Visiting Bhutan
The journey to Bhutan is in itself an adventure to savor, from planning to arrival and departure. Bhutan is an ideal destination for travelers to crave an unspoiled nature, less crowded destinations, and to escape from life's hustles. Bhutan is considered a visiting paradise with its golden-roofed temples, magnificent fortress-like monasteries, high altitudes, rural villages, rich cultures, and undivided remote destinations. Bhutan is safe to visit for independent and group travelers. Bhutan offers unique species of flora and fauna including the different types of wildlife.
Bhutan is awe-inspiring and unspoiled marinated in ancient traditions and history as tall as its Himalayan peaks. The mystical kingdom of Bhutan is well known for Gross National Happiness with collective happiness and the well-being of the Bhutanese people. Buddhism thrives, national sport - archery, people wearing national dress, cultures, forests, and monasteries are the major attractions of Bhutan. Surrounded by the green hills, Himalayas, and forests, Bhutan is exotic, mystical, and almost unearthly. Bhutan is a joy to travel around the straddling Himalayas, have amazing cultural experiences, and explore dzongs that marvel at the Himalayas.
How to get to Bhutan from Nepal?
Getting to Bhutan from Nepal can be done in two ways: A direct flight from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Paro International Airport, Bhutan. Another way is traveling overland through Nepal, across India, and into Bhutan at the border crossing Phuentsholing.
Traveling overland to Bhutan from Nepal, first, you will require a local bus from Kathmandu to the border with India. The closest Nepal and India border for Bhutan is located at Kakarbhitta in Eastern, Nepal. Crossing the Raniganj immigration checkpoint over the Mechi Bridge, then you can get the local bus to Siliguri, the closest railway station to the Indian town of Panitanki.
From Siliguri, the trains run on a regular basis and direct from New Jalpaiguri to the closest railway station to the Bhutanese border at Phuentsholing, Hasimara. The trip takes around four hours to reach Hasimara. Reaching Hasimara, you can find the local buses to Jaigaon, opposite Phuentsholing on the Indo-Bhutanese border. After crossing the border, your tour guide will transfer to the hotel in Paro or Thimpu on a private car.
Best time to visit Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked country in the lap of the Himalayas so knowing the best time for traveling is most significant for the travelers. The best times to visit Bhutan are usually considered either in the Spring season (March to May) or the Autumn season (September to November). During these months weather tends to be pleasantly dry, with mild temperatures, and beautiful skies so travelers can experience Bhutan at its most glorious. Even lower altitude trek and the tour are also amazing in the rest of the months.
The best time to visit Bhutan depends on what type of activities you want to do in Bhutan. The ideal time for visiting Bhutan according to activities are enlisted below:
Tours or sightseeing: All around the year
Trekking or hiking: Spring and Autumn Season
Water Sports (Rafting or Kayaking): Months of October and November
Mountain Biking and Rockclimbing: All around the year
Bhutan Visa Information
Visas for travel to Bhutan are being issued only by the Department of Immigration, the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan. All visitors will need a visa to visit Bhutan except the visitors from India, who will require a permit. Nationals of Bangladesh and Maldives shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry. Visitors can process a visa or permit online from the website of the Department of Immigration by visiting https://visit.doi.gov.bt/ with your Bhutanese tour operator or foreign travel operator. Your visa will be processed via the Tourism Council of Bhutan once you paid the travel fee. Your visa clearance will take a minimum of 72 working hours and you should have at least 6 months passport validity date.
The visa fee is US$ 40 per person and it is non-refundable.
The following documents are required to process the visa:
A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for 6 months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom
Travel Insurance valid for the duration of the trip
A recent passport-size photo
Food And Accommodation
Food in Bhutan
While you are traveling in Bhutan food is the main thing for any traveler. The national food of Bhutan is Ema Datshi. Travelers won’t get any fast food like KFC, MacDonalds, etc. You can have a bowl of rice (red rice and white rice) with plenty of veg and no veg curries. Bhutanese people eat rice and vegetables with heavy chilies, So you can request to make it less chilly if you don't like it much.
Likewise, restaurants around Bhutan also provide Indian and Chinese meals but the availability of international meals is somehow limited. However, most of the restaurant offers a buffet style of meals. In central Bhutan they produce buckwheat. Bhutan is well known for buckwheat pancake where rice is not produced because of the high altitude. Some popular food in Bhutan is Kewa Datshi, Ema Datshi, Phaksha Paa, Jasha Maroo or Maru, etc. In a different restaurant in the city around Bhutan, you can have your own meals national or international meals.
Accommodation in Bhutan
Accommodation in Bhutan is a luxury and standard category that target tourist and their service. 5-star, Resorts, guest houses, and Homestays are the types of accommodations available in Bhutan. Thimpu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, and Bumthang have only 5-star hotels and resorts available as per Bhutan standards. Even the other parts of the country have standard 3-star level hotels. Most of the trekking route has trekking lodges and some have camping sites only.
