17:31, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Here is the article before it was redirected. It has listings for hotels and food that would be useful to travellers. They were not incorporated into India#Bhutan, where this article was redirected, and they shouldn't be. This is too much detail for the India article. As it is useful for travellers, I think the Jaigaon article should be restored. Ground Zero (talk) 22:07, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

I support restoring the article as a lot of information has been lost by redirecting it to India. Border towns are valid articles. They exist for other countries. Gizza ^(roam) 23:11, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Me too. The article was no stub; it provided useful information, and although the town may not be a prime destination, people using the border checkpoint are served with having this article. That's different from border crossings such as Kivilompolo or Raja-Jooseppi in Finnish Lapland, which have just the customs and in the latter case a barrier and a border guard station (the nearby Raja-Jooseppi museal homestead is described in the article about the UKK park). –LPfi (talk) 11:25, 13 January 2023 (UTC)

So, if that is the unanimous decision, can someone revert user Sbb1413's edits and put the page back up. I've tried, but failed. Thank you. User:SingyeDzong

User:SingyeDzong: this discussion has only be going for one day. Let's wait to see if anyone else wants to express an opinion. We don't rush decisions like this in Wikivoyage. Ground Zero (talk) 12:42, 13 January 2023 (UTC)

I'll restore the article if there's a consensus to do so. Sbb1413 (he) (talk • contribs) 14:42, 13 January 2023 (UTC)

I understand, but as the merger was done without consultation in the first place and not made as the result of a unanimous decision by a number of people, I felt it should just be reverted, as we would with any edits that we feel are inappropriate. But, it's up to you. I raised the issue, and now will leave it. I just hope it doesn't get forgotten. Thank you. User:SingyeDzong

I too support restoring. Looks like a useful article, and the information is way too much to cover at the India article. Seems to pass the sleep test too. —Granger (talk · contribs) 02:18, 14 January 2023 (UTC)

Yeah, I don't understand or agree with this unilateral redirection. Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:18, 14 January 2023 (UTC)

I think there is a pretty clear consensus forming. Unless there is an objection, I will restore the article tomorrow. Ground Zero (talk) 12:49, 14 January 2023 (UTC)

Done. Ground Zero (talk) 14:28, 15 January 2023 (UTC)

Thank you. I will do some edits to include the Bhutan Gate as an attraction of Jaigaon. Sbb1413 (he) (talk • contribs) 08:58, 17 January 2023 (UTC)

Replacement of lead image

Jaigaon from the Gumba hill.

I have replace the lead image (shown at the right) with Bhutan Gate because the previous image looks uninteresting to me compared to the gate. Besides, the previous image is quite blurry. Sbb1413 (he) (talk • contribs) 09:09, 17 January 2023 (UTC)

Yes, your image is better. Thank you. User:SingyeDzong

I agree. Ground Zero (talk) 17:07, 17 January 2023 (UTC)