 Bhutan maintains the polivy of strictly limiting the numbers of people who can cisti the country in a single year, & all visitors are charged for the tourist services. (hotels, meals , guides, transport, etc,) at a fixed dailly rate. This has helped Bhutanese earn the forgien currency that they requrire for the various development work. The only way to visit Bhutan as member of a tour group, which is organized throught a recognized travel agency;.
1.Entering Bhutan: The only practical way for tourists to enter Bhutan is by air Druk air the Bhutanese flag carrier flies from Kathmandu, Delhi, Calcutta, Bangkok & Dhaka.
- Visa: All visitors to Bhutan require visas except for Indians. All ivsa applications must reach Bhutan well in advance to the tourist intended arrival date. No foreign missions abroad grant Bhutan Tourist visa. Toruists are required to bring 3 original Photographs as required by the immgration authority. Individual tourist visas for a period of two weeks $20 & extension can be obtained at an additional cost of $20. These actual visas are stamped on arrival in Bhutan. For all travelers, entering Bhutan by Druk Air, the visa clearance number is forwarded to concerned Druk air stations. This clearance number is must board the Druk air flight.
- Goography: Lies east of Nepal & south of Tibet. It is a land locked country surrounded by mountains to the north & west. The altitude range in between 1000 ft to 17000ft. the altitude of the capital city Thimpu is 7700ft.
- Climate: It has four distinct seasons. The southern plains close to the Indian border are warmer & more tropical than higher central valleys. The winter montsh are fiercely cold sudsiding around the end of February. The annual monsoon affects the south & central regions.
- Clothing: It is advisable to bring along warm clothing while traveling from Novemeber to February. In summer the temperature is 29-31 degree centrigrade, during te day time,12-14 degree centrigrade during night time. In winter the day temperature is 22-24 degree centrigrade during the day tim & 0-4 degree centrigrade during the night time.
- Religion: Bhutan is the only country in the wold to retain the tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism.
- Population: Bhutan’s indigenous population is the Drukpa & it is about 6 Lakhs. Three main ethnic groups, the Sharchops, Nagalops & the Lhotshampas (of Nepalese origin) make up today’s Drukpa.
- Language: The contrasting ethnic diversity of Bhutanese people has meant that number of different languages & dialects are spoken throughout the kingdom. The national language is Dzongkha, Which is taught in all schools.
- Money: Bhutanese currency is the Ngultrum (NU). Dollar & travelers cheques are acceptabl in large hotels & tourist shops 1NU is 100chetrum. The NU is fixed to the value of the Indian Rupee. US $1=45 Ngultrum. (as per 2001)
- Holiday: Saturday & Sunday are the weekly hodidays.
- Accomodaion: Hotels vary in style & quality from town to town. All government approved hotels are clean & well maintained. In thimpu & paro & central district all hotels are equipped withtelephones, faz machines & international dialing. Traditional Bhutanese food is very hot & spicy. The food given to tourists is tempered to western taste & includes westen dishes. Evening meals are invariablebuffet style & served in the dining rooms of the hotels.
- Time: Bhutan time is 6hrs ahead of GMT & ther is only one time zone throught the country.
- Health:No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you are traveling in to Bhutan. However if you are tavelling in to Bhutan from some epidemic infectd areas you required to have vaccinations.
- Electricity: In Bhutan, electricity runs 220/240 volts. If you do bring electrical applicances, take along an international converter kit complet with a set of adoptor plugs.
- Food: Bhutanese food is rich with spicy chillies & cheese. The selected hotels & lodges even provide Chinese, continental, Bhutanese & Indian food.
- Package Includes: Noramlly package & tariff is set by royally government
Of Bhutan which is inclusive of accommodation, tansport, guide, meals, entrance fees to monuments.
17. Reservations: Reservation is to be made for all the tours at least 4 weeks before the tour start. But the tours during the festivals more advance reservations are required because it is very difficult to confirm the flight seats and hotels.
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