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Places
to see
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Places
to see
| Thimpu The capital of Bhutan, it is a unique city with an unusual amalgamation of modern development and ancient religion. Paro This beautiful valley with its rich terraced farmland is home to some of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries. It also has Bhutan's first airport. An ancient watchtower holds the National Museum, while overlooking the valley is the cliff-side "Tiger's Nest" monastery of Taktsang. Wangdiphodrang The last town on the central highway before one reaches central Bhutan, Wangdiphodrant is like a large village with a few well-stocked shops. This district is famous for its fine bamboo work and slate and stone carvings. Tongsa The Royal family's ancestral home, the landscape around Tongsa is spectacular an for miles on end the dzong seems to tease you, making you wonder if you will ever reach there. With wooden slatted houses lined up together on the side of the hill the town is traditional in appearance. Bumthang The wide valley of Bumthang is the ancestral home of Buddhism in Bhutan, and is a place of pilgrimage for the Bhutanese people. It's many important monasteries and temples contain a wealth of valuable religious artifacts. Tashigang The most important eastern town in Bhutan, Tashigang is the centre of one of the most populated districts in the kingdom, an area where much of the nation's finest weaving comes from. In the valleys of Merak and Sakteng live the remarkable yak herders. Trekking Trekkers are fortunate people, because they have opportunity to see the kingdom of Bhutan at its most magnificent. The most challenging treks lie at the northwestern border where the highest peaks of the Himalayas separate Bhutan and Tibet. The most well-known of these being the Chomolhari trek, the Lingshi/Laya trek and the Lunana trek. These treks will take you close to huge snow, ice and rock faces of mountains, where the only inhabitants are rare species of wildlife, and the people mainly yak herders. There are also lower altitude trekking routes where trails lead through lush forests where a diversity of flora and fauna can be seen. These treks offer opportunities to visit villages, farms and temples along the way, making them rich in culture as well as natural and scenic beauty. Some of the most popular are the Bumthang trek, the Gangtey trek with its glorious rhododendron blooms; the Punakha trek rich in cultural diversity; the Lhuntshi and Rodungla treks. These are just a few; there are many more waiting to be explored by the intrepid adventurer. FACTS FOR THE TRAVELLER Getting there Bhutan maintains a strict policy of limiting the number of people who can visit the country each year. The only way to visit is as a member of a tour group organized through a recognized Bhutanese travel agency. All visitors are charged fixed tariffs for services such as accommodation, transport, guides and meals. Entering Bhutan The convenient way for tourists to enter Bhutan is by air. Druk Air, the Bhutanese national airline, operates flights to Paro from Delhi, Calcutta, Bangkok, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Rangoon. The flight to Paro offers spectacular views of Everest, Makalu and Kanchanjunga, as well as the Bhutanese peaks of Chomolhari and Gangkar Puensum. Visas Visas are required for everyone who visits Bhutan and may be obtained through a recognized travel agency. Without a visa number it is impossible to board a Druk Air flight. The visas themselves are issued on arrival in Paro. At present a visa costs US$20 for all nationalities. Money Bhutan's unit of currency is the Ngultrum, with 100 Chetrum being equal to 1 Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is at par with the Indian Rupee. Money should be carried in the form of travellers cheques, preferably American Express, with a little cash set aside(US Dollars) for incidental expenses on arrival or departure. Only American Express credit cards are acceptable in Bhutan and that too by a limited number of establishments. Accommodation There are many comfortable hotels and lodges in all districts. Away from the towns and villages there are purpose built huts on some of the principal trekking routes. Otherwise, there is nothing like camping out under the clearest night skies that you might have ever seen. Wherever you spend the night. The warm Bhutanese hospitality will make you feel welcomed. Languages The National Language is Dzongkha from the Tibetan family of languages. Services of English speaking tour guides are available for tourist groups. Climate The southern part of Bhutan is tropical, and in general the east is warmer than the west of the country. Winter in Bhutan is from mid-November until mid-November until mid-March, and at this time of year the climate is dry, with day temperatures falling to 16-18 C and night temperature falling below zero. The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June with the rain falling mainly in the afternoons and evenings. At the end of September, after the last of the rain, autumn suddenly arrives (a magnificent season for trekking) lasting until mid-November.
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