Bouthan

 BHUTAN: They call it ‘The last Shangri-La’…

The myth of a statement goes: If there is a Heaven on Earth? It is this; it truly is - 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'.

Veiled away in the Himalayas, Bhutan and its people have largely lived a life of isolation from the rest of the world. The Bhutanese have succeeded in maintaining their cultural and spiritual heritage and belief that they live in the last Shangri-La; by strictly limiting the number of tourists to the Kingdom to a maximum of 5000 a year. Western values have little or no impact this side of the world. Here in this land of culture and extreme charm this exudes a special feeling of serenity. The people are extremely religious, much in evidence hereabouts, even in urban centers the spinning of prayer wheels, the murmur of mantras and the glow of butter lamps are still important features of daily life. Monasteries, temples and religious monuments are dotted across the landscape bearing witness to the importance of Buddhism, while red robed monks, young and old, are everywhere mingling freely in towns and village markets. The local folks enjoy their presence.

Bhutan boasts a wealth of Bio Diversity with almost three quarters of its land area covered by forests, it has been declared amongst the ten most prominent areas for environmental protection in the world. Its rich Himalayan flora and fauna, dazzling snow capped peaks, lush valleys and unbelievably beautiful rural landscapes will leave all but the very hardened asking: That if there is a heaven on Earth? The Land of the Thunder Dragon it probably is.

Bhutan is best known to the world today as the last Shangri-La. The few visitors who make the rare journey into this extraordinary kingdom will discover that there is no other destination like this land of pure and exotic spirituality. In this country known as the ‘Druk Yul’, or ‘Land of the Peaceful Dragon’, the fortunate visitor will find a rare combination of harmony and accord, amidst a landscape of amazing natural beauty.

Join me on a holiday to the last Shangri-La & I will guide you to some of the most enthralling parts of Bhutan. I will show you things never seen before & escort you across paths less frequented. I will give you a vacation that will live in your thoughts for years.

General information related to Bhutan…in depth

Location: Between China and India

Area: 46,620 sq km (18,182 sq mi)

Longitude: 27° 30’North and 90°30’ East.

Capital: Thimpu

Population: 700,000 (approx. 1 million)

Political-System: Monarchy

Religion: 70% Buddhist, 25% Hindu, 5% others

National Animal: Takin (Burdorcas taxi color)

National Bird: Raven (Corvus corax)

National Flower: Blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis)

National Sport: Dha (archery)

Language:

Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan. Other widely spoken languages are Nepali, Bumthap, Sharchop and Hindi. English is understood and spoken by majority of people in major towns and the medium of education in schools.

Time:

Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT, 30 minutes ahead of India, 1 hour behind Thailand and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal. There is only one time zone throughout the country. .

Drinks:

It is safer to drink bottled, boiled and filtered water. A reasonable variety of both hard and soft drinks are available in hotels, restaurants and shops in most towns. Many Bhutanese enjoy drinking traditional homemade alcoholic brews made from wheat, millet or rice.

Shopping:

The most popular tourist purchases are traditional Bhutanese arts and handicrafts. Produced by skilled artisans, these are generally of a high quality, and include Buddhist paintings and statues, textiles, jewelry and wooden bowls and carvings.

Seasons:

The autumn is between (September-November). Winter is between (December-February), & summer is (March-May), the Monsoons fall between (Jun- August)

Water:

In major cities boiled and filtered water as well as mineral water is available in most of the hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, it is advisable to use water sterilization tablets or stick to tea and soft drinks.

Working Hours:

Government offices open from 09 am to 17:00 hrs in summer and till 16:00 hrs in winter.

Official Holidays:

The Government and most other offices work five days a week. Saturday and Sunday is the official weekly holiday when most of the shops are closed.

Electricity:

All towns in western Bhutan have a reliable power supply. Elsewhere, access is less consistent, and electricity is not available in many outlying areas of the country. The voltage supply is 220/240, the same as in Nepal and India.

Road Transport:

Road transport is the dominant mode of transportation for passengers and freight within the country and to the neighboring states of India.

Other Transport Arrangements:

There are taxis with fare meters in Bhutan available for those who care to use it.