ARCHICTURE
The architecture of Bhutan is one of the Kingdom’s most visible distinctive features. From the ordinary dwelling houses to the most impressive public structures such as Dzong,all architurecture are strictly based on the unique architectural design of Bhutan,hereby preserving them in their finest forms. The massive Dzong (fortress) ,the ancient monasteries and the humble farm houses stand out as an important part of the country’s landscape.
BEFORE TRAVELLING TO BHUTAN...
VISA
Except visitors from India, Bangladesh, Maldives, rest visitors to Bhutan require visa. Visas are issued only when a booking s confirmed through Bhutanese tour operator. Air tickets to Bhutan can also be issued once visa is confirmed. At the entry point the visa is stamped on the passport. The visa fee ofUS$20 will be collected by the tour operator while making your tour payment. All the visa application must reach Bhutan at least 7 days prior to the intended arrival date. Bhutanese Embassies and mission abroad do not issue visa for entry to Bhutan.
TO REACH BHUTAN BY AIR
The national air carrier, Druk Air, operates several flights per week from Bangkok, Delhi & Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). The airport is one an half drive from the capital city Thimphu. Flight schedules, rates and other flight information are available at www.drukair.com.bt.
TO REACH BHUTAN BY LAND
The town of Phuntsholing in the south-west has the road access open for tourists. It lies approximately 170km from the Indian domestic Airport Bagdora, West Bengal.Phuntsholing is 179km from Thimphu,it takes 7 hours to 8 hours drive through endless hair-pin bends and scenic mountain road.
CUSTOMS
Cigarettes and other tobacco related products are forbidden in the country. For personal consumption passengers are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes (10pactets on payment of 200 % duty.
Alcoholic beverages up to 1 litter for personal consumption.
HOTELS
Visitors are accommodated in government approved tourist hotels with decent facilities. Traditional Bhutanese food is very hot and spicy but visitors are served milder and palatable dishes and may even Western dishes.
CLIMATE
The country stretches across most climatic Zones; from the subtropical jungles in the south, to the moderate heights of 2,000 t0 2,500 meters in the centre up to the alpine range and the towering Himalayan and glaciers of the north.
For relatively small land mass, the wide geographical variation gives Bhutan its varied climatic character and four distinct seasons. The southern plains close to Indian boarders are warmer and more tropical while the central valleys are warm and alpine north cold. Summer month from June-August are warm with frequent monsoon rains. Spring and Autumn are cooler and winters spanning from December to February can be extremely cold.
CULTURE & TRADITION
The rich cultural heritage of Bhutan has remained remarkably unblemished. It is to a great degree not remnants of the past but a living cuture, where age-old traditions are vibrant and still continue to have clear significance in every day life of the Bhutanese people. Cultural heritage is considered the foundation up on which the identity of the Bhutanese people and the kingdom as a sovereign independent nation is built. The signs of strong tradition are evident to a visitor from the impressive architecture and art form adorning the Bhutanese landscape.
FESTIVAL
The Bhuddist festivals are one of the prime example of living culture of Bhutan that many have come to admire and treasure.Tsechu(Festival) is celebrated here in Bhutan in order to proclaim great deeds of Guru Gimpochey held n the tenth day of the Bhutanese months.It last for three to fve days.It take place through out the country in every district at different times of the year.Bhutanese come dressed in their best for the very special social occasion.
FLORA &FAUNA
About 7,000 vascular plants, 360orchid species,46 species of rhododendron and about 500 species of medicinal plants,Bhutanis also home of 770 birds species that includes 16 globally threatened species. Rare and endemic species like the golden langur also roam in the jungle of Bhutan and the country s true biodiversity heaven for nature lovers.
GEOGRAPHY
The natural environment is mostly in undisturbed and pristine form,with anational policy and law to always maintain 60 percent of thecountry under forest cover, the future for Bhutan’s rich biodiversity is secure. At present about 65 percent of the country is under forest cover and more than 26 percent of the land is under the proctected areas comprising of four national parks. About 9 percent of the land fall under biological corridors in which wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves connect protected areas.
HISTORY
Bhutan lilies along the lofty ridges of the eastern Himalays,bordered by China to the northwest and by the Indian states of Arunachal Prasesh,Assam,West Bengal and Skikkim on the east ,south and west respectively.
With an area of 38,394 sq.km. Bhutan is comparable to Switzerland both in its size and topography. The mighty Himalayas protected Bhutan from the world and left it blissfully untouched through the centuries. The Drukpa Kagyupa school of Mahayana Buddhism provided the essence of a rich culture and a fascinating history.Bhutanese people procted this sacred heritage and unique identity for centuries by choosing to remain shrouded in a jealously guarded isolation.
The population of kingdom is about 700,00 with four major linguistic groups :Sharchopas ,who are believed to be indigenous inhabitants, Bumtagpas and Ngalopas who are originated from Tibet and Lhotshampa,recent immigrants of Nepalese origin.
The History of Bhutan begins at 8th century with the arrival of guru Rimpochey made flight from Tibet to Bhutan on the back of a tigress and landed on Taksang(Tiger nest) ,on cliff above the paro valley. From there he beganpropagation of of a tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism.In the ensuing centuries many great masters preached the faith,resulting in a full bloom of Buddhism in the country by middle ages.
In the early 17th century , by the religious figure, by shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
Unified into one state and form a theocracy or Duel system of Government. Thereafter he codified system of Laws and build Dzongs which guarded each valley during the unsettled periods and now serve as religious and administrative centers of their respective regions.
At the end of 19th century,the Trongsa Penlop( Governor) ,Ugyen Wangchuk,who then controlled the central and eastern regions, overcame all his rivals and united the nation. He was unanimously accepted as the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan in 1907.
Monarch system was ended in the year 2008 when our country born in the world youngest democratic nation.POPULATION
The Bhutanese people are a – good natured, friendly and fun-loving people. The people are described as Ngalops from western region,Sharchops from the eastern, Lhosampa who are of ethnic Nepali origin from southern .Bhutan also has several small communities who have literally lived in isolation in their own communities for many years keeping their traditional practices alive.Doyas in the south,the Lyaps in the north-west,Monpas of central Bhutan and nomads of Merak Sakten in the eastern Bhutan.
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