A tiny country nestled deep within the high Himalayas. Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist country and is known as the last stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism.
Travel Mail Desk – New Delhi: The “land of the Thunder Dragon” is one of the least visited countries in the world. Mysterious Bhutan is a land where magic and myths are a part of history where there are more monks than soldiers. What better place to be than a place where the growth of the country is measured by the level of Happiness of their people rather than GDP. Its scene ranges from subtropical fields and woods in the South to subalpine backwoods and cold mountains in the North.
Go on a journey to the heart of Bhutan; a heart filled with nature, silence, values and spiritual symbols. A Bhutan tour requires a little more planning and preparation than when visiting most parts of the globe, but it is certainly worth it.
Why you should visit?
- Bhutan is Home to Some of the Best Himalayan Hiking Trails – The iconic Tiger’s Nest Monastery, looming ominously over the edge of a 3120m high cliff is Bhutan’s most iconic site.
- A Pleasant Climate All Year Around – Though Bhutan does possess four distinctly different seasons, they all present relatively pleasant temperatures and weather conditions making the country accessible and suitable for exploring all year around as per whatever period fits best in your schedule.
- It’s as Off the Beaten Path as You Can Go – With less than 72,000 international tourists each year, Bhutan is one of the least visited countries in the world.
- Ancient Traditions Are Still Embraced – With the turn of the 21st century and the development of modern technology, most countries have seen significant changes over the past few centuries in terms of the way they lead their daily lives. In Bhutan however, it can feel as though you have been transported back in time.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
Best time to Visit?
The best time to visit Bhutan from October to December, as the air is clean and mild with sunny skies. The weather is dry and friendly, but the famed Rhododendrons grow spectacularly in late spring, and flood valleys with colour from then up until April. We recommend visiting the Phobjikha Valley between late October and the middle of February if you’re interested in watching rare black neck cranes.
The climate of Bhutan is also affected by the Indian monsoons which cause rain in some parts of the year. Monsoons are strong rainfall and high humidity in Bhutan from June to September with hottest temperatures in the south. Autumn occurs from October to November where it is normally sunny at higher altitudes, with some frost. The pre-monsoon showers began in May in late November to early March.
Do I need a visa to enter ?
All foreign visitors who wish to visit Bhutan need a visa, which has a Bhutanese Tour Operator licence or one of its international partners in advance. Until travelling, you may receive visa clearance from your tour operator. Bangladeshi nationals and Maldives can obtain a visa upon entry for Indian passengers (or VICs).
A fee of USD 40 applies to overseas tourist visas. You should pay this beforehand to the travel agent or tour operator. No charges would be borne for Indian passengers (or VIC), nationals of Bangladesh or citizens from the Maldives.
In comparison to the residents of other countries who pay USD 65 (Rs 4,631) and a mandatory flat cover charge per day of USD 250 (Rs 17,811), the SDF for the Indian passport holders is rather less. The National Assembly of the country adopted the resolution on the adoption of the fee in the form of the Bhutan Tourism Levy and Exemption Bill of 2020.
For Indian Travellers
Amongst Indian visitors, Bhutan was a popular destination. More specifically, in order to reach the country you had to pay nothing. But the government of Bhutan is now attempting to change things in a different direction. After ending free entry to Bhutan for Indian tourists, a regular charge of Rs 1.200 per person is being imposed in July 2020.
The Maldives and Bangladesh also are part of the programme. Children aged 6 to 12 years of age have to pay a fee of Rs 600. The fee, which the Bhutanese Government recently laid off for the purposes of controlling excessive number of tourists in the region, is regarded as a Sustainable Development Fee.
In the past, Indians going to Bhutan were obliged, without paying an entrance fee, only to bear any of the two relevant travel documents required. The document for travel is an Indian passport with a validity of at least six months and/or the voting ID issued by the Indian Election Commission. Citizens of India did not need Bhutan’s visa.
Indians going by road to Bhutan were only required from the Immigration Office of the Royal Government of the Republic of Bhutan in Phuentsholing to obtain an entry permit based on valid travel documents.
Travelling by Air for Indians were required to transport and display their travel documents and entry permits only at Paro International Airport. Indian tourists were allowed only to enter Thimphu and Paro.
Where to stay?
Happiness Is Bhutan – A Film by Gangtey Lodge
The multi-award-winning Gangtey Lodge, set high in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, offers the weary traveller the perfect blend of luxury, adventure and spiritual enlightenment. Start planning your world away from the everyday.
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