The Kingdom of Bhutan is a state of 46,000 square meters. km, which borders with India and China.
Capital thimphu
City buildings are made in a single national style. The main attraction is considered to be the largest monastery in Bhutan - Trashi Chho Dzong. In winter, the government of the country is located in it, and in summer - a religious leader with a retinue of two thousand monks. In the capital, there is the Royal Art School, the Institute of Traditional Medicine, the largest in the Himalayas, a national library that stores ancient manuscripts in Tibetan languages, a small reserve Motitan Taking, a rich and huge city market.
Near Thimphu lies the conservation area of the Jigme Dorji National Park . Here you can find more than 30 species of animals and 300 species of birds. Hiking routes of varying difficulty are laid in the park.
Kingdom of Himalayan happiness
Bhutan is a state that has abandoned widespread globalization. Only in 1974 the country became available to foreigners. Tours to Bhutan for citizens of Russia and the CIS are provided only in an organized manner with a guide. Without him, all movement around the kingdom is prohibited. A group visa is issued only - 60 dollars per person. Bhutan is not a state for individual tourism.
A day's stay for a traveler will cost $ 250. This includes food, overnight, transport, local guide services. There are no direct flights from Moscow yet, only with landing in Bangkok or New Delhi. A flight will cost about two thousand dollars.
Tours in Bhutan are all combined. These include visits to monasteries and temples, admiring the natural beauties and festivals.
Bhutan is a state professing the philosophy of “Happiness is to be here!”, And even sophisticated tourists who have seen a lot are amazed by the very friendly welcome of local residents and the atmosphere of universal love and joy that prevails in the country.
Money
Coins of Bhutan are quite rare and are used in small private shops and markets. Denomination - 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 chetrum. The monetary unit of Bhutan ngultrum (denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 100, 500) is tied to the Indian rupee. She is also in constant circulation in the country. One dollar costs 45.71 ngultrum (BTN), and it is equal to 100 chetrum (Ch).
The Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon has two banks with branches located throughout the country. There you can exchange currency and traveller's checks. This can also be done in most hotels. Bank transfer and ATMs are not available. Banks are open from 10 to 13 hours, except Saturday and Sunday. But small offices are open on weekends at the same hours.
Ngultrum may be needed to purchase small souvenirs, as holidays in Bhutan and tourist services are carried out on an all-inclusive basis, and money is practically not needed.
Purchases
Most trinkets (fish, figurines, key holders, etc.) are made of bronze. The main souvenir is rice paper. The main pride of Bhutanese are brands of different sizes and colors with state symbols. A good purchase would be a male or female national outfit. It is created manually for six months and is expensive.
It is not accepted to bargain in markets and shops, although for the sake of communicating with customers, Bhutanese may provide some discount. It can be hinted at, but not required in an ultimatum form.
Tipping in the country is not given. However, the attendants will not refuse them.
Flag
It is a cloth of yellow and orange right triangles. In the center is a white dragon. The flag of Bhutan was adopted in 1969. Yellow color means secular royal authority, orange - adherence to Buddhism. The white dragon, the symbol of Bhutan, personifies purity. The Tibetan name for the country is Druk, which means thunder dragon.
Health
When traveling to Bhutan, you need to have full comprehensive insurance that can cover transportation costs (helicopter evacuation) and medical assistance. This service is not available in the country. No special vaccinations are provided for travel, but you can get vaccination against tetanus, cholera, malaria, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A. It is advisable to consult a physician before the trip.
Untrained tourists, when climbing even along a simple route (altitude 2500 m), altitude sickness can begin.
All water used for oral administration must be boiled. Outside the capital, only bottled liquid should be used. Vegetables should be washed thoroughly, peeled fruits.
Since 2004, a smoking ban has been introduced in Bhutan. The fine is 175 euros. The ban does not apply to foreign tourists.
There are many hospitals in the kingdom, and medicines are made in each. Among the local population there are cases of leprosy. Leprozorium is located in the vicinity of Thimphu.
All areas of the country have their own rescue services, their phone numbers are in local directories.
Communication
Pay phones are available only in large cities. Meeting points are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., except weekends. Bhutan’s mobile network uses the GSM-900. The only company - B-Mobile - covers the area of large cities. In the mountains, mobile communications are often unavailable. Roaming is available to Russian users of large mobile operators.
Internet access in the kingdom is somewhat limited. But this area is developing rapidly. In large cities, there are Internet cafes, and hotels have their own access points.
Television is prohibited in Bhutan. Receivers are used to watch movies. But the hotels are equipped with satellite TV, providing a large selection of channels.
Weather
The climate is almost always comfortable, but the best time to visit is spring or autumn. Summer is not very hot - no higher than 25 degrees. It rains infrequently at night. The local population considers the climate of their country to be cold, so chili peppers are present in all dishes. It is even served as an independent dish.
National cuisine
A very spicy dish - hemadatsi from cheese and chili. Kevadatsi from potatoes, cheese and chili and shamudatsi from mushrooms, cheese and chili are not inferior to it. In Bhutan, they like red rice with a nutty flavor and stewed vegetables with herbs, fern and spinach. On the table there are fish, meat (pork and beef) and chicken. The only spicy dish is momo, a cross between dumplings and dumplings. A lot of fruits. From drinks offered local vodka - macaw, which is made from rice, wheat beer and tea with Susa butter. Sometimes salt and pepper are added to it. Locals eat with their hands, sitting on the floor.
Features
Bhutan on the map is represented by a large number of reserves, but their territories are often closed to tourists. Thus, the authorities take care of the privacy of the monasteries and preserve the local flora and fauna.
The duty of Bhutanese is to wear national clothes. They are very hospitable, religious, hardworking and polite. About 90% of the population can read and write. Just ten years ago, a decree banning the physical punishment of students was issued. Previously, they twisted their eyelids, ears, beat on the palms and fingers with a pointer. Today, education in Bhutan is free. Schoolchildren walk in uniform. Higher education Butanians get in India, and more often in Europe.
Three-star hotels in the interior of the country tend to provide good service. The most luxurious hotel is the five-star Taj Tashi in Thimphu. This is a five-story building in a traditional style. The rooms are decorated with black carved wood and mosaics. Everywhere paintings of Buddha and huge chandeliers.
Festivals are very often held in spring and autumn. Dances and theatrical performances have been unchanged for several centuries. People believe that by looking at dancing one can achieve enlightenment. Having put on the best clothes, the population gathered at the monasteries still before dawn. The most populous festivals are held in large cities - Paro, Thimphu, Bumtan. In addition, there are other religious holidays - Buddha’s birthday, Buddha’s departure to nirvana, birthdays and days of death of all kings.