Bhutan Tourism: A 5-Day Journey into the Heart of the Himalayas
- Amy
- Oct 11, 2022
- 11 min read
Updated: May 25, 2024
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When a perfect family holiday is in the planning, you might want to consider India's next door neighbour, the land of Happiness is what I call it, Bhutan. Geographically located to the north east of India, this little country is not very known amongst the large majority of the earth dwellers. My small banter with the local guide of the place made me realize that its second home to the Buddhism believers in the world. Why Bhutan, what does it have to offer, what are the pros and cons, where to go, what to eat, what to do, how to go, when to go, form an array of questions for an honestly well-researched traveler too !
Its not the scenic beauty of Bhutan alone that mesmerizes you, it is also got to do a lot with the geographical location of the plateau that attracts you to this location. The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked Asian nation and is located entirely within the Himalaya mountain range. It shares its borders with China to the north and India in the south. Thimphu is the captial city of the country. We set our itinerary to begin with 3 days and 3 nights at Thimphu and to end with Paro for 2 days and 3 nights to explore the local fervor of the region.
Table of Contents: Bhutan Tourism: A 5-Day Journey into the Heart of the Himalayas Bhutan Tourism How to Reach Bhutan? Currency Day 1 – Del/Paro and drive to Thimphu Morning Day Excursion to Dochula Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang) Day Exercusion to Chele La Pass Farewell Bhutan |
Bhutan Tourism
Bhutan tourism is synonymous to Bhutan Bliss. To be continuously ranked as the happiest country in all of Asia and to be on the pedestal of a special mention in the World Population Review, it is without doubt that Bhutan is known as the Birthplace of Gross National Happiness.
So why is Bhutan such a happy place? Its enriching spirituality and strong Buddhist beliefs has majority of Bhutanese people living by the karma principle of this religion and indeed the reason why many people are happier and calmer. This can be seen also in their dearth of materialistic cravings. They are more than satisifed with what they have. In a land of monasteries and dzongs, their faith prompts them to be friendly, welcoming and kind hearted and this is noticed in the way they approach visitors to their country.
How to Reach Bhutan?
There are 5 countries namely Bangladesh (Dhaka), India (Kolkatta, Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati), Nepal (Katmandu), Bangkok (Thailand) and Singapore that have direct flights daily or alternately to Paro. The only two airlines that fly to and fro Paro are the Bhutan Government local airline Bhutan Airlines or Druk Air.
To book your tickets with ease, consider booking via my LINK. Booking.com offers competitive prices, reliable customer service, and flexible booking options, ensuring a seamless travel experience from start to finish.
We planned our trip with the local tour agency Keys to Bhutan and requested to have Mr. Jigme Chodup as our personal tour guide, based on very good reviews of his service and knowledge of the place.
Currency
The Bhutanese currency is called the Ngultrum, which is equivalent to the Indian Rupee. In Paro and Thimphu, they accept Indian rupee and USD in all hotels. While ATMs are available in the city, it is better not to bank on plastic currency. Always better to carry enough cash in hand.Foreign tourists need to pay USD 250 as royalty tax per day per person during their entire stay in the country. For off-season it is USD 200. This covers accommodation, transport inside Bhutan, a tour guide, food and entry fees. Only Indian tourists and foreign residents are exempted from this tax and can alter their budgets for their stay.
Day 1 – Del/Paro and drive to Thimphu
Paro air strip is infamously known for its most treacherous landing in human history. It is so dangerous that only 8 pilots are qualified to land there. An incredible landing sums it up, considering the turbulent winds, and the runway just being 6500 feet long and an airport surrounded by18,000 ft steep peaks and mountain foliage.
After a smooth landing, we were escorted by the airport ground staff to the immigration services at the quaintly decorated Paro airport, which showcased local artistic flair. The quick immigration and baggage clearance allowed us to save time for the long journey to our hotel in Thimphu, which is an hour's drive from Paro. Our incredibly warm guide, Jigme Chodup, greeted us with satin cloth garlands and led us to a comfortably air-conditioned vehicle. The journey was exceptionally picturesque, with idyllic roads and so few cars that there are no traffic lights.🙃
Farmer’s weekend market
A stop at the Farmer's weekend market (open days: Thursday to Sunday and time: 8 am to 5 pm), you will find the local produce of Thimphu. It is the largest domestic goods market for farmers in Bhutan. Also known as the Centenary Farmer's Market, farmers from all over Bhutan come here to sell their local produce, including fresh, organic vegetables, fruits, and spices. Just close by, across a bridge from the market, lies the Kuendeyling Bazaam, where local artisans sell their textiles, garments and other household items.
Witness archery
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and we were lucky to witness the sport in the National Archery stadium of Changlingmethang. The players are dressed in their national attire, the Goh, and the atmosphere is very electrifying, a lot of noise and signalling to opponent teams to cheer or hoot them is a common practice in the game.
National Memorial Chorten
This memorial chorten also known as Thimpu chorten is a special place to offer prayers. It is famously known as "the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan" and is located in the city centre. It was built by the wife of the third king after his death. The devotees are seen performing circumambulations while praying. You cannot miss the prayer wheels near the chorten.
The devotees rotate the prayer wheels while taking rounds of the chorten, moving from left to right.
After this tour, the rest of the day is at leisure. You may want to try the coffee at Champaca cafe and also eat sizzling hot yummy momos at a local eatery.
Day 2 - Thimpu
Morning Day Excursion to Dochula
The Dochula Pass is a mountain pass on the road from Thimphu to Punakha. The pass is 2 hours away from Thimphu and is a wonderful sight at 3100m. If you're indeed lucky on a good clear sky day, you will get panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges from this pass. Here 108 memorial chortens (stupas) have been built by the eldest queen mother of Bhutan, named 'Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk' to commemorate 108 soldiers that died in the 2003 Bhutan-Bodo war.
You can see high peaks if the visibility is good on the particular day. During winter, you can see exceptional views of the snow-laden Himalayan ranges. A cafe nearby serves some hot tea/coffee and snacks.
Buddha Dordenma (Kuensel Phodrang)
The Great Buddha Dordenma statue, which is situated in the mountains of Bhutan, flaunts a height of 51.5 mtrs high, making it one of the largest Buddha statues in the world.
Personally, I find the statue looks most magnificent in daylight. It truly radiates peace and happiness to the world, and standing there, you can feel it resonate within you. The entire statue is made of bronze and gilded in gold, housing 125,000 smaller Buddha statues. The throne on which the Buddha sits is actually a meditation hall.
Tashichho Dzong
A must visit in Thimphu, the Tashichho Dzong, which is located close to the town, near the banks of the Wangchu river. The property has been beautifully decorated with lawns and gardens.
Today the Dzong includes the offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance. It also houses the throne room. We were lucky to witness the flag down ceremony, which occurs at 4:30 pm every evening (Image 3 to the right). Kindly note that the Dzong is open only on days when the King does not visit. During these days, the Dzong is open only from 5 to 6 pm in the evening for visitors. Opposite the Dzong, is the King's Residence, a small 2 bedroom house.
Takin, The national animal
The National Animal of Bhutan, Dong Gyem Tsey or Taken is a rare species and native to Bhutan. This animal resembles a mix of a goat, sheep, and a ram. The Jigme Dorji National Park houses this beautiful creature. A 30 min tour of the Takin reserve gives you enough information and lovely captures of this exotic animal.
To know more about this animal, please find attached link - http://www.himalaya2000.com/bhutan/national-symbols/national-animal.html
Drubthob Goemba Nunnery
This monastery also called the Zilukha nunnery is abode to approximately 80 nuns. It is located on the slopes and hence, gives you an excellent view of the golf course and Tashicho Dzong. The name Drubthob comes from the later founder of this monastery, who is known for constructing iron bridges and is very popular in the Tibetian Buddhist space.
Zangdopelri Lhakhang
This serene monastery was built by the Queen mother of Bhutan. When we visited this monastery, the inside temple was still under renovation. I believe the construction and renovation is completed now.
Day 3 - Thimphu/Paro
Visit National Museum
About an hour's drive and visit Bhutan's national museum, a fascinating place housed in an old watchtower above the huge Paro Dzong. Photos are prohibited inside the museum and hence, I don't have any to display to you. Take an hour long tour of the National Museum.
7th century Kitchu temple
Kitchu or also called Kyichu is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan and is an important Buddhist temple in the Paro district of Bhutan. It was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gempo.
It is believed that a giant demon hampered the spread of Buddhism because of its ghastly presence between Tibet and the Himalayas. To ensure that she is destroyed, the King decided to build 108 temples in one single day to bury the demon in the earth forever. The temple of Kitchu is said to have been built on the left foot of the demon.
Day 4 - Paro
Tiger's Nest
Tiger's Lair or Tiger's Nest also referred to as Taktsang Pelphung monastery, is one of the most decorated Bhutan monasteries. Perched on the sheer 900m cliff above the land Paro valley, this monastery is an magnificent sight and even more magnificent is the climb to the nest. The option is yours, you can either walk it up or ride mules/pony. All the mules/pony riders will be available at the base from where you start the trek. From the base which is at 2600m, the walk till the next pit-stop, a fully functional cafeteria is a steep one hour uphill.
The cafeteria is at a height of 2940m. From here, you will get a far better view of the Taktsang. After a good cup of tea and some biscuits, you got to be ready for the climb further uphill. Just a heads up, it took us 3.5 hours to trek up and another 2.5 hours to trek down this mountain on foot.
Day 5 – Paro
Day excursion to Chele La pass
After our oh so tiring day trek to Tiger's nest, it was time to make the last day the most memorable. Our guide Jigme planned the last day of our trip to one of the best tourist places in Paro. Though a long drive from the city, however the scenic beauty of the drive till the pass will keep you mesmerized. The pass is at an altitude of 3988 meters and it gets really cold as you inch closer to the peak. Make sure that you are well geared up with woollens and jackets to keep you warm from the cold icy winds.
Once you get to the pass, you wont notice any chorten or dzong, but multitudes of flag poles and prayer flags. A single tea vendor will come to your rescue with hot tea and thupka (noodles). As the route lies between Paro and Haa valley, you will be treated with mystic views of the snowcapped mountains and valleys of Paro and Haa.
Shopping in Bhutan
Crafted by the local artisans, the valley has a lot to offer tourists in terms of handmade garments, rugs, bags, musical instruments, magnets, jewellery, traditional dresses such as hand-made Kiras, Thankas, stoles etc. You may also ask your guide to take you to the National Museum of Textiles.
Norzim Lam street in Thimphu is the best place to buy souvenirs. Made from eco-friendly bamboo, these stores are open from 9 am to 7 pm in the evening.
Hand woven tapestries are very popular in Bhutan. They bring a unique sense of connection to the country's history and culture. You can explore the roots of Bhutan's culture in these markets. You can take back with you souvenirs like small Buddha statues and hand woven colourful boots. Bhutan also has a prosperous textile industry. With its range of signature textiles—cotton and nettles in Trongsa, sheep wool in Bumthang, silk and raw silk, and yak hair in the highlands, Bhutan has much to offer in this space. No wonder When Happiness is a Place, the first place that comes to your mind is Bhutan. 😉
Traditional Dress The hotel Terma Linca involves its guests in a traditional costume photo shoot, which helps you experience the traditional Bhutanese fashion scene. The dress provides warm insulation against the cold winds in winters. Men wear the Gho, which is tied around the waist by a belt called Kera. Women wear the Kira, which is a national dress for women in Bhutan.
What to Eat
While the food is inspired by Chinese, Indian and Tibetian flavours, the Bhutanese local cuisine still maintains to present its distinctive taste. Though, a normal tourist would have very limited options in terms of food that would cater to their taste, however, if stretched to venture beyond the usual and try new things, then Bhutan definitely has something unique to offer. 1. Red rice and Chilli Cheese preparation
A staple diet of the Bhutanese locals is the Red Rice with Ema Datshi (Potato Chilli Cheese) and Jasha Maroo (Spicy Chicken Curry).
2. Chicken Thupka
A local dish available in almost all restaurants and small eateries in Paro and Thimphu.
3. Pork with Chilli Cheese - A fiery stew with pork cooked with Kam Ema Datshi (Dried Bhutanese chilli cheese) and with Datshi, which is local Bhutanese cheese.
4. Chicken/Veg/Beef Momos
MoMo dumplings are usually made with yak, but beef is also eaten in Bhutan. Its not very common to get chicken and veg momos but off late due to heightened tourism,
5. Local Beer
Few of their local favourite beers are Druk 11000, Druk Premium Lager, Druk Supreme, Dragon Frost. · and Thunder 15000 Strong.
Where to Stay
We had booked our accommodation in:
Arriving at this gorgeous hotel, you're greeted by breathtaking views of the river and towering mountains, fresh air, and fragrant smells. Located far from the town's bustle, it features spacious rooms with traditional Bhutanese decor and stunning views. The clean, comfortable beds come with extra pillows and blankets. The dining area on the 1st floor can be challenging for seniors or those with disabilities due to the lack of a lift. Terma Linca is peaceful and relaxing, though its location requires a car or taxi for evening trips to town. Despite this, the food and service were exemplary, with delicious local cuisine and attentive staff. The bar by the river was a highlight, and breakfast was served to our preferences by the homestay's women, catering to our likes and dislikes.
Nak-sel Boutique is one of the finest resorts in Paro, just a 10-minute drive from the city. We chose this resort for its cleanliness, service, and spectacular views of Mt. Jumolhari and Tiger's Nest monastery. We stayed in a deluxe room with a private balcony in the cottage shown below. The resort features traditional architecture with modern amenities, and buggy service is available for spa and salon visits. The hotel has an Olive restaurant offering Indian, Bhutanese, and Western cuisines, along with a coffee house and bar. The restaurant's open terrace provides stunning views of Mt. Jumolhari.
Based on traveller reviews and ratings, 3 star hotels:
Thimphu – Hotel Phuntsho Pelri
Punakha – Zhingkham Resort
Paro – Hotel Olathang
4 star hotels:
Thimphu Hotel Osel
Paro Naksel Spa & Resort
I chose Booking.com for my Bhutan hotel stays. With its user-friendly interface and extensive selection of hotels, finding the perfect stay was effortless. For convenient booking, use my link. With competitive prices and reliable service, booking.com ensures a hassle-free experience.
Farewell Bhutan
And just when I was about to bid adieu to this Happy country, I realized we were just set to begin a journey of dreams...This country simply doesn't cease to amaze me ! The Druk Air flight that departs from Paro gives you the magnificent view of the great Himalayan Mountain ranges. On your return flight, kindly request for a seat on the right hand side of the plane. Trust me, you will get the best views !
Happy Holidaying :)
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