I want to go to Bhutan with my family this year. Please let me know what is the best time to visit.I will be going with my wife and children. What are the not to be missed attractions in Bhutan? Can i get a package or instant booking would be a good option?
hi, October onwards is fine though it will be bit cold that time. Please book in advance and go. There are plenty of tourists there esp foreign tourists and accommodations are not that plenty. The main attractions are several old monasteries like the Punakha monastery, Takhtsang monastery etc. Just go thru one of the numerous websites dedicated to Bhutan tourism. And do try out the local food during your visit. Hope you will make the trip and be happy about it.
How To Go There : you can take the train from Calcutta to Siliguri (NEW Jalpaiguri station) from there you can hire a vehicle to Jaigaon border town of India from here you can go to Bhutan. And you can also fly from Calcutta to Paro,permits will be issued at the airport.
PERMITS: you will have to take permits there. If you have valid passport you can take permits directly from Bhutan consulate otherwise show your identity proof take clearance from Indian Embassy office then go to Bhutanese consulate and take permit(both are in Phuntsholing, adjoining Bhutanese town). please take permits for all the places you want to see (mainly Thimpu,Paro,Punakha and Wangdu), for people coming by flight permits will be given at Paro airport. Important: You have to engage a vehicle for the entire trip from Jaigaon,it is better if you take a Bhutanese vehicle so that he will look after everything for you including permits. Of course locals will also do it but Bhutanese driver will be a good guide and escort. Sometimes on the way you will be thoroughly searched.
We went to Bhutan in October ’08, we were a batch of six people, We set out from Calcuuta by Darjeeling mail and reached New Jalpaiguri , from there we went to Jaigaon by a taxi. We stayed for the day there and obtained permits our visit to Thimpu and Paro. Next day after an early lunch we engaged a taxi from Jaigaon. The road from Jaigaon to Thimpu is very bumpy, in fact road widening work was going on, it took us 9 hours journey to reach Thimpu. We rested there for the night. Next day morning I went along with the driver to take permit for our Punakha visit. You have to show the permit obtained atPhuentsholing and submit some papers there ,they will give permits in the evening. After that we went on a local sightseeing, you find all the buildings with same traditional exteriors. Even our hotel building is with the same exteriors, but the interiors are plush like any modern hotel. They charge you like any of our hill station hotels. You will get Indian and western food there. Bottled water is costly around Rs 36 per bottle. Next day morning we set out for Punakha, it was really a pleasant journey, as the eyes travels across the valley floor and the slopes, dotted here and there the farm houses made of brick or stone and finished with white-washed plaster. Adding to the scenario are the rivulets and mountain streams that sparklingly gurgle their way over rocks .you will see snow peaked mountains on the way, the driver stopped the vehicle at a view point . We reached Punakha around ten in the morning. There is a monastery and it is very picturesque, the monastery across a swooshing river,with an ancient wooden bridge. The location is very beautiful. You have to submit your permit papers there (to be obtained in Thimpu).After visiting the monastery we had our lunch there. We returned to Thimpu and spent ourevening in shopping in Thimpu. Next day morning we started for Paro, on the way we have seen the tiny beautiful airport of Bhutan. The location and its size are very beautiful. Paro is a small beautiful sleepy town,you can enjoy the nature there. We stayed there for a day.The spectrum of colours in Nature is reinforced by the traditional sartorial attire of Bhutanese, which is equally bright and colorful. The art and architecture of Bhutan is resembles its religion Mahayana Buddhism.If you have stamina liking for trekking you can hike to the Taktshang Monastry that perches on a cliff, Bhutan’s most enchantingsight which is also called Tigers Nest. we went around the town and witnessed some school function. Next day morning we set out for Jaigaon and reched Jaigaon by two in the afternoon. Bhutan is la colourful country, with little and orderly traffic. People are very soft and friendly. Bhutan is moderately costly like any hill station in India. Thimpu is such a small city , it takes half an hour to walk from one end of its main street to the other end. They adore the Royal family of Bhutan. Pollution levels are very low in Bhutan. I did not see a Temple or Mosque or Church in my entire stay in Bhutan. Rice is their staple food. Bhutan offers variety to the tourists there are nature treks, mountain biking, bird watching and water rafting, spring is the season for these activities. Bhutan is the mountain kingdom where you find nature at its best.Bhutan is a bit costly place like i said earlier,hotelrooms with goodfecilities will cost you around Rs 2000 to 2500.food cost will like any of our hill stations in India.you have very good number of hotels in Thimu and Paro.Taxis from Jaigaon to Bhutan will Charge you around Rs 2000 to 2500 per day.
