Bhutan is located in South Asia. A small country in the
Himalayas, located between China (part of the autonomous region of
Tibet) and India.
Bhutan is a small quiet mountainous country
in the Himalayas, hugged from the north by China and from the south
by India.
Aside from the stunning natural scenery, the
country's enduring image for most visitors is a strong sense of
culture and tradition that binds the kingdom and clearly
distinguishes it from its larger neighbors. Bhutan is the only
Buddhist Vajrayana country in the world and the deep learning of
this tradition remains well preserved and has a strong influence in
all aspects of life. Because of its ancient environment and
harmonious society, the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan has been called "The
Last Shangri-La."
Bhutan is a unique country in terms of
culture and ecology. Lost high in the Himalayas, this is the last
remaining Buddhist kingdom. Here they developed the philosophy of
Gross National Happiness, when progress is measured not with the
help of gross domestic product, but with the help of a holistic
approach to well-being. Hot chili is considered a vegetable, and ema
dachi is a national dish. Ema dachi is made from green hot peppers
seasoned with Bhutanese cheese sauce.
Bhutan is still
considered a third world country with subsistence agriculture in
most of its territory. In general, the land is fertile and the
population is small. In addition, the current generation receives
education for free, and all citizens have access to free health
care. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited, and smoking in
public places is subject to a fine of 175 Euros.
The
kingdom's main sources of income are tourism, hydroelectric power
and agriculture.
Although the traditional culture is very
well preserved, the opening of the country to TV and the Internet in
1999 had a significant impact. The capital Thimphu is growing
rapidly due to the migration of many residents from eastern Bhutan
to cities in the west of the country.
Culturally, Bhutan is
predominantly Buddhist, with Dzongkha serving as the national
language (although there are regional variations such as
Sharchopkha, which predominates in Eastern Bhutan), and a common
style of dress and architecture. The population of Bhutan is mainly
made up of Ngalops and Sharchops, who are respectively referred to
as Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese. Ngalops mainly live in
the western part of the country. Their culture is closely related to
the culture of their northern neighbor, Tibet.
In March 2008,
at the initiative of the fourth king, the kingdom became a
parliamentary democracy.
Gross National Happiness
This ideology was conceived by King Jigme
Singye Wangchuck, who, having received a modern education in India and
the UK, realized that economic success in itself does not necessarily
make society contented and happy. Accordingly, shortly after his
coronation in 1974, the young king began to promote the idea of
developing new principles for governing the country. Gradually, these
ideas were formulated, and in 1998 the GNA indicator was adopted. The
GNH stands for Gross National Happiness and is defined by the following
four goals: enhancing economic growth and development, preserving and
developing cultural heritage, promoting environmental stewardship, and
promoting good governance.
On July 19, 2011, 68 states joined the
Kingdom of Bhutan, initiating the resolution "Happiness: Towards a
holistic approach to development", adopted by consensus of the UN
General Assembly. As a follow-up to the resolution, the Bhutanese
government hosted a high-level meeting on "Happiness and Well Being:
Defining a New Economic Paradigm" on 2 April 2012 at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York . At the meeting, the next steps were proposed
to realize the vision of a new economic paradigm based on well-being and
social and environmental responsibility, which in fact combines the
achievement of economic, social and environmental goals.
Story
The first people may have settled here after the ice age, little is
known about this prehistoric era of Bhutan. The first historical
information appeared with the advent of Buddhism in the 7th century,
when Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) visited Bhutan and founded
monasteries.
In 1865, England and Bhutan signed the Treaty of
Sinchulu, under which Bhutan received an annual subsidy in exchange for
the cession of some border territories. Under British influence, a
monarchy was introduced in 1907; three years later, an agreement was
signed under which the British agreed not to interfere in the internal
affairs of Bhutan, and Bhutan allowed Great Britain to manage foreign
relations. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two
years later, an official Indian-Bhutanese agreement returned the
Bhutanese lands annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies
received by the country, and determined India's responsibility in the
field of defense and foreign relations.
In December 2006, King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck handed over power to his eldest son, Crown Prince
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, giving him the title of the fifth Druk
Gyalpo. The coronation ceremony took place in November 2008. The fifth
king was educated in Boston and Oxford and is highly respected in the
country.
Weather
Despite the small size of Bhutan, the weather there
varies from north to south and from valley to valley, primarily
depending on the height above sea level. In the north of Bhutan, on
the border with Tibet, there is always snow. In the western, central
and eastern parts of Bhutan (Ha, Paro, Thimphu, Wandue, Trongsa,
Bumthang, Trashi Yangtse, Lhuntse) you will most likely encounter
European-like weather. Winter here lasts from November to March. The
exception is Punakha, as it is in a lower valley with hot summers
and pleasant winters. In the southern part of Bhutan, bordering
India, it is hot and humid, the climate is subtropical. Although the
monsoons strongly affect northern India, they do not affect Bhutan
to the same extent. The summer months are wetter, with occasional
showers mostly coming only in the evenings. Winter is a much drier
season, while spring and autumn are rather pleasant.
The four
seasons are clearly distinguished, like Western Europe. Temperatures
in the far south range from 15°C in winter (December-February) to
30°C in summer (June-August). Thimphu fluctuates from -2.5°C in
January to 25°C in August with 100 mm of precipitation. In the
highlands, the average temperature is 0 °C in winter and can reach
10 °C in summer, with an average rainfall of 350 mm.
The
amount of precipitation varies considerably depending on the
altitude. Average rainfall varies by region.
National
holidays
2012:
January 2 - Winter Solstice (Western Bhutan
only)
January 24 is the traditional day of sacrifice (a day for
feeding hungry creatures - celebrated as the New Year in Eastern
Bhutan)
February 22-23 - (Year of the Water Dragon) - New Year
(losar)
February 21-23 (annually) - Birth Anniversary of His
Majesty the Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck
May 2
(annually) - anniversary of the birth of the Third King Jigme Dorji
Wangchuck (Jigme Dorji Wangchuck)
Rolling May 1 - Shabdrung
Kuchoe (commemorates the death of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651)
June 4 (moving date) - celebration of the anniversary of Parnirvana
Buddha
June 29 (rolling date) - Guru Rinpoche's birthday
anniversary
July 23 (rolling date) - First Buddha Ceremony
September 21 (rolling date) - Drubchen Thimphu (only in Thimphu)
September 25-27 (rolling date) - Tsechu Thimphu (only in Thimphu)
September 22 (rolling date) - Rain Blessing Festival
October 24
(rolling date) - Hindu ceremony Dashain (Dashain)
November 1
(moving date) - coronation day of His Majesty the King
November 6
(moving date) - the festival of the descent of the Buddha
November 11 (annually) - Birth Anniversary of the Fourth King Jigme
Singye Wangchuck
December 17 (annually) - National Day
commemorating the coronation in 1907 of the first hereditary king of
Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck
In addition to the national holidays
mentioned above, there are also regional Tsechu holidays.
Recommended Read/View
Travelers and Magicians, the first Bhutanese
feature film to receive international recognition, was made in 2003 and
highlights life in Bhutan.
Beyond the Sky and the Earth (buy) - a
novel by Jamie Zeppa that tells the true story of a young Canadian
teacher teaching in a Bhutanese school - very interesting and
informative.
The Raven Crown (buy) A book by Michael Aris about the
origins of the Buddhist monarchy in Bhutan.
The Circle of Karma is a
brilliant novel by renowned local writer Kunzang Choden that tells the
story of the lives of Bhutanese women.
mass media
A number of
media outlets are published in English:
Kuensel. A newspaper
published for 40 years with state participation. Comes out daily.
BBS. State Television of Bhutan
The Bhutan Times. The independent
source of information about Bhutan is the commercial press of a somewhat
tabloid type. It comes out once a week on Sundays.
The Bhutan
Observer. An independent source of information about Bhutan is a social
newspaper with analytical articles. It comes out once a week on Fridays.
Radio Valley. The first private FM radio station in Bhutan. The program
"With Love From Home" can be listened to on the Internet.
Kuzoo FM
English-language radio channel - a mixture of youth music and discussion
programs - FM 105.
Centennial Radio is a program in English and
Dzongha (the national language).
Regions
Bhutan is divided
into 4 major regions, which include administrative regions:
Western Bhutan: Chukha, Khaa, Paro, Samtse, Thimphu
Eastern Bhutan:
Lhuntse, Mongar, Pemagatshel, Sandrup Jonkar, Tashigang, Tashiyangtse
Southern Bhutan: Bumthang, Sarpang, Tongsa, Jemgang
Central Bhutan:
Dagana, Gasa, Punakha, Tsirang, Wangdi Phodrang
Thimphu is the capital and largest city of the country
Jagar is a
city and administrative center in the north and the birthplace of
Buddhism in Bhutan
Mongar is one of the largest cities in eastern
Bhutan.
Paro is the city where the international airport and Taktsang
monastery are located.
Punakha is the former winter capital of
Bhutan.
Phuntsholing - a city on the border with India, the point of
entry for tourists coming by bus from Kolkata
Samdrup Jongkhar is a
city and administrative center in the southeast, near the border with
India.
Trashigang is a picturesque city and administrative center in
the east
Trongsa is a small town and administrative center famous for
its dzong and trong tower.
Other destinations
Jigme Dorji
National Park
Royal Manas National Park
Thrumshing National Park
Bomdeling Nature Reserve
Khaling Nature Reserve
Phibsoo nature
reserve
How to get there
Bhutan is a unique place with some unique rules.
All tourists must obtain a visa prior to arrival in Bhutan. Visas are
issued upon receipt of full payment for your trip by the Bhutan Tourism
Board. The money remains with the Tourist Board until the completion of
the trip around the country and the payment of the services of the local
tour operator. Bhutan no longer restricts the number of tourists and has
an open door policy.
Visas
Before departure, all tourists must
obtain a visa. All tourists are required to book a tour through a local
licensed tour operator (or international partner). The visa application
is submitted online by the local tour operator, so there is no need for
you to visit the Bhutanese embassy or consulate. Your trip must be paid
in full by wire transfer to the Bhutan Tourism Board prior to the
issuance of a tourist visa. Obtaining a visa takes no more than 72 hours
after receiving full payment. Upon entering the country, the visa will
be stamped in your passport for a fee of $20, and two passport
photographs will also be required. The visa can be extended through a
local tour operator by paying 510 Nu (1 ngultrum = 1 Indian rupee), and
the tourist will also need to pay additional days of the daily fee.
Visas are issued on arrival only to citizens (residents) of India,
Bangladesh and Maldives.
Since traveling to Bhutan almost
invariably requires a layover in India, Nepal, Singapore or Thailand,
make sure you meet the visa requirements of those countries before
departure. Nepal and Thailand offer visa-on-arrival or visa-free travel
for citizens of many countries. A transit visa to Singapore (up to 96
hours) for Russian citizens is issued at the border. India generally
requires a visa prior to arrival, which can take up to two weeks.
By plane
Paro International Airport (PBH) is Bhutan's only air
gateway. It is located in the southwest of the country and is served
only by the national carrier Druk Air. Since April 1, 2008, electronic
tickets have been sold. Druk Air operates 2 aircraft (two airbuses) that
fly to Bangkok (Thailand); Delhi, Kolkata, Bodhgaya/Gaya, Bagdogra,
Guwahati (India); Kathmandu (Nepal); Dhaka (Bangladesh). There are also
two domestic airports. Yongphulla Airport is located in Trashigang in
the east, Bathpalathang Airport is located in Jakar in Bumthang region.
At the end of 2012, Gelephu Domestic Airport is due to open. It is
located in the south central region, next to the Indian border. From
September 1, 2012, flights from Singapore and Mumbai will be accepted.
Bagdogra Airport (IXB). Serving the city of Siliguri in the neighboring
Indian state of West Bengal, Bagdogra Airport is located a 4-hour drive
from the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing. Bagdogra has frequent
flights from major cities in India, and Druk Air flies from Bangkok on
Sundays and Wednesdays (return flights depart on Tuesdays and
Saturdays).
By car
There are three border crossings only on
the southern border with India. Phuentsholing in the west, Gelephu in
the central region and Samdrup Jongkhar in the east. On the northern
(Chinese) border, border crossings are closed. This requires obtaining
road permits, but this is handled by your local tour operator along with
the visa.
By bus
From Kolkata: The Government of the Kingdom
of Bhutan runs a bus service to Phuntsholing. Buses depart from
Kolkata's Esplanade Bus Station at 7:00 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays and from the Bhutan Post Office at Phuntsholing at 3:00 PM on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The trip takes about 18 hours and costs
300 Rps/Nu. The buses are comfortable, but since the highway to Kolkata
is mostly like the surface of the moon, don't count on getting enough
sleep on the way.
From Siliguri: Buses between Siliguri and
Phuntsholing/Jaigaon are frequent. The journey takes about four hours.
Government of Bhutan buses leave from the bus station opposite the main
highway, next to the Heritage Hotel, at 7:30 and 13:30 daily. Tickets
cost 62 rupees and are sold at the entrance to the bus.
From
Phuntsholing: There are private buses and minibuses from Phuntsholing to
Thimphu, but there is a comfortable option: book a seat on the Bhutan
Post bus (170 Rs / Nu), which leaves the post office every morning at
7:00 (Bhutan time).
By train
There are no railways in Bhutan.
The closest options (both in India):
Hasimara on the Kolkata/Siliguri
highway in Assam is the nearest railway station to Phuntsholing, 17 km
away. Indian Rail trains #13149 and #4084 stop here. As of October 2010,
some sections of the road from New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri to Phuntsholing
are in very poor condition. Continuing the train journey to Hashimara
will save you energy for Bhutan.
New Jalpaiguri Station in Siliguri
is a popular option for tourists traveling to Bhutan by land. Minibuses
run from New Jalpaiguri to Jaigaon, or you can also take a bus from the
bus station in Siliguri. A taxi from the railway station to the bus
station costs a maximum of about 80 rupees. Or you can also take the
local train to Hashimara which costs about 40 rupees and takes about 3
hours. Trains from New Jalpaiguri should be booked in advance as these
stations are popular with the locals. There are no tourist quotas on
trains departing from this station.
tourist tax
The Bhutan
Tourism Board charges a daily fee for all tourists entering the country.
You cannot enter Bhutan as a tourist without paying this fee.
The
daily fee includes:
Accommodation in a three-star hotel - hotels of a
higher class may charge an additional fee
Three meals a day -
breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accompanied by a licensed Bhutanese guide
throughout your stay
All domestic transport - except domestic air
travel
Equipment for camping and transportation of goods for hiking
All internal taxes and fees
$65 royalty (included in fee)
The
minimum fee is (for a group of 3 or more people):
USD 250 per person
per night during March, April, May, September, October and November.
USD 200 per person per night during January, February, June, July,
August and December.
Fees are charged per tourist per overnight
stay in Bhutan. Groups of two or fewer people will be charged an
additional amount on top of the applicable minimum daily rates in the
following order:
Individuals - USD 40 per person per night
From 2
persons - 30 USD per person per day.
Children under the age of 5
are exempt from paying the fee. Children from 6 to 12 years old
accompanied by parents (guardians) receive a 50% discount on daily rates
and a 100% discount on royalties. Full-time students under the age of 25
who hold valid student ID cards also receive a 25% discount on daily
rates. A 50% discount on daily rates is given to one person in a group
of 11 - 15 people. 100% discount is given to one member of a group of
more than 16 people. 50% royalty discount after 8th night and 100%
royalty discount after 14th night.
Reducing the cost of
collecting is illegal, while the license of the tour operators convicted
of this is revoked.
The only other way to visit the country is to
receive an invitation from a citizen of Bhutan, when when applying,
proof of a family relationship or through an NPO must be presented.
Royalty
The royalty that is included in the per diem fee is a fee
for the sustainable tourism policy of the Bhutan Tourism Board. This $65
royalty goes directly to the government to provide free education and
health care and alleviate poverty.
Remittance
Prior to your
trip to Bhutan, you will be asked to transfer the entire cost of your
holiday to the Bhutan Tourism Board. A tourist visa will not be issued
until full payment has been made prior to departure. This money will
remain at the disposal of the Bhutan Tourism Board until the end of your
trip. Only after that the money goes to the local tour operator with
whom you booked your tour. If you are unsatisfied with the service while
in Bhutan, you can contact the Bhutan Tourism Board for assistance.
Applying for a visa
Visas on arrival are only issued to citizens
of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives. A photo and identification
document (passport or voter ID) is required, along with a photocopy of
it. Indicate in the document the purpose of arrival: "Tourism"
(Tourism). At land border crossings, you will only be given 7 days to
Paro and Thimphu. To extend your stay, contact Thimphu at the
Immigration office at the northern end of Norzin Lam. To visit other
areas, you need to apply for traffic permits at the same bureau. It is
best to apply in the morning, then in the afternoon you will receive the
necessary document.
The official languages of Bhutan are Dzongkha and English.
Purchases
The country's currency is the Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN).
Most tourists take "cultural tours" during which they visit important
cities. Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue and Jakar are popular. In the
outback, the little-known Zhemgang region (a paradise for bird watchers,
a great place for wildlife watching) and Eastern Bhutan have just been
opened up for tourism. If you are adventurous and want to explore little
explored places, then East Bhutan is the place to be. This unique, still
untouched corner of the country will leave an indelible impression.
Monasteries
Taktsang Monastery ("tiger's nest"), Paro. This is
one of the most important Buddhist sites in the world, the most famous
and most visited monument in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche visited him in the
8th century on his second visit to Bhutan. It is believed that he came
riding on a winged tigress, hence the name, "tiger's nest". The temple
was built on a rock 1.2 km high in 1692.
Kurje Lhakhang, Jakar. A
temple built around a cave with the imprint of Guru Rinpoche's body on
the wall. Guru Rinpoche meditated here during his first visit to Bhutan,
so this is the country's oldest Buddhist relic.
Dzongs/fortresses
Dzong Tashichho (Tashichho Dzong) is a Buddhist monastery and fortress
on the northern tip of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the west bank
of the Wang Chu River. It is traditionally the seat of the Druk Desi (or
"Dharma Raja"), head of the civil government of Bhutan, a position that
was merged with royalty after the establishment of the monarchy in 1907,
and the country's summer capital.[1] The main structure of the white
stucco building is two stories high, with three-story towers in each of
the four corners and three-story golden roofs. There is also a large
tower in the middle, utse. The original dzong was erected in 1216.
Dzongs are ancient fortresses that now serve as the residences of
the civil and monastic administration of each district. In addition to
the architecture, which is noteworthy in itself, they also house many
valuable works of art.
Dzongs are scattered throughout the area
in abundance and were built without the use of cement, nails or
projects. You can visit the following dzongs:
Punakha Dzong
Trongsa Dzong
Dzong Jakar (Jakar Dzong)
Dzong Lhuentse (Lhuentse
Dzong)
Simtokha Dzong
Dzong Gasa (Gasa Dzong)
Rinpung Dzong
Gonggar Dzong
Gyantse Dzong
Dzong Shigatse (Shigatse Dzong)
Tashichho Dzong
Dzong Kagyu (Kagyu-Dzong)
Dzong Lingzhi Yugyal
(Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong)
Drukgyal Dzong
Changchukha Dzong
Tsechen
Monastery and Dzong
Shongar Dzong
Singye Dzong
Trekking
Trekking is also extremely popular. Most often, hikes are usually made
along the Druk trail from Paro to the capital Thimphu. However, there
are many other more impressive routes, see the full list below. The
Jomolhari and Laya Gasa trails are also very popular, and the Snowman
Trek is said to be one of the hardest trails in the world, taking about
30 days to complete. The recommended time of the year for it is from
mid-June to mid-October.
Route list:
Bumthang Cultural Trek
Bumthang Owl Trek
Chelela Trek
Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
Dongla Trek
Route Druk Path Trek
Dur Hot Spring Trek
Gangjula
Trek
Gangkar Puensum route
Gantey Trek
Jomolhari Trek
Laya
Gasa Trek Laya Gasa Trek
Lingmithang-Zhemgang Trek
Route
Merak-Sakteng (Merak-Sakteng)
Nabji Korphu Community Based Trek
Nubtsona Pata Trek
Punakha Winter Trek
Rigsum Goenpa Trek
Royal
Heritage Trek
Sagala Trek
Samtengang Trek
Sinchula Trek
Bigfoot Trail (Snowman Trek)
Wild East Rodungla Trek
Landscapes
The pristine natural environment of Bhutan has ecosystems
that are rich and diverse due to its location and significant geographic
and climatic variations. The high, rugged mountains and valleys of
Bhutan are characterized by spectacular biodiversity, making the country
one of the ten most important centers of biodiversity in the world.
Recognition of the importance of the environment and the preservation of
its rich biodiversity is one of the paradigms of the country's
development. In a recent law, the government mandated that 60% of its
forest resources be conserved at all times. Today, about 72% of the
total land area is covered with forest, while approximately 26% of the
territory is classified as protected areas in four parks.
35% of
Bhutan are state-protected national parks. These are Jigme Singye
Wangchuck National Park (1300 km2), TrumpshingLa National Park (768
km2), Royal Manas National Park (Royal Manas National Park, 9938.54
km2), Jigme Dorji National Park (Jigme Dorji National Park, 4349 km2),
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 1545 km2 and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary,
650 km2.
Festivities
Festivities or tshechu (“tenth day”) is
another attractive feature of Bhutan. They are held annually in various
temples, monasteries and dzongs throughout the country. Tshechu is
primarily a religious event celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar
month, corresponding to the birthday of Guru Rinpoche (Guru
Padmasambhava). However, the month of tshechu celebration varies from
place to place and from temple to temple. Tshechu are large social
gatherings where people from different villages come together to watch
religious masked dances based on events from the life of Guru
Padmasambhava dating back to the 8th century and receive the blessings
of the lamas. The event also includes colorful Bhutanese dances and
other entertainment.
It is said that everyone should visit the
tshecha and see the masked dances at least once in order to receive
blessings and be cleansed of sins. Each masked dance performed during
tshechu has its own meaning or story. In the monasteries, masked dances
are performed by monks, and in remote villages by monks and villagers
together. Among the many tshechus celebrated in the country, the most
popular in terms of participation and audience are paro and thimpu
tshechu. In addition to local residents, this unique, colorful and
fascinating cultural event attracts many tourists from all over the
world.
Paro and Thimphu are traditionally the most popular, but
tourists are quickly realizing that the smaller and more rural festivals
are much more soulful.
Other festivities throughout the year:
Black Necked Crane Festival
Chorten Kora Festiva
Gomphu Kora
Festival
Haa Summer Festival
Jampa Lhakhang festival
Kurjey
Festival
Lhuentse Festival
Merak Tshechu
Mongar Festival
Nimalung Festival
Nomad Festival
Paro Tsechu
Pema Gatshel
Festival
Punakha Festival
Sakten Tshechu
Takin Festival
Thimphu Festival
Trashigang Festival
Trongsa Festival
Ura
yakchoe
Wangdue Phodrang Festival