GENERAL INFORMATION ON BHUTAN
"THE DRAGON KINGDOM"
Bhutan often revered as the 'Land
of the Peaceful Dragon' is still regarded as one of
the last 'Shangri-La’s in the Himalayan region
because of its remoteness, it's spectacular mountain
terrain, varied flora and fauna and its unique ancient
Buddhist monasteries. It is in the relatively unexplored
pockets of Asia, which allows only limited number of
discerning travelers to enter the country in order to
protect its fragile environment and culture. Bhutan
imposes strict environmental standards; a staggering
65% of the land remains under forest cover.
Bhutan a purely Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom is unsurpassed
in its scenic majesty and vibrant culture. The kingdom
shares with Nepal the world's greatest concentration
of mountains and living heritage of Buddhism. The fifty
minutes flight from Kathmandu to Paro can truly be described
as a flight into fantasy. During the flight a first
hand close up view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Kangchenjunga
and other famous peaks become reality. Biweekly flights
between these two kingdoms have made easier travel to
the long isolated Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan.
It lies east of Nepal and west of Indian state of Arunachal
Pradesh. It is south of the Tibetan hinterland and north
of the Indian territories of Assam and West Bengal.
RELIGION
The tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism. The Bhutanese
way of life is greatly influenced by religion. Every
Bhutanese home has a special room used for prayers,
which is known as Chosum.
CLIMATE
The monsoon starts in mid June and last until the
end of September. The climate within the mountains varies
greatly according to precipitation and wind conditions.
In the Duars plain and up to 1500m. The climate is sub-tropical
with high humidity and heavy rainfall. The climate of
mid-mountain belt varies, such that low-lying parts
of Punakha, Mongar, Tashigang and Lhuntse have cool
winter and hot summers, whereas the higher valleys of
Ha, Paro, Thimpu, Tongsa and Bumthang ranging from 2,500
- 4,500m. Endure a temperate climate with cold snowy
winters and some-what cooler summers.
Spring is rhododendron season in Bhutan. The mountainsides
all over the country are ablaze in shades of red and
orange. Days are warm but nights are still cold. As
the monsoon rises from the Bay of Bengal, spring turns
to summer and three months of heavy monsoon rains. Arguably
the loveliest time of the year in Bhutan, autumn brings
clear skies & warm days.
ECONOMY
Agriculture & livestock rising is the mainstay
of the economy. It contributes about 45% to GNP. More
than 90% of the people live on subsistence farming.
The farms are narrow pieces of land cut into terraces
on hill slopes. Forestry contributes 15% to GNP,
industry & mining 10%.
MONEY
The National currency is Ngultrum (Nu) 100 Chetrum
= 1 Nu. Exchange rate is approximately US$ 1- Nu 45/-
Indian Rupees circulate at par.
PLACES OF INTEREST
PARO VALLEY
Generally visitors enter the Kingdom at Paro by the
National Airline, Druk Air. This beautiful valley, if
ever a place exists where nature and man consulted to
create their dearest image, it must be the valley of Paro. Mt. Chomolhari 7320m reigns in white glory at
the northern end of the valley and its glacial waters
plunge through deep gorges to form the Pa - Chu (Paro
river). Paro is one of the most fertile valleys in the
kingdom producing a bulk of the famous red rice from
its terraced fields home to some of Bhutan's oldest temples & monasteries.
THIMPHU
The modern capital of Bhutan lies at an elevation of
2300m in a valley traversed by the Wang chu (river).
Tashichho dzong the main Secretariat building which
houses the throne room of His Majesty and a summer residence
of the central monk body. Although not what one expects
from a capital city, Thimphu is a fitting and lively
place. Home to civil servants, expatriates and the monk
body, Thimphu maintains a strong national character
in its architectural style. It is also an ideal spot
for day walks. Phajoding monastery is a 4hrs hike from
the motithang area; Tango & Cheri monasteries are
also another 3/4hrs hike from the capital or all the
way to the top of telegraph hill where thousands of
prayer flags obscure the view over Thimphu.
PUNAKHA
Punakha Dzong built between two rivers in the 17th
century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel served as capital
of Bhutan until 1955 and is still the winter residence
of the central monk body. In spite of four catastrophic
fires and an earthquake that destroyed many historic
documents, Punakha Dzong houses sacred artifacts and
embalmed body of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Punakha's
climate and warmer temperatures make its valley one
of the most fertile in Bhutan. Chime Lhakhang located
on a hillock among the rice fields is picturesque and
is a pilgrimage site for childless couples. The temple
is associated with the famous saint Drukpa Kuenlay "The
Divine Madman" who has built a chorten on the site
during the 14th century.
WANGDIPHODRANG
To the south of Punakha lies Wangdiphodrang Dzong at
an elevation of 1300m. It is the last town on the highway
before entering central Bhutan. This Dzong built during
the 17th century played a critical role in unifying
the western, central and southern Bhutanese districts.
Further up is Gangtey Gompa, an old monastery dating
from the 16th century. It is infact the only monastery
which follows the Nyingmapa sect of school. This valley
of Phobjikha is also a home of the rare Black Necked
Crane, an endangered species which migrate from the
Tibetan plateau in winter. There are about 450 - 500
cranes residing in Bhutan out of which 250 - 300 live
in this beautiful valley.
TRONGSA
Trongsa at an altitude of 2200m forms the central hub
of the nation and is historically the place from where
attempts of unifying the country were launched. The
Royal family has strong links with Trongsa. Both His
Majesty King Ugyen Wangchuck and his successor, King
Jigme Wangchuck ruled the country from this Dzong.
BUMTHANG OR JAKAR
To the east of Trongsa lies the Bumthang valley at
an altitude of 2,600m, has an individuality that charms
its visitors and separates it from other regions. Comprised
of four smaller valleys, the deeply spiritual region
of Bumthang is shrouded in religious legend. Here tales
of Guru Padmasambhava and his re-incarnation known as
Tertons still linger in most nooks and corners. The
town of Jakar is the largest between Thimphu in the
west and Trashigang in the east. Jakar is famous for
its honey production, cheese, apple juice and apricots.
Visitors to Bumthang should plan to spend a few days
taking advantage of the valley's relatively gentle slopes
to walk nearby medieval temples and glimpse Bhutan's
mostly rural population. It is also known for its woolen
material (yathra) which can be seen hung outside of
houses for sale. Further east there is the Ura valley
with the village of Ura in its center. A small but old
dzong and cobblestone paths give the village a medieval
feel. Many excursions can be done at this valley like
Tharpaling monastery, Kunzangdra, Tang Mebartso and
many more....
MONGAR & LHUENTSE
Arriving in Mongar is a great relief from the turns
and heights of the journey over the pass. The town is
small with a sprinkling of shops. Mongar Dzong is modern
compared to others in the Kingdom. It was reconstructed
by the order of the Third King. No drawings and nails
have been used. A visit to the dzong gives visitors
an impression of how traditional Bhutanese architecture
has continued to thrive through the centuries. A hydroelectric
project is under way and after completion it will have
the capacity to output 60 megawatts of hydroelectricity
which will change the industrial emphasis of the eastern
area.
TRASHIGANG & TASHI YANGTSE
Trashigang lies above the Gumri river and is the largest
district in Bhutan. It is much busier than other Bhutanese
towns due to its proximity to Samdrup Jongkhar in the
south has enabled it to grow as a center of commerce.
Trashigang is used as the market place for the hill
people from Merak & Sakteng who are known for their
exceptional features and for their costume made of Sheepskin
and Yak wool. The hat that they wear is unusual but
has a significance of its own. It is very different
from customary Bhutanese clothing. The 17th century
Dzong is built on top of a cliff and serves as an administrative
center.
SAMDRUP JONGKHAR
The road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar was completed
in the early 1960s. This town is small and bustling
and acts as a commercial hub and entry and exit point
in the southeast.
PHUNTSHOLING
Phuntsholing, a border town to the south bordering
the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a hub of commercial
activity. Jaigaon, a small Indian town is located near
Phuntsholing and you can make road connections from
Jaigoan or Phuntsholing to the airport in Bagdogra or
the railway station in Siliguri, both in the state of
West Bengal which is 170 kilometers from Phuntsholing.
There are also convenient connections to the Nepal border
at Kakarvitta or hill stations of Darjeeling, Sikkim
and Kalimpong.
THINGS OF INTEREST
FESTIVALS:
Festivals (Tshechus) are held in Bhutan throughout
the year at different locations. These festivals are
celebrations of faith, legends, myths and history of
Bhutan in ancient rituals of colorful dance and music.
The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu,
Paro and Bumthang. They mark the busiest time of the
year for tourism and reservation are difficult to come
by. Festival time is one of the only periods during
a year when tourists are permitted inside the courtyard
of the dzongs. The dzongs come to life with colour,
music and dancing as valley dwellers and townsfolk dress
in their best clothes and join together to exorcise
evil spirits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked
and sword dances and other rituals are performed in
the dzong's courtyards and temples. Each dance has its
own significance and can be performed by monks or lay
village leaders dressed in bright costumes. Certain
festivals end with the unveiling and worship of huge
religious appliques or thongdrels. The moment of the
unveiling is shrouded in secrecy and creates great excitement
amongst all the participants.
CULTURAL TOUR PROGRAMS:
Bhutan is a remote independent kingdom in the eastern
Himalaya and the last bastion of the Tibetan Buddhist
culture and religion in its purest form. Despite opening
up to tourism in the late '70's it has managed to minimize
the effect of outside influences and the country is
virtually untouched, in terms of the environment, religion,
architecture and lifestyle. Bhutan has the youngest
reigning monarch in the world, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck,
who guards Bhutan's culture and national identity fiercely.
It is a remarkable country and this journey offers the
opportunity to see not only Bhutan's exquisite Himalayan
scenery but to experience its rich and ancient
traditions in Thimphu, the capital and Paro, its second
largest town. Few people have the privilege of
experiencing the fragility of such a small nation and
traditional culture in this age of superpowers.
VISA FORMALITIES:
Visa is required for traveling to Bhutan and it is
processed & arranged by travel agents. No foreign
mission grants Bhutan tourist Visa. All Passport details
should be forwarded at least 3 weeks prior to the date
of arrival and can be mailed or faxed. Actual visa is
stamped on arrival in Bhutan while it is cleared in
advance and a visa clearance number is issue for all
travelers entering Bhutan by Druk Air, the Visa clearance
number is forwarded to the concerned overseas Druk Air
stations and without clearance number passengers are
not allowed to board the flight.
It is mandatory to fly one way by flight & one
cannot do both ways overland tour.
For travelers entering into the country by surface
through Phuntsholing (Border in South Bhutan) the visa
clearance number is forwarded to Foreign Ministry's
office in Phuntsholing for reference.
Two copies of original passport size photographs are
required on arrival.
Visa fee of US $ 20.00 for 14 days visa which can be
further extended with an additional fee of US $ 15.00
ACCOMMODATION:
There are comfortable hotels & lodges at all tourist
destinations. Western Bhutan has better hotels while
central and eastern part have fewer but are simple and
clean. There are limited number of Hotels and lodges
in that area and will not be able to cater to all tourist
during peak season so please be prepared to camp incase
there is shortage of rooms. There is no star categorizations
of hotels but from time to time Tourism Authority of
Bhutan checks that the hygiene facilities are properly
maintained.
TRANSPORT:
Our Agent in Bhutan, maintains fleets of modern Toyota
vehicles for instance; cars, land cruisers, hilux, hiace
vans, coaster buses. There will be extra cost for 4
x 4 wheel drives.
FOOD:
Usually Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies
and cheese but prepared in a mild way for tourist. Other
choice like Chinese, Continental and Indian cuisine
is also served. During treks, well-trained cooks prepare
dishes suitable to western taste from continental, Chinese,
Indian and Bhutanese.
CLIMATE:
The southern part of Bhutan is tropical and is the
border to the Indian plains. Eastern part enjoy a warmer
climate than the west. The central valley of Punakha,
Wangdue, Mongar, Trashigang and Lhuntsi are semi tropical
and cool winters. Thimphu, Trongsa, Paro, Bumthang have
pleasant summer and very cold winters with occasional
snowfalls blocking the passes leading into central parts.
The monsoon usually arrives in mid June till the end
of August. From mid September, after the last rains,
autumn arrives and is a best time for trekking which
last till end of November.
CLOTHING:
Due to wide range of temperature and climatic conditions
it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection
against cold a layered clothing is better than thick
ones. You will be offending people if you walk around
in skimpy or tight fitting clothes although there are
opportunities to wear shorts. We would advise women
to wear skirts or loose trousers. During visit of festivals,
monasteries, Dzongs and other religious
Institutions please do not wear shorts or hats.
ARTS & CRAFTS:
Bhutan is known for handicraft items in bronze silver
& other metals. Sculpting of religious figures is
widely practiced and every temple contains large brightly
painted & gilded statues of Buddha & other saints.
SPORTS:
The national sport of Bhutan is archery. Other traditional
sports include digor – a kind of short put, darts
& wrestling. Today most international sports such
as soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis & table
tennis are becoming popular.
MEDIA:
Kuensel, a weekly published in Dzongkha, English &
Nepalese is the only newspaper.
BBS (Bhutan Broadcasting Service) is government owned
radio station which broadcasts news in English, Dzongkha
& Nepalese.
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