Bhutan Tour Packages

History of Bhutan

Bhutan also known as the land of the thunder dragon is filled with ancient tales and legends that help to acknowledge the rich history of this country. The chronicles of Bhutan start with the arrival of the Guru Padmasambhava, a religious leader from Tibet, who in the early 747 A.D. visited the land of Bhutan to spread Buddhism within the country. It is believed that the religious leader visited the valleys of Paro while riding on top of a tiger, the particular place is called Paro Taktsang, also known as Tiger’s Nest. Being isolated from the rest of the world, the country Bhutan was first discovered by two Portuguese who are considered to be the first outsiders to visit the country. The Dragon’s Land opened its gates for the first time in the year 1974 for tourism with an aim to raise revenue for development.

Geography and Climate

Spread across more than 38,394 sq km of land, Bhutan is highly popular for its rich biodiversity and lush greenery. With an elevation range of 220m in the south to 7000 m in the northern highlands, the country offers diverse landscapes and climatic conditions that vary from one place to another. While the southern part of the country is known for its tropical climate, the northern part offers severe winters where temperatures can fall below -4 degrees Celsius. The country also seems to have an adequate amount of rainfall with an annual rainfall of around 1600 mm.

The country is located on the eastern ridges of the Himalayan region and falls under the two largest countries of South Asia, India and China. The city of Phuentsholing is the southernmost city of the country that shares an international boundary with India via Jaigaon, a border city of West Bengal. The country is also known for its rich biodiversity with more than 69% of its total land being covered under forests allowing becoming the world’s first carbon-free country.

People and Culture

The country is home to people from the diverse communities and tribes that are located in the various parts. Sharchop and Ngalong are considered to be the oldest ethnic groups in the country and account for more than 75% of the total population. The majority of the people belong to the group of Tibetan immigrants that migrated to Bhutan in the early 9th century and are among the dominant tribes of the country. Bhutan also comprises a group of various other tribal communities that have kept themselves isolated in the formidable valleys of the country. These tribes have no access to connect with the modern world and therefore follow a lifestyle of the ancient times.

The people of are Bhutan hardworking and helpful in nature with great pride towards their culture. Hospitality is a major part of their cultural tradition and can be witnessed across various parts of the country. Being home to numerous communities there is a diverse culture that changes on the basis of location and altitudes. Agriculture is the main source of their livelihood and highly contributes towards the total revenue of the country.

Food and Cuisines

Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world that are known for its rich cuisine and rich delicacies. Known for rich flavours and spiciness the country offers some of the best food dishes in Southeast Asia that have stood out among the best in the world. Chillies and Cheese are the major ingredients of the Bhutanese cuisine and are used in most of the dishes; Ema Datshi is the national dish of Bhutan that is prepared in various ways based on the basis of location and accessibility of seasonal ingredients. Being situated adjacent to China and India, a few of the dishes have similarities with Indian and Chinese cuisine that attracts food lovers from all over the world. Here are some of the popular dishes from the Bhutanese cuisine.

• Ema Datshi
• Phaksha Paa
• Shakam Paa
• Puta
• Jasha Maru
• Khur-le
• Goen Hogey
• Hoentay

Festival

Bhutan is popular for its old age rituals and traditions which the country showcases on the eve of festivals. Home to diverse communities and tribes, the country celebrates various festivals that can be witnessed throughout the year. Tsechu is the biggest festival in the country and has great religious significance to the people of the country. The Festival is the time when tourists can witness the true and authentic culture with the help of musical events, masked dance, energetic activities and many more. People usually wear traditional dress and celebrate these festivals with great zeal and zest. The country hosts various festivals that are celebrated on various parts throughout the year, some of which include

• Thimphu Tsechu
• Paro Tsechu
• Punakha Drubchen
• Black-Necked Crane Festival
• Losar
• Talo Tsechu
• Jakar Tsechu
• Jakar Festival

Visa and Formalities

Tourists need to require a visa to enter Bhutan which can be acquired from the immigration office of Bhutan located at Phuentsholing. However, citizens from India and Bangladesh can visit the country without any visa but need to acquire an entry permit at the terminal.

SDF

Bhutan also charges its visitors with a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per head, while Indians need to pay an SDF of ₹1200 per head. The SDF is charged for the days of your visit and needs to be paid on arrival.