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Land area:
38,394 square kilometres
Forest area: 72.5 %
Altitude: between 240metres and 7541metres above sea level
Inhabitants: 634,982
Language: official language “Dzongkha”, English widely
spoken
Religion: Vajrayana stream of Mahayana Buddhism (Also known
as Tantric Buddhism)
Currency: Ngultrum (equal to Indian Rupee)
Capital: Thimphu
National Tree: Cypress
National Bird: Raven
National Flower: Blue Poppy
National Sport: Archery
National Animal: Takin
Local time: Six hours ahead of GMT and half an hour ahead of
Indian Standard Time
How to Reach Bhutan
Getting to Bhutan
Reaching Paro by Air
Druk Air, the National Air Carrier of Bhutan, operates
regular flights to / from Paro to Delhi (India), Kolkatta
(India), Gaya (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand)
and Dhaka (Bangladesh). Not too many airlines are available
if you want to travel Paro from India, then Drukair is the
only airline available. Paro is the only airport connecting
Bhutan with rest of world through a well network of flights.
Drukair is also regarded as one of the safest airlines in
the world. However it is advisable to book your air tickets
well in advance to avoid the tourist season rush. For
detailed information about airline, schedule and tariff,
please visit Druk Air.
By Surface
Entry / Exit to Bhutan is also possible through
Phuentsholing, the southern Bhutan frontier town. Bagdogra
airport, in the state of West Bengal (India) is the nearest
airport about 5 hours drive from Phuentsholing. Also
Bagdogra (and its main town Siliguri) is the convenient
point for visiting West Bengal region of Darjeeling,
Kalimpong and touristically popular state of Sikkim.
Bhadrapur (about 5 hours
drive from Phuentsholing) and Biratnagar (about 7 hours
drive from Phuentsholing) are two other nearby airports in
Nepal, connected with regular flights from Kathmandu.
Immigration in Bhutan
Customs
Visitors are required to complete a passenger declaration
form for checking by concerned officers on arrival. The
following articles are exempted from duty :-
a). Personal affects and articles for day to day use by the
visitor
b). 1 liter of alcohol (spirits or wine)
c). 200 cigarettes, on payment of import duty of 200%
d). Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional
use
e). Photographic equipment, video cameras and other
electronic goods for personal use .
The articles mentioned under d). & e). must be declared on
declaration form. If any such items are disposed in Bhutan
by sale of gift, they are liable for custom duty. On
departure, visitors are required to surrender their forms to
the Custom authorities.
Visa Requirement for Bhutan
All travelers except Indian residents require visa for
traveling to Bhutan.
In order to process Bhutan visa we require clear readable
copy of passport at least 20 days prior to date of entry
into Bhutan. Remaining validity of passport should be at
least 6 months from the date of exit from Bhutan.
Tourism Council of Bhutan issues visa clearance letter
closer to traveling date which we email or fax you or your
local travel agent. Travelers are required to produce
aforesaid visa clearance copy at the time of check-in for
Druk Air flight while those entering Bhutan by surface via
Phuentsholing or Samdrup Jonkhar, they are required to
produce this Visa Clearance letter at the Immigration
counter. Actual visa is stamped at passport on arrival in
Bhutan.
Visa only service is not offered in Bhutan, guests have to
buy full service tour package from local tour operator that
includes accommodation, guided tours, transfers etc.
Visa fee of US$ 20 is included in the tour package cost.
Climate
and Weather Conditions in Bhutan
Geographically, Bhutan is a
land of dramatic contrast. From the near tropical southern
border with India, steep slopes climb to snow-capped heights
of over 24,750 feet / 7,500m at the northern border with
Tibet. Consequently, temperatures vary greatly between day
and night and at different altitudes, so layered clothing
for changing conditions, is recommended. In the central
valleys, the summer rains are not as heavy as in the south
and occur mostly in late afternoon and at night. From
mid-May to the end of September, the weather is warm at
night (60-64F/17-18C) and in the day (72-78F/22-26C). In
winter, the sky is bright and it is sunny but cold,
especially when the sun hides behind the mountains in the
mornings and evenings. At night, the temperature falls below
zero. Spring and Autumn are very pleasant with warm days and
cool nights.
Best Time to Visit
Bhutan
Trip to Bhutan can be planned throughout the year but best
months are Mar, April, May, September, October, November.
Also there are several festivals taking place during these
months, offering an added attraction. Winter in Bhutan is
from mid November to mid March and at this time of the year,
climate is dry and sunny for the most parts with perfect
blue sky, temperatures peaking at around 15c in the daytime
and falling below zero at night. The monsoon usually arrives
in mid-June, with light rain falling mainly in the
afternoons and evenings.
Health
Precautions for Travelers
Health and vaccination requirement
No vaccination is currently required for entry into Bhutan .
However if you are arriving from an area infected with
yellow fever, you are required to have a yellow fever
vaccination.
If you are arriving from Cholera infected area then
officials may ask for evidence of Cholera vaccination. Anti
–malarial medication is recommended for all travelers to
Bhutan who are visiting rural areas in the districts that
border India.
It is suggested that you assemble a traveler's medical kit
appropriate to destination, length of trip and general
health. On a tour in Bhutan, there are long drives, and
roads are winding so medication for motion sickness is
strongly suggested. You should also pack an adequate supply
of any prescribed medications you may require while
traveling.
Travelers who plan to visit Bhutan should consult a
physician about high-altitude travel. After a brief period
of acclimatization, most people do not suffer from altitude
sickness ; but elderly travelers or those with high blood
pressure or heart conditions need to exercise caution at
high altitudes.
Food and Drinks
Bhutanese food is generally good. Set meals for travelers
tend to be on the bland side, because local food is heavily
seasoned with red chilies and can be quite hot. Most hotels
provide meals buffet-style. There are usually continental,
Indian, Chinese and Bhutanese dishes. The food in hotels is
often the best in town, but in main towns now there are few
restaurants increasingly becoming popular. All tourist
hotels have good selection of international and Bhutanese
beverages.
Food provided during tour is quite elaborate and generally
consists of followings :
On Cultural Tour
BREAKFAST; Canned juice with choice of orange, mango,
pineapple, apple etc, Porridge/cornflakes/cereals, Fresh
fruits, Sausages/bacon, Toast, butter and Jam, Eggs,
Tea/coffee
LUNCH; Salad, Rice, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2 Vegetable
items, Roti/Nan, Desert, Tea/Coffee
DINNER; Soup, Salad, Rice, Noodles, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2
Vegetable items, Desert, Tea/Coffee
EVENING TEA; Tea/Coffee, Cookies/sandwich, Biscuits/pasteries
On Trek
BREAKFAST; Canned juice with choice of orange, mango,
pineapple, apple etc., Porridge/cornflakes/cereals, Fresh
fruits, Sausages/bacon, Eggs, Tea/Coffee
LUNCH; Vegetable cutlet/sandwich/boiled potato, Chicken
roast/roast beef, Boiled eggs, Roti/Naan, Fresh fruits,
Canned juice, Boiled drinking water
DINNER; Soup, Salad, Rice, Noodles, 2 Non-vegetable items, 2
Vegetable items, Desert, Tea/Coffee
EVENING TEA: Tea/Coffee, Cookies/sandwich, Biscuits
Even though the locals drink water straight from the tap, we
suggest visitors to drink only bottled water. On treks, we
provide boiled and filtered water. A reasonable variety of
both hard and soft drinks are available in hotels,
restaurants and shops in most towns. Many Bhutanese enjoy
drinking traditional homemade alcoholic brews made from
wheat, millet or rice.
Bhutan is the only country in the world to totally ban the
import and sale of all tobacco products. You can bring in a
reasonable amount of cigarettes for personal consumption,
but you will be charged an import duty of 100%. Smoking is
banned in all public places including restaurants and bars
Communication
Facilities in Bhutan
All major towns and cities have basic communication
facilities, including phone, fax, and email service. Local
and international calls can be made from all hotels and
public phone booths for a fee. Cell phones with a Bhutanese
SIM card can also be used in most urban places and some
rural places as well, and can be used with a commonly
available pre-paid mobile voucher.
Standard mail service in Bhutan is handled by Bhutan Post,
and is commonly found throughout the country. However, now
both DHL and Federal Express have offices in Thimphu which
can be utilized for sending and receiving documents and
packages.
Internet facilities are continuously increasing in number
and can be found in major cities and towns. Although many of
the Internet cafes still rely on a dial-up connection, which
can be very slow, high speed wireless and broadband can be
found in certain areas.
Transportation in Bhutan
Comfortable surface transport is available in Bhutan, making
journey in this mountainous terrain really pleasant. Latest
model Japanese Toyota Cars, Land Cruisers, Hiace Buses and
Coaster Buses are offered to our tourists depending upon the
group size. Our experienced, courteous drivers are well
trained and licensed by Department of Tourism and the
Department of Motor Vehicles in safety and driving on
mountainous terrain. Tourists are at ease riding in Bhutan
Mountains. The transport and guide accompany the tourist
right from arrival until departure.
Photography in Bhutan
Bhutan's landscape, buildings and people are some of the
most photogenic in the world. While photographing local
people, it is always better to take permission first. Don't
take your destination as a living museum. There are certain
places such as monasteries and temples, where photography is
prohibited however there is no restriction on photographing
Dzongs (fort or fortress) and Goembas (monastery) from
outside. If you are uncertain about whether or not
photography is permitted, please check with your local
guide. You should refrain from taking pictures of military
installations.
Electricity &
Voltage in Bhutan
In Bhutan, electricity runs 220 / 240 volts. If you do bring
electrical appliances, take along an international converter
kit complete with a set of adapter plugs.
Languages of Bhutan
"Dzongkha", one of the Tibetan family of languages is
Bhutan's national language. English is commonly spoken in
main towns and also it is the medium of education in schools
throughout the country.
Shopping in Bhutan
Items that are most frequently purchased by travelers to
Bhutan include postage stamps, lovely hand-woven fabrics,
carved masks, woven baskets, thangkhas, wooden bowls,
handmade paper and finely-crafted metal objects. In Bhutan,
the buying and / or selling of antiques is strictly
forbidden.
Clothing and gear requirements in Bhutan
Comfortable clothing and sturdy, soft-soled shoes are
essential for travel in Bhutan. Warm clothing is
recommended; and except for summer months, down jackets and
woolen sweaters are suggested. In summer, heavy cottons and
lightweight woolens will be acceptable. Altitudinal
differences account for a wide range of temperatures from
day to night the year round. It is, therefore, suggested
that clothing be layered so that you can adapt to the
changing conditions.
While visiting temples and
other religious institutions, dress modestly and
respectfully. Slacks are more appropriate for men; and
longer length skirts are more appropriate for women.
Shoulders must also be covered when inside religious
buildings. Also refrain from smoking while on the premises.
Please keep in mind that shoes must be removed when entering
temples. It is, therefore, suggested that you carry a pair
of socks to wear inside religious buildings.
The following is fairly
exhaustive list of what you should pack for the trip ;
clothes as per season, sunglasses / spare glasses, pair of
casual shoes, knife, hat, umbrella, camera, films and
accessories, insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit
& safety pins, torch or flash light with spare batteries,
mirror, scissor, sun cream, lip salve, soluble aspirin,
antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream, anti-diarrhea pills,
a preparation for the relief of sunburn and any medication
you take regularly.
Camping
Equipment whilst on a trek
Whilst trekking you are provided with foam mats but we
recommend you bring a self-inflating mat pack called
Thermarest. This packs up small but when inflated gives very
good insulation and is more comfortable than a single
closed-cell foam mat. We do not recommend that you bring an
airbed. You should also bring your Sleeping bags which
should be 4-seasons bags as the temperature will decrease
especially at 4,000m camp sites.
Other useful items
It would be prudent to bring all essential items from home;
razor blades (or battery operated shaver), toothpaste,
shampoo, make-up etc., insect repellent, soap, alarm clock,
binoculars, torch, sunscreen, sufficient reading material
and plenty of batteries for all electrical appliances.
Laundry service in hotel
Laundry service is available in most of the hotels at main
destinations. However, it is advisable to check the hotel's
individual laundry return policy and pricing schedule before
choosing to have laundry done at a hotel.
Money matter and use of
credit card & Traveler cheques
Bhutanese
currency is Ngultrum (Nu.) and is officially pegged to the
Indian Rupee. Also Indian Rupee is acceptable all over
Bhutan except Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.
Credit
Cards have limited acceptability and payment through credit
card is accepted mainly by Deluxe hotels and few selected
Handicrafts establishments only.
There are ATMs in Bhutan but currently they only operate
with their respective Bhutanese banks. Since these ATMs
currently do not function with outside banks, so ATM
facility can not be used by visitors. Traveler's checks /
cash are best option if you need additional money.
Cash and Travelers Cheques
exchange facility is available for most of the main
currencies including the US dollar, Euro, Indian Rupee,
Japanese Yen, Thai Baht, Pound Sterling, Swiss Franc, Hong
Kong dollar, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Singapore
dollar, Danish kroner, Norwegian kroner, and Swedish kroner.
Exchange rates vary.
Bhutan Time Zone
Bhutan time is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There
is only one time zone throughout the country.
Tipping
in Bhutan
Tipping is not compulsory for tour, nor there is any fixed
amount for this. Nevertheless the bottom line in determining
whether and how much to tip is to ask yourself how much the
individual contributed to make your travels more enjoyable.
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