Visiting Bhutan
Introduction
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan a prevailing and an primeval land. Proceedings of history takes us back to the sixth century A.D. and the modern history hardly spans three decades. Located in the heart of the mighty Himalayas, the country of not more than 750,000 people constitutes one of the most rugged surfaces of the earth. This gift of geography combined with the determination of the inhabitants allowed the Bhutanese race to be itself regardless of the world and its changing ways beyond its mountains and gorges.
Location
Wedged between Tibet(China) to the north and India to the south is a country far cry from the modern world. A country still intact with its age old living culture and tradition plays an important part role in the daily lives of the Bhutanese.
Language
The official language of Bhutan is ‘Dzongkha’. It is widely spoken in the kingdom. Lhoshamkha is also a major language widely spoken by the people of southern Bhutan who are of Nepalese origin. Tsangla or Sharchopkha is another major dialect spoken by the people from eastern Bhutan. There are also many local dialects used in many regions of Bhutan.
Drukpas are composed of three main ethnic groups, that is: Ngalops, Sharshops and Lhotsampas. Ngalops the first group originally from Tibet are the followers of Buddhism and settled mostly in the western & central Bhutan. Sharshops, the second group immigrated from northern Burma & northeast India and settled in eastern Bhutan. Lhotsampas are the third group migrated to Bhutan from Nepal in the early 20th century for agricultural land and work. They live predominantly in the southern plains.
Currency
Bhutanese currency is Ngultrum(Nu/BTN) which is pegged to the Indian rupee(INR).
Environment
Bhutan still holds about 65% of intact forest coverage that is home to Bhutan’s diverse flora and fauna comprising of an estimated 700 bird species and at least 5000 species of vascular plants.
Climate
The climate varies widely depending on the elevation. In the south, it is tropical; at the northern extreme, there is perpetual snow. Very little rain falls in the autumn from October through December making it ideal for trekking. Bhutan’s climate is changeable and unpredictable, not only varying among the various regions, but also varying enormously from day to day or even on the same day.
| PLACES |
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
| PARO |
17
|
12.6
|
13.9
|
15.1
|
20.9
|
23
|
23.5
|
28.7
|
23.4
|
20.4
|
14.2
|
11
|
|
7.7
|
3
|
1.6
|
3.5
|
12.9
|
13.1
|
14.6
|
14.9
|
10.7
|
8.6
|
3
|
4.3
|
|
| THIMPHU |
12
|
16.9
|
14
|
19.4
|
19.2
|
23.7
|
28.7
|
24.7
|
21.4
|
19.4
|
16.9
|
14.7
|
|
3
|
0.5
|
4.6
|
9.2
|
14.5
|
15.8
|
17.8
|
16.7
|
15.8
|
11.4
|
5.8
|
4.3
|
|
| PUNAKHA |
18
|
19.4
|
23.6
|
24.9
|
24
|
21
|
25.8
|
25.4
|
26.1
|
24.6
|
22.3
|
23
|
|
6.9
|
6.9
|
7.8
|
10.2
|
10
|
11.1
|
16.7
|
11
|
11.5
|
11.3
|
12.2
|
8.9
|
|
| WANGDI |
14.9
|
20.6
|
22.6
|
24.9
|
28
|
29
|
29.4
|
28.7
|
27.5
|
26.2
|
23.1
|
19.4
|
|
6.7
|
7.3
|
8.8
|
12.8
|
18
|
19.2
|
20.2
|
19.9
|
18.8
|
16
|
11.5
|
2.9
|
|
| TRONGSA |
10.6
|
14.1
|
15
|
17.4
|
20
|
20
|
20.9
|
20
|
13.2
|
20
|
18.5
|
13.9
|
|
0.3
|
1
|
0.5
|
4.4
|
5
|
13
|
14.6
|
15
|
13.1
|
13.1
|
11.5
|
1.6
|
|
| BUMTHANG |
8.5
|
13
|
16
|
16.1
|
9.1
|
20
|
21.3
|
21.8
|
21.4
|
18.7
|
15
|
14.2
|
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
4.5
|
6
|
8.4
|
12
|
13.2
|
14.3
|
12.7
|
9.6
|
2.5
|
5
|
|
| MONGAR |
19.9
|
24.8
|
27.1
|
27.5
|
29.4
|
30.2
|
31
|
38.9
|
30.3
|
29.2
|
26.3
|
24
|
|
9.7
|
10.2
|
9.5
|
15.9
|
20.3
|
20.9
|
21.9
|
34.5
|
20.4
|
18
|
12.9
|
5.7
|
|
| TASHIGANG |
15.11
|
17.4
|
17.7
|
20.8
|
20.2
|
19.1
|
21.6
|
22.2
|
21.3
|
19.6
|
16.8
|
15.7
|
|
3.6
|
5
|
5.4
|
8.9
|
12.4
|
15.1
|
6
|
16.4
|
15.9
|
11.1
|
12.9
|
14.9
|
In degree centigrade(‘C)
Time Zone
Bhutan has only one time zone, Bhutan Standard Time (BST). It is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 30 minutes ahead of Indian time.
Tours in Bhutan:
Places of visit include cultural and heritage sites where Bhutan has many ancient sites of such holdings viz. dzongs(ancient castle fortresses) and Lhakhangs(monasteries). Visit to such place can be blended with hikes, trekking or drive by car/bus. Such visit can also be a combination of witnessing a grant mask dance festival. There is a good variety to choose from, for your intended type of tour viz. trekking, hiking, festivals, cultural heritage, mountain-biking, bird-watching, botanical, rafting, religious etc.
Entry /Exit Bhutan:
One can fly to/fro Bhutan via Bangkok, Kathmandu, Delhi and Singapore. One can also enter/exit Bhutan overland via Phuentsholing (Bhutan south-west border town to India) or Samdrupjonkhar (Bhutan south-east border town to India). Bhutan Mountain Holiday will arrange your flight as well as pick/drop Paro airport(Bhutan) or overland pick/drop at the Bhutan/India border.
