BHUTAN TRAVEL TIPS: BHUTAN TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS
AT A GLANCE
Bhutan is a unique blend of the old and new. Here is a country that is slowly opening up to the modern world in a fine balance with its ancient traditions. Those fortunate enough to visit Bhutan describe it as a unique, deeply spiritual and mystical experience. This kingdom is an adventure like no other. The fast life that is both the badge and bane of modern living is alien to the season-paced lifestyle of these agrarian folk. The national dress is a distinctive one, finely woven from multicolored, vibrant-hued wool, cotton or silk.
The land of the thunder dragon kingdom is a trekker’s paradise and an environmentalist’s dream. With 72 percent of the country under forest cover, Bhutan’s pristine ecology is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. This spiritual land is the last bastion of the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism, which provides the essence of a unique identity for the 735,553 people.
The word “Bhutan” translates to “Land of the Thunder Dragon.” It earned the nickname because of the fierce storms that often roll in from the Himalayas.
BHUTAN QUICK INFORMATION
Currency: NGULTRUM
Bhutan is the first country in the world with specific constitutional obligations on its people to protect the environment. Among its requirements: At least 60 percent of the nation must remain under forest cover at all times.
Bhutan is the only nation in the world where the sale of tobacco is banned.
At 24,840 feet, Gangkhar Puensum is the highest point in Bhutan—and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
Bhutan is one of the last countries in the world to introduce television to its people. The government lifted a ban on TV—and on the Internet—only 11 years ago.
Thimpu is one of just two capital cities in Asia that does not have a single traffic light.
ELECTRICITY SOCKET
Electricity in Bhutan is 230V, with a frequency of 50hz . Bhutan uses power outlets and plugs of types C, D & G. Take a look at the pictures below to see what these plugs and power sockets look like:
Type C – The standard European plug. Commonly used in Europe, South-America and Asia, but also in quite a few other countries. Plugs of type E and F will also fit in a type C outlet.- Type D – Mostly used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and a few African countries. No other plug types will fit in a type D socket.
- Type G – From British origin, mainly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Malaysia and Singapore, but also in quite a few other countries. No other plug types fit into an outlet of type G.
LANGUAGE
Bhutan is linguistically rich with over eighteen dialects being spoken in the country. The richness of the linguistic diversity can be attributed to the geographical disposition of the country with its high mountain passes and deep valleys that contributed to their survival. The national language is Dzongkha, which is the native language of the Ngalops of western Bhutan.
Dzogkha literally means the language spoken in the Dzongs and administrative centers of Bhutan.
The other major languages are the Tshanglakha and the Lhotshamkha. Tshanglakha is the native language of the Tshanglas of eastern Bhutan while Lhotshamkha is spoken by the southern Bhutanese of Nepali origin. Other dialects spoken are the Khengkha spoken by the Khengpas of Central Bhutan, the Bumthapkha spoken by the Bumthaps, the Mangdepkah spoken by the inhabitants of Trongs and the Cho Cha Nga Chang kha spoken by the Kurtoeps. The Sherpas, Lepchas and the Tamangs in southern Bhutan also have their own dialect. A dialect that is on the verge of becoming extinct is the Monkha and the Gongduepkha.
SAFETY
Bhutan is generally a very safe country to travel. It is the best travel destinations in the world. Bhutan is a remarkably safe destination, almost completely devoid of the scams, begging and theft that affects its neighbors. There are a couple of things to look out for, though.
- Altitude It’s unlikely you will have any problems with altitude unless you are trekking. Most of the places tourists visit lie below 3000m and the maximum elevation you can reach by road is around 3800m.
- Bad weather: Inclement weather can obscure the mountain views that you made such an effort to see and can affect flights. Snow sometimes blocks the road temporarily on high passes in winter. In the monsoon season, heavy rain can turn trails and roads into a sea of mud and can wash away bridges.
- Carsickness: If you venture east of Thimphu, you will spend hours driving on rough, winding roads and carsickness is common. Anti-motion medication such as Dramamine can help, but bring the anti-drowsy versions or you’ll spend most of the spectacular drives snoring in the back seat.
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
: Festivals or Tshechu (“tenth day”) are Bhutanese festivals held every year in various temples monasteries and dzongs across the country. The Tshechu is mainly a religious event celebrated on tenth day of a month of lunar calendar corresponding to the birth day of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). However the month of Tshechu depends place to place and temple to temple.
Tshechus are large social gatherings where people from various villages come together to witness the religious mask dances which are based on incidents from as long as 8th century from the life of Guru Padmasambhava and to receive blessings from lamas. The event also consists of colorful Bhutanese dances and other entertainments.
It is said that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once to receive the blessings and wash away the sins. Every mask dances performed during Tshechu has a meaning or a story behind. In monasteries the mask dances are performed by monks and in remote villages they are performed jointly by monks and village men.
TRANSPORTATION
TAXI
There are taxis in Phuentsholing, Paro, Jakar and Thimphu. Taxis may have meters, but drivers rarely use them. For long-distance trips they operate on a flat rate that is rarely open to negotiation. Taxi drivers have a habit of charging foreigners, including Indians, as much as they can – one of Bhutan’s few rip-offs.
You should expect to pay Nu 70 for a local trip within Thimphu, Nu 1000 to Nu 1500 for a full day. If you are travelling between Thimphu and Phuentsholing, look for a taxi that is from the place to which you want to go (vehicles with BT-2 number plates are from Phuentsholing and those with BT-1 number plates are from Thimphu or Paro) – you may be able to negotiate a lower price.
ROAD TRANSPORT
There are taxis in Phuentsholing, Paro, Jakar and Thimphu. Taxis may have meters, but drivers rarely use them. For long-distance trips they operate on a flat rate that is rarely open to negotiation. Taxi drivers have a habit of charging foreigners, including Indians, as much as they can – one of Bhutan’s few rip-offs.
You should expect to pay Nu 70 for a local trip within Thimphu, Nu 1000 to Nu 1500 for a full day. If you are travelling between Thimphu and Phuentsholing, look for a taxi that is from the place to which you want to go (vehicles with BT-2 number plates are from Phuentsholing and those with BT-1 number plates are from Thimphu or Paro) – you may be able to negotiate a lower price.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Since all transport is provided by tour operators, you normally do not have to concern yourself with driving. If for some reason you are arranging your own transport, you are still far better off using the services of a hired car and driver or a taxi. Driving in Bhutan is a harrowing experience. Roads are narrow and trucks roar around hairpin bends, appearing suddenly and forcing oncoming vehicles to the side.
YOUR OWN VEHICLE
If you drive a vehicle into Bhutan, you can get a 14-day permit at the Phuentsholing border. You will need the help of a tour operator to handle the paperwork. If you are driving a vehicle that is registered overseas, you will need a carnet in order to get through India.
Indian visitors may travel throughout most of Bhutan in their own vehicle, upon getting all relevant documents such as registration papers, insurance policies, emission and fitness certificates and individual driving licences endorsed by the Road Safety and Transport Authority at the border. Traffic regulations are the same as in India and are strictly enforced.
DRIVING LICENCE
If you insist on driving in Bhutan should obtain a driving licence issued by the Road Safety and Transport Authority. Bhutanese licences are also valid throughout India.
An International Driving Permit is not valid in Bhutan. An Indian driving licence is valid in Bhutan, and it’s possible for Indian nationals to drive in Bhutan; but unless you are an accomplished rally driver or are from a hill station such as Darjeeling and have experience in motoring in the mountains, it’s safer with a professional driver.
ROAD RULES
Traffic keeps to the left and is much more orderly than in most other south Asian countries. Speeds are low in towns and on rural roads; you will be lucky to average more than 30km/h on the roads in the hills.
As is the case throughout Asia, it is important that the police establish who was at fault in any traffic accident. This means that the police must arrive and make the decision before any of the vehicles can be moved, even if the vehicles are blocking a narrow road. A relatively minor accident can block the road for hours while everyone waits patiently for the police to arrive from the nearest town.
AIR
Bhutan has limited domestic air services. Airports have been developed in Yongphula (south of Trashigang in the far east), Gelephu (in southern Bhutan, near the border with India) and Bathpalathang/Jakar (Bumthang, central Bhutan). At the time of writing, only Druk Air had scheduled domestic flights from Paro to Bathpalathang (via Gelephu fortnightly). Check with your tour company to see the current status.
The Royal Bhutan Helicopter Service operates charter flights, sightseeing and medical evacuations from its base in Paro.
BHUTAN VISA
VISA REQUIREMENT & PROCEDURES
All visitors to Bhutan must need a visa except Indian travelers. Tourists Bhutan Visa will be issued only through a local tour company’s, like Bhutan Travel Adventures. No Agents and Embasis outside Bhutan can issue your Bhutan Visa.
After obtaining confirmed flights, you should apply your Bhutan Visa which will take only 2-3 working days for receiving your complete visa. Your local travel agent will advise and apply your Bhutan Visa. You don’t have to do anything, beside sending just only few things via email. You must send your colour passport scanned copy to your tour company, so they can complete your visa formalities. Upon receiving your Visa from the Department of Immigration in Bhutan, the agent will send the same Visa copy to you through email, which you will have to produce a print copy while entering into Bhutan along with your flight’s e-ticket copy.
The actual Visa will be stamped on your passport at the port of entry or upon your arrival. So the process is very simple for acquiring your Bhutan Visa, just you need to apply minimum 2-3 weeks in advance prior to your arrival. Bhutan Visa fee is US $40 per person per visit.
However, tourists Bhutan Visa will be issued upon depositing your full Tour Payments to the Tourism Council of Bhutan’s account whereby the local tour operator will remain as an ultimate beneficiary of the amount you sent.
The total cost for a Bhutan Visa is USD 250 per day during peak tourist season (March-May and September – November), and USD 200 a day for the low season (December – February and June – August). This fee is inclusive of accommodation, transportation, meals, plenty of bottled water and special entry fees.
Please note that you need to initialize your application through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
VISAS FOR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
India : Nationals of most countries need a visa to visit India. If you are travelling overland to or from Bhutan via the border post in Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar, you will need an Indian visa.
The government of India strongly prefers that you obtain your Indian visa in the country that issued your passport. It’s usually a simple task to get your Indian visa before you leave home, but it’s complicated to get one if overseas. It is possible to obtain a three-day transit visa overseas if you have confirmed flights in and out of India and can produce the appropriate tickets. Otherwise, you must pay a fee to the overseas embassy to send a fax to the Indian embassy in your own country and wait up to a week for a reply.
Tourist visas are generally issued for six months, are multiple entry, and are valid from the date of issue of the visa, not the date you enter India. This means that if you first enter India five months after the visa was issued, it will be valid for one month.
Nepal : Visas for Nepal are available on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at land border crossings, including Kakarbhitta, the road crossing nearest to Bhutan. You will need one passport photo to fill out a visa form manually. However, if arriving at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport you can insert your electronic passport into a visa registration machine, which will take your photo and fill out your form. If you are making a side trip to Bhutan from Kathmandu, you can get a multiple-entry visa the first time you arrive in Nepal. However, you can also simply get another visa on arrival when you return to Nepal. You can also obtain a visa for Nepal in advance from embassies abroad or from the Nepali embassy or consulate in the gateway cities of Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka or Kolkata.
If you are simply transiting through Kathmandu, you can get a 24-hour transit visa for US$5.
ONLINE REGIONAL PERMIT SYSTEM
With the exception of visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, all other visitors travelling to Bhutan need a visa.
Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals can obtain a permit at the port of entry on producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity (Indian nationals may also use their Voters Identity Card (VIC)).
In order to streamline and facilitate smooth visitation by tourists from Bangladesh, India and Maldives, the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs and the Tourism Council of Bhutan have launched the Online Permit System. The system facilitates the online processing of permits for regional tourists through registered Bhutanese tour operators and TCB certified hotels. The facility is offered as an optional channel to process permits for visitors from the region and is applicable for entry from Paro and Phuntsholing. Visitors who use this facility will be able to obtain their permit clearances and route permits ahead of their arrival in Bhutan similar to international tourists.
VISA POLICY FOR INDIANS
The citizens of India don’t need a visa to visit Bhutan. However, they need to obtain a seven-day entry-cum-stay permit from the border offices. This permit is only valid for Phuentsholing, Paro and Thimpu. To travel beyond these three destinations, one has to extend its permit from the immigration office in Thimpu. Also, if one needs to extend the stay beyond 7 days, it can be done in the immigration office of Thimpu as well.
- Indian passport with a validity of at least 6 months
and/or - Voter Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India
- Carry a photocopy of Passport and 2 passport sized photographs
- Booking details of your stay for each day you will spend in Bhutan (This rule was implemented recently by immigration in Bhutan)
- An itinerary for your trip
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
You will receive a baggage declaration form to complete when you arrive in Bhutan. For tourists, the main purpose of this form is to ensure that you re-export anything you bring into the country. List any expensive equipment that you are carrying, such as cameras and laptops. Don’t lose the form as you must return it when you leave the country.
Duty-free allowances include 1L of liquor. You can bring in only one carton (300) of cigarettes and these attract a 200% duty upon arrival. A packet or two is normally allowed in gratis. There are no restrictions on other personal effects, including trekking gear, brought into the country.
Departure formalities are straightforward, but you’ll need to produce the form that you completed on arrival and may need to show all of the items listed on it. A lost form means complications and delays. If you lose the form, let your guide know as soon as possible so that special arrangements can be made to avoid any inconvenience.
The export of antiques and wildlife products is prohibited. If you wish to purchase a souvenir that looks old, have your guide clear it as a nonantique item with the Division of Cultural Properties, part of the Department of Culture inside the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs. Customs authorities pay special attention to religious statues. It would be prudent to have any such statue cleared, old or not.
TARIFF & PAYMENT
For Foreign National Apart for Travellers from India, Bangladesh and Maldives. The total cost for a Bhutan Visa is USD 250 per day during peak tourist season (March-May and September – November), and USD 200 a day for the low season (December – February and June – August). This fee is inclusive of accommodation, transportation, meals, plenty of bottled water and special entry fees.
Surcharge : Individual tourists and smaller groups of less than three persons shall be subject to surcharge, over and above the minimum daily rates applicable, as follows:
- Single individual US$ 40 per night
- Group of 2 persons US$ 30 per person per night
- Single Room supplementary US$ 40 per night.
- Single Tent supplementary US$ 25 per night.
The surcharge will not be applicable to representatives of foreign travel agents on business study or promotional visit duly approved and cleared by Tourism Council of Bhutan
Readmore : http://www.waytobhutan.com/bhutan-travel-information/bhutan-tariff-payment/