Bhutan: useful information


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Travel guide in Bhutan, all the things you need to know to visit it, climatic conditions, necessary documents, best times to go and how to get there.


Bhutan in short

  • Capital: Thimphu
  • Area in sq km: 46,500
  • Population: 695,822 (2010)
  • Religion: Drukpa Buddhism

Where is it

bhutan flag Bhutan is a state of Asia between China in the north and India in the south. The country, as large as Switzerland, is located in the eastern part of the Himalaya chain and is characterized in the north by its high peaks, in the center by a mountainous complex ranging from 1,500 to 2,700 meters above sea level, furrowed by valleys where they flow rivers very rich in water and covered by verdant forests.

South to India, the mountains descend to the plains of Duars, which occupy a small part of Bhutan. The highest peak in the country is the Gangkhar Puensum which reaches 7,570 meters above sea level. The main rivers of Bhutan are the Puna Tshang Chhu and the Drangme Chhu.


Climate

The climate of Bhutan is greatly influenced by the diversity of the area's altitude, and can be distinguished in the Alpine mountains above 3,500 meters, temperate between 1,700 and 3,500 meters, tropical below 1,700 meters above sea level.

In the summer from June to September, monsoons bring abundant rainfall, which ends with the beginning of autumn, when the skies become increasingly clear and the temperatures warm. In winter the climate is cold in the regions with higher altitude.

Population

The population of Bhutan is mainly formed by the ethnic group of bothia, which descend from populations from Tibet and represent half of the total population. The other half is made up mostly of groups of Indian origin and the minority ethnic group of Nepalese origin.


Time zone

The time zone is 5 hours ahead of Italy and 4 hours ahead when daylight saving time is in effect in Italy.

Spoken language

The official language of Bhutan is dzongkha. Nepali and Tibetan dialects are also spoken.

Economy

Bhutan's economy is mainly agricultural, despite the country being endowed with various natural resources including forests, mineral reserves and basins that can be used for the production of hydroelectric energy.


However, the electricity that is produced in the Chukha district is exported to India, a country with which almost all commercial exchanges take place, constitutes a discrete source of revenue. The tourism sector is growing, favored by the country's great cultural and environmental heritage.

When to go

From a climatic point of view, the best time to visit Bhutan coincides with the months of October and November. Spring, which runs from March to May, despite this period being more rainy than autumn, is a very beautiful period for the great variety of flowering plants.

Recommended readings
  • Bhutan: useful information
  • Bhutan: what to see and do while respecting the environment

Necessary documents

To enter Bhutan you need a passport with a residual validity of at least 6 months. The visa is mandatory and is obtained by contacting the Tourism Authority of Bhutan (P.O. box 126, Thimphu, Bhutan) through a Tour Operator recognized by that body. Independent travelers are not allowed.

The visa cannot be extended beyond the scheduled days of stay and is issued for a fee of US $ 200 per day. This rate includes accommodation, meals, internal transport, local guides. During the low season (December-February and June-August) the rate is reduced to US $ 165 per day.

Those traveling alone or in groups with less than 4 people are required to pay a higher daily payment, while there are concessions for students under the age of 25 and minors. Upon arrival in the country, a payment of 20 USD for a visa is also required.

Phone

- The international code to call from Italy to Bhutan is: 00975
- The international prefix for calling from Bhutan in Italy is: 0039

The telephone rates are quite high and the mobile phone is unusable.

Electricity

The electric current in Bhutan is 230 V 50 Hz. The sockets are of type D (British old 3-pole type), F (German 2-pole with lateral earth contacts), G (British 3-pole). An adapter must be provided for the sockets.

Currency

The official currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum. In the main localities of the country there are branches of the two banks in the area but there are no ATMs. Credit cards are unusable. It is recommended to bring US dollars.


How to get

By air
In the city of Paro is the country's international airport, served by the only national airline, Druk Air, which operates connections from the airports of Dhaka (Bangladesh), Bagdogra (India), Calcutta (India), Dehli (India) , Gaya (India), Guwahati (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand).

Therefore, to reach Bhutan you need to stop at one of the aforementioned airports and then board a flight of the Bhutanese national company, which issues the ticket only after approval for the entry visa.

By land
In southern Bhutan it is possible to enter by land from India and precisely from the border town Phuntsholing.

Vaccination

No mandatory vaccinations are required to enter Bhutan. Antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended only if the districts of Chukha, Samchi, Samdrup, Jonkhar, Geylegphug and Shemgang are visited. There is no risk of malaria in Paros and Thimphu. In addition, vaccination against typhoid, hepatitis A and B is recommended and an anti-polio recall would be advisable since polio is still present in the country.

It is useful to follow some hygienic measures, drink only bottled water without adding ice, eat only cooked meats and vegetables, fruit only if peeled personally. Before departure, it is recommended to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and a possible repatriation.

Part-2 | Short Trip to Phuntsholing Bhutan in BYK and some useful information (February 2024)


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