Bhutan, originally known as Drukyul, is strikingly beautiful country nestled in the Eastern Himalayas. It is sandwiched between the two giant regions Tibet in the North and india in the South. It is also known as “Druk Yul” or “The Land of Thunder Dragon”. The small, landlocked country is completely bounded by mountains. The population consists of Buddhist majority. Bhutan stands out for its dramatic landscapes, the well-preserved custom and tradition and its distinct art and architecture. Geographical Area: 46,500 sq.km Coordinates: 27º25’01” N;90º26’06"E Major Languages Spoken: Dzongkha, English, Lhotshamkha Time: 6hrs+ GMT Government: Constitutional Monarchy Districts: 20 Population: 753000

A passport and an entry visa for Bhutan are must to enter Bhutan. The passport should have the validity of 6 months longer than the visitor’s journey. The entry visa must get pre-approved prior to your arrival to Bhutan. You should provide your tour operator with a quality scan (or photo) of your passport photo page so that they can prepare your Bhutan visa. Please be sure you carry the same passport that you submitted for your Bhutan visa or you will be denied entry.

By Air: Paro International airport is connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bagdogra, Buddhagaya, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Bangkok and Singapore. Your approved visa authority letter for Bhutan is required (that has been sent to you via email) when you arrive at the airport starting in Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, or Kathmandu. And your fingerprints and facial image are taken when you arrive at Paro Int’l airport. The process does not take long and you’ll get through smoothly. By Land: Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar are the land borders along the south to India from where you can travel overland.

Bhutanese currency is known as the Ngultrum (Nu). An ngultrum is tied to the Indian rupee and has the same value. An Indian rupee is legal in Bhutan. However Indian Rupee notes in 500 and 2000 denominations are not acceptable. The US Dollar (USD) is also accepted in the country for any purpose. An ngultrum’s worth is only about 60-64USD. Many prices at tourist locations and shops are priced in USD. There is an advantage in carrying USD in lower denominations for small purchases. Credit cards are increasingly being accepted for bigger purchase. But you will be charged higher by 3-7% as an extra fee. The main banks now have ATMs and you can withdraw local currency via Visa & Master Card credit & debit cards & Cirrus/Maestro endorsed bank debit cards. But the ATMs here are not always reliable and usually you’ll only be able to draw small amounts in a single transaction. Therefore it is always advisable to have back up cash in USD or Indian Rupees.

Bhutanese people are regarded as friendly people in the country or elsewhere. They are by nature, physically strong and independent. They also carry an open mind and ready sense of humor. Hospitality is an in-built social value in Bhutan. People from any part of the world can get along fast and well with a Bhutanese. Bhutanese lead a unique lifestyle and have manners and customs still intact from thousands of years ago. Majority of the population is Buddhist. Their strong belief in “karma” prompts them to show compassion and practice good deeds. Language and literature, the arts and crafts, ceremonies and events, and basic social and cultural values draw their essence from Buddhist religious teachings. The live tradition of fine arts is exhibited in wonderful traditional paintings that can be noticed in monasteries and houses. Music, dance and handicrafts play a very important role in both by the clergy and the lay population. And one of the most distinctive features of Bhutanese is the dress. Textile specialists and users are progressively esteeming the textile tradition here has distinctive skill, shade and style that.

The typical Bhutanese meal is rice (Indian white rice, or the indigenous red variety), with chillies and vegetables three times a day. There will be servings of different side dishes of beef, pork and chicken spiced with of course Bhutanese chillies and veggies. Chillies are an essential and prominent spice for almost every dish. A Bhutanese will remain incomplete without chillies. Ema(Chillies) datshi(Cheese) is the national dish that is available in every hotel, restaurant and home. It is prepared with chilies and cheese. It’s spicy and is typically eaten every single day. Veterans say you haven’t really visited Bhutan unless you’ve tried ema datshi. Your guide will know the best to arrange. Salted Butter tea (suja) is prepared with salt and butter. It is served on all social occasions. In traditional homes in the Bhutanese hinterland, the serving host will sit beside you with a jar full of the butter tea and will almost instantly fill your cup to the brim after you h Chang and Ara is a clear local alcohol distilled from grains.

For your travel with comfort, we can arrange Toyota Land cruiser/ Hyundai Santa Fee/ Creta /Tucson for Smaller groups of 1 to 2 people. For groups of up to seven, you will be provided comfortable Toyota

Bhutan has four seasons in a year: Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August), Autumn (September to November) and Winter (December to February). Climate in Bhutan varies depending upon the altitude. The northern part of the country remains colder than other parts of the country. The west and the central part are cool in summer and gets colder towards winter. The eastern part of the country is considerably warm. The southern in the lower belt is hot and humid in monsoon but has pleasant climate in other seasons. Climate in Bhutan in general remains favorably pleasant through the year. The only wet month where there is substantial rainfall is in mid-June till early September. The hotels here will adequate you with space heaters in your room in cooler times. Air-conditioning is seldom used though a few hotels have it. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Bhutan (end of Feb till Mar) and (Sep till Nov). You can also enjoy the best of wild flowers in May, June and July. This is the time when the nature offers here when mountain slopes are adorned with in plentiful colors. Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb too provides breathtaking views of incredibly beautiful Himalayas during the sunny days.

The seasons and the climate in Bhutan have its own beauty and charm to bargain. Therefore, you are welcome anytime, all the year round. But the best time to visit also depends on what you are looking for. The places here are never crowded with tourists that mean you can always have a comfortable and advantageous tour. Bhutan has four seasons in a year: Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August), Autumn (September to November) and Winter (December to February).

There is never a problem about Internet and wifi in cities, hotels and business centers. And the good news is WiFi is free for a few hours use. Guests are even provided with computers while you are inside. But networks be likely to be weak and feeble if you travel to the remotest part of the country. Purchasing a local SIM card for your smart phone or ipad will give you connectivity outside the hotels or when you are travelling. Reactivated 3G/4G Bhutanese SIM cards are available at a SIM counter located in the post office (to the right of the terminal exit door) at Paro Airport.

Bhutan is considered as one of the safest destinations for tourists. You can totally rely on the tour operator here for trouble free stay. We assure you an extremely low menace of theft or any kind of harassment. Foreign tourists are usually held in high esteem. However, it is always safer to be cautious with your cash and other valuables. You can either keep on your person or in your vehicle where your driver whom you can have full trust on will safeguard them.

Bhutan is a place where the people do not face any discrimination on gender, race, class etc. Bhutanese women are offered the equal rights as men for education, voting and holding positions in government. Women are always given the first preferences over all the opportunities. Any lady from anywhere can travel here without worrying about any kind of harassment. Bhutanese are very helpful to come to aid to anyone in trouble or distress. Women are respected. Young men have a reasonably liberal attitude towards their relations with women. Nevertheless several misunderstandings can yield if you don’t make your purposes pure from the very beginning. As with any countries you have been to, you cannot be silly and do all the things you won’t do otherwise in your home. It is always safer to exercise general caution.

Some sacred places like alter rooms of Dzongs and Lhakhangs are not open for photography by any one. Even visits by tourists are prohibited around here so that the monks can continue their practices without interruption. Parts of many monasteries and temples do not allow photography. Generally Bhutanese people do not mind their photos to be taken, yet it will be always appropriate to take their consent.

Bhutan bids countless attractions in series. It is made of diverse altitudes, pleasant climate and untouched green vegetation. Bhutan has amazing culture and traditions that will remain etched in your heart once you know its essence coming. Bhutanese are warm, loving and hospitable. Active Buddhist temples, monasteries, historic Dzongs and monuments add to the nation’s treasure, many of which date prior to 17th century which are still very interesting to see. The architecture of Bhutan is so irreplaceable with colorful and well-maintained arts and paintings. The beautiful and colorful attire Bhutanese wear is certainly eye catching. Interesting and lively festivals wait for you in rows. Bhutan, the land of spirit and dream, is always mysterious for trekkers. Climbing the hills and enjoying the views of the untouched mountains will provide you a cleansing experiencing. The routes through the remote villages, Circling around the holy lakes and the sacred sites has something for you. There are so many attractions in Bhutan that make the place worth visiting. Some words in Dzongkha

Among two dozen languages, Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan which is spoken by over half of million people in this kingdom. Once you have learned about this new language, you will have more chance to approach closer to the people as well as the culture. Whenever you meet local people, say “Kuzu zangpo la” which means “hello” in Bhutan. During the conversation, to show the respect, the Bhutanese often add “la” to the end of sentences. Afterward, they may say “Jen Pa Leg Sho” which means “Welcome”. Generally, it is able to say simple “Kuzuzangpo” to children and “Kuzuzangpo la” to the elderly people. Subsequently, below are some useful Bhutanese greeting words that you may use while traveling to the incredible country: Hello – Kuzungpo la Thank you – Kadrin Cheyla Welcome – Tashi Delek Food – Shay Go Where? – Ga tey? Which? – Gadee? One – Ching Two – Ngee Three – Sum Four – Shiee Five – Ngaa Six – Drug Seven – Duen Eight – Gay Nine – Guu Ten – Chu Tham How are you? – Ga day bay ye? What is your name? – Chhoe gi ming ga chi mo? My name is… – Ney gi ming … inn la Where are you from? – choe gatey ley mo? I am from… – Nga … ley in Where does this road lead to? – Lam dig a thay jow mo? Is it far? – Tha ring sa in-na Extremely delicious – Namey same shimbe