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Visas
All visitors to Bhutan must have a visa approved prior to
arriving in the kingdom. Those who have not had a visa
approved will not be permitted to board their Druk Air
flight to Bhutan. A two-week visa costs US$20 and is stamped
in your passport at Paro Airport during the immigration
process. Visas are approved and issued prior to entry, with
the prepayment of your travel itinerary. Therefore visitors
to Bhutan need to finalize their travel plans well in
advance. We recommend 30 days.
Currency
Bhutanese currency is the ngultrum (nu). The approximate
exchange rate is 45.00 nu for one US dollar (this will vary
1 or 2 nu, plus or minus) The ngultrum is on par with the
Indian Rupee (both the Nu and Indian Rupee can be used in
Bhutan). US Dollars and other world currencies as well as
traveler's cheques can be exchanged at banks in the larger
towns (hours 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Mon to Fri) and at the
larger hotels. In the capital town of Thimphu some of the
smaller bank branches are open Saturday and Sunday for
currency exchange. Ngultrum or rupees will be what you will
need for your purchases while in the more rural towns and
villages.
Customs Authority
The Bhutanese authorities strictly monitor the export of
any religious antiquities or antiques of any kind from the
Kingdom (100 years or older). Visitors are advised to be
cautious in purchasing old and used items. Custom
authorities will not allow items to be taken out of the
country if they have not been officially certified as
non-antique. Personal videos, cameras, personal computers,
portable telephones or any other electronic device should be
registered with the customs authorities on arrival at Paro
and will be checked by the same on departure. Upon arrival
you will be issued a "customs form" this form must be filled
out, with declarations, and returned to authorities before
leaving the kingdom. Import of plants, soils, etc., are
subject to quarantine regulations. These items must be
declared on arrival.
Food
Spicy chilies (ema) mixed with a cheese sauce called
emadatse is the national dish of Bhutan. Chilies are treated
as a vegetable rather than a seasoning in the Bhutanese
diet. A wide variety of fresh vegetables are a daily staple
of the Bhutanese diet. Red and or white rice is served at
all meals. Meats, poultry and fish (usually in the form of
stews) are also found on many Bhutanese menus along with
Tibetan momos and noodle dishes. Bhutan's professional chefs
temper their natural tendency to over spice dishes by
preparing food more suitable to western taste ranging from
Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Tibetan and Indian.
Accommodations
Bhutan Tourism Corporation Ltd. owned hotels are one of the
several delightful surprises visitors can expect in the
Kingdom. The company operates hotels throughout Bhutan
ensuring its guests a consistent style and comfort level
throughout their stay. Each property is designed in the
traditional Bhutanese style, yet each retains its own
character and each is set in unusual and dramatic locations:
from the Hotel Olathang in the foothills of the Paro Valley
surrounded by blue pine forests to the Hotel Motithang
(Bhutan's first hotel) overlooking Thimphu's skyline to
Trongsa's Sherubling Lodge, with its alpine feel and
remarkable vista over the golden roofs of Trongsa Dzong. A
restaurant serving traditional Bhutanese cuisine tempered to
western tastes can be found in all of the hotels. Many of
the hotel chefs have been trained at hotel schools in Europe
and are very comfortable preparing food to please the
western palate. Meals are usually served in buffet style.
Climate
Bhutan's climate ranges from tropical in the south, to
temperate in the center of the country, to cold in the
north...and like much of your adventure in the Himalayas it
will be quite unpredictable. The weather can vary
dramatically from place to place and can vary equally
dramatically from day to day or within the same day. In the
Thimphu and Paro valleys, the winter daytime temperature
averages 60 degrees Fahrenheit during clear winter days but
drops well below freezing during the night. Mid December to
early January can be a beautifully clear and dry time in
Western Bhutan. Late December through mid February is the
period of heaviest snow fall in the higher elevations.
Drug-Air
One of the smallest national carriers in the world, Druk Air
has a fleet of two BAe-146 (Whisper Jet) aircraft. An
international team of flight attendants, trained by Thai
Airways International add to the airline's credibility.
Druk Air is the only airline that serves Bhutan, so most
visitors to Bhutan are introduced to the kingdom in its
care. Few are disappointed. The final leg of a journey to
Bhutan begins in Calcutta, Dhaka or Kathmandu and involves a
flight of no more than one hour - however it's an hour that
travelers will always remember. As the airplane rises
towards the foothills of the Himalayas, the mountains rise
to eye-level with the aircraft. On clear days from Kathmandu,
the airplane flies past the summit of Everest.
Archery
Archery is the much loved national sport of Bhutan. Each
village has its own archery range, and it is impossible to
imagine any festival taking place without a high-spirited
competition. Contests take place year round. The distance
between the two targets is about 120 meters. The targets are
made of wood splashed with colorful patterns. Inter-village
rivalry is common throughout the kingdom and this rivalry is
no more fiercely expressed than during annual archery
tournaments. They are generally held during Losar (Bhutanese
New Year coinciding with February or March of the calender)
but smaller competitions are held throughout the year.
Transportation
Mode of transportaion within Bhutan is by motor vehicles
only. There are no domestic airlines or trains. However the
main roads are well maintained. The main highway highway
runs from west to east connecting all the major towns. The
mountainous terrain and winding roads restrict the average
speed of vehicles to less than 40 km.hr. During monsoon and
winter months, wheather can disrupt travel and unexpected
changes might occur in itineraries. Every effort will be
made to stay as close to original travel itinerary as
possible. For visitors wishing to enter Bhutan by road. The
only land entry point is though the southern boarder town of
Phuentsholing. Boardering West Bengal India. All visa and
custom regulations apply.
Festival
The Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous,
joyous affairs, but they are holy spiritual events with
attendees gaining merit for the next life. Tshechus
dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and are celebrated for several
days, between three and five according to the location. The
highlight are the classical , religious-based dances, and in
some tshechus the viewing of the thongdrel (a huge and
sacred thangka). In a few important dzongs, two large
festivals take place each year; a Dromchoe, which is
dedicated to Yeshe Gompo or Palden Lhamo, the two main
protective dieties of the Drukpas. |
