Posts Tagged ‘About Bhutan’

Hotel TLT: This is one of the new Hotels located in the middle of the town with all modern amenities.

Contact Address:
Tel:00975-7-251470
Fax:00975-7-251188

Yangkhil Resort( 3 star hotel): Perched an a hill slope, Yangkhil Resort offers an awesome view of Trongsa Dzong, Ta Dzong, Mangde river and Trongsa town.. Located 1.5 Kms away from Trongsa town, it is the best resort in the region.
Established in 2002, the resort has all the luxury facilities including mini bar in the rooms. We also have fax, laundry and safe deposit facilities. Our chefs serve continental, Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese Delicacies. Also, imagine a feast of born fire in winter.

Contact Address:
Tele: +975-3 521417
Fax: 521420

Trongsa forms the central hub of the kingdom and is historically the place from where attempts at unifying the country where launched. The following are some of the prominent places you will visit in Trongsa

Trongsa Dzong: It was built by Chhogyel Mingyur Tempa (sent by Zhabdrung to unify Eastern Bhutan to bring under the rule of the Desi) in the year 1644 and was enlarged in 17th century by the Desi (secular ruler) Tenzin Rabgye. The dzong dominates the horizon, dwarfing the surrounding buildings. Both the First and the Second King ruled the country from this Dzong. It is an impregnable fortress.

Kunga Rabten: It used to be the winter palace of the 2nd King. The building has a superb wood work and decorations and presently part of the palace is used as a library. From the palace one can take a hike up to the road and further along the village to a nunnery. Just beside the palace we can see five great water prayer wheels.

Ta Dzong: Perched above the Trongsa Dzong this is a watch tower which once stood guard over the Trongsa Dzong from internal rebellion. It is now being turned into a heritage museum.

The valley of Phobjikha is well known as the winter home of the black necked cranes. Bhutan is home to around six hundred black necked cranes with Phobjikha being one of the popular places that the birds migrate to in the winter months from Tibetan plateau. These elegant and shy birds can be observed from early November to end of March. Overlooking the Phobjikha valley is the Gangtey Goenpa. This is an old monastery that dates back to the 17th century.Some of the prominent places to visit in Gangtey are:

Early morning Crane Observation / Crane Counting: The centre provides information about the Black-necked Crane and has a viewing room equipped with powerful telescopes to help you observe or count the Cranes in their roosting area. A guide from RSPN can also be arranged for a crane watching tour along the wetland, if requested in advance.
Early morning observation (5:00-7:00) is best recommended for a satisfactory counting of the bird. There are also facilities to hold talks or discussion should you wish.

Visit to Local Carpet Factory: As you walk a few minutes from the crane information centre towards Gangtey trail and the Tabading town. Tabading is small commercial community with typical Bhutanese grocery shops. If you take this road and walk few minutes, you will find a farm road going up towards Phuntsholing Guest house. Behind the Phuntsholing Guest house is a small carpet factory established in 1992. here there is small weaving hall where 8 to 10 people (can) work

Day walks(Gangtey Nature Trail): (Duration: Half day- two hours at a quicker pace) The most beautiful and shortest of the existing nature trails. The trail can be walked in either directions bet we recommend starting the walk from the Gangtey Monastery, so that you first have an opportunity to visit this magnificent gaempa. From here the walk heads south and ends over the meandering chhu Nap ( Black river) near Khewang village.

Village Excursion (Khewang- Dang / Hal Tour): This walk can be done in quick three hours or spread over a day if done at a more leisurely pace. It is an ideal walk for families, and provides one of the overview of the valley as well. One can see cranes, skylarks, temples, villages and have a superb view of the valley as there is no forest to obstruct the view. There are several variations to this walk, but all begin at the bottom of the valley just below the Tabading shops, and take a circular route to return to the same point.

Wangdue is 45 kms from Punakha. Some of the prominent places to visit Wangdue are

Wangdue Town: Wangdue has a unique town to look around with small huts by the side of the road.

Wangdue Phodrang Dzong: It was founded in 1638 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.Wangdue Phodrang dzong sits majestically on a steep ridge overlooking the highway that fork to the east and south of the country.

Hidden deep in the folds of the greater Himalaya mountains for years. Bhutan developed its own civilization. Living in close harmony with nature, evolved a unique identity, derived largely from a rich religious and cultural heritage. Today, the world is seeing many exotic aspects of this kingdom.

Located in the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas, the kingdom is landlocked between the two great Asian civilizations, Tibet (China) to the north and the Indian States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim & West Bengal in the East, West, & South.

POPULATION OF BHUTAN

These are the latest figures revealed by the Population and Housing Census Report.

Bhutan has a small population but variety of people that makes up the country. People known as Drukpas and stone tools suggest that Bhutan was inhabited since 2000 B.C.

CURRENCY
The Bhutanese currency is called NGULTRUM, and is at par with the Indian Rupee-BOTH are used in Bhutan.

1NU (Ngultrum) = 100 CH (Cheltrums)

1NU (Ngultrum) = 1Rupee (Indian)

$US1 = 48 Nu (Approx)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Bhutan is well connected and every town has IDD services.

INTERNET Cafes are available in most towns.

Cell/MOBILE phones can be used, provided they have a GSM 900 specification.

TIME DIFFERENCE
Bhutan has ONE time zone for the whole country. It is 6. Hours ahead of GMT (+6GMT)

ACCOMMODATION
Visitors are accommodated in Hotels and Resorts of 3 to 4 star category. However on visitors interest and request we provide accommodation in 5 star and other luxurious hotels for extra charges.

TOBACCO IMPORT- CUSTOMS
The sale of cigarettes and any other tobacco related products are forbidden in Bhutan.
For personal use, visitors are permitted to bring 200 cigarettes (10 packets) into the country on payment of 200% duty.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
With a National Policy and any Law to always maintain 6% of the country under forest cover, it is not surprising that the Bhutan countryside is will protected and in pristine form. Approximately 9% of the land falls into biological corridors where wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves flourish under such protected conditions.

CULTURES and TRADITIONS
Bhutan’s unique cultural heritage has remained intact and untarnished over the centuries, and today, one can witness many of those cultural traditions as they are practiced on a daily basis. They continue to have tremendous value and significance in the life of the people of this remarkable nation.

PEOPLE
There are 19 Languages spoken in Bhutan, and yet in spite of such linguistic diversity, there is a common denominator of fun loving, friendly, and good-natured people. They represent a warmth that is unique- a warmth that embraces all who visit the country.

Climate: The climate varies, hot subtropical climate in the south to cold alpine slopes in the north. Human settlement is confined mostly to interior river valleys and a swath of southern plains; nomads and other tribes live in the north, raising sheep, cattle and yaks.
SPRING: March-May
SUMMER: June-August
AUTUMN: September-November
WINTER: December-February
Bhutan experiences total annual rainfall of above 2000mm to as low as 1000mm. Permanent snow line is found above 4800m, 15840ft. The mean monthly temperature varies and the maximum temperature goes up to 35 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature goes as low as -1.4 degree Celsius.

Topography
Its physical geography consists mostly of steep and high mountains with a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. The land rises with three broad categories of Himalayas.

1. The Sub Himalayas: It ranges from 200m, 660ft to 2000m, 6600ft above sea level. Average width is of 50kms.
2. The Inner Himalayas: It ranges from 2001m, 6603ft to 4000m, 13200ft above sea level. Average width is of 70kms. It is marked by five major river systems, by flat mid Himalayan river valleys (Paro, Haa, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue and Bumthang). Between the valleys mountains rise to great heights and many mountain pass are found in the inner Himalayas (Dagala, Dochula, Pelela, Thrumsengla…).

People of Bhutan can be grouped into five broad divisions.

1. • The Northern region: People of north are popularly known as Bjops. Found in Laya, Lingshi and Lunana. They speak slight variation of Dzongkha. They are Yak herders by occupation and they have a standard Bhutanese dress but women from Laya retain their distinctive dress.
   • The Western region: People of west are popularly known as Ngalong. Found in the valleys of Ha, Paro, Thimphu , Punakha and Wangdue.They are the migrants from Tibet . They speak slight variation of Dzongkha. It is the rice growing regions.
   • The Central region: It comprises of part of Wangdue, whole of Trongsa, Bumthang, Zhemgang and part of Kurtoe.They speak a different language belonging to Bumthang group.  They too are rice growing regions. They herd yaks and sheep and also produce special products from bamboo, yaks and sheep.
   • The Eastern region: They are known as Sharchops (people who live in the eastern side). The area comprises of Mongar, Trashigang, Pemagatshel ans Samdrup jongkhar. They refer to Tshangla speaking people which are spoken beyond the border of Bhutan in the Dirang district of Arunachal Pradesh ( India ). Sharchops shares a close cultural and linguistic affinity with the people of northern Burma and northern Laos . They cultivate maize and rear livestock. Special products that they produce are wood products and silk textile.

Bhutanese Food

Rice is the staple food but Bhutanese are very fond of meat, especially dried meat. Pork, beef, chicken, and fish are served with chillies, a ubiquitous and fiery part of every dish.

Change and Challenges

It is inevitable that Bhutan is changing. Three decades of development have had a dramatic impact on the kingdom.

A comprehensive network of roads, schools and hospitals reaching their services to the people, a modern telecommunication system, increasing contact with international community, urbanization, and a growing private sector cannot but bring change.

Bhutan has long decided that economic achievement is no replacement for its unique national identity. In the past, the kingdom fought aggression, in different forms, to safeguard its interests, its priorities, and its identity. The future will be no different.