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Unlike Western countries, Bhutanese accommodations have no star ratings. However the standard hotels, lodges and guesthouses are usually good, often small and with a great ambiance. The more popular tourist destinations like Western and Central Bhutan usually have the higher standards of star rated European and Asian properties. In the less traveled areas of Eastern Bhutan the standard accommodations are modest but adequate. These family owned accomodations vary widely and have improved greatly over the years. Since Bhutan’s Eastern region is being discovered by travelers, more and better hotels are built every year. There are a few very luxury hotels and resorts, but they are rather expensive.
In Bhutan it’s custom that your accommodation is centrally allocated and this can even happen last minute. Also Bhutanese accommodations are not always sufficient for the growing number of tourists, especially during the main festivals. This means you can be allotted another hotel.
All hotel rooms are decorated in a traditional Bhutanese style, cozy and well-heated during the winter. The Western style bathrooms are clean with running hot and cold water. The hotel’s restaurants not only serve traditional Bhutanese cuisine, but also that of many other countries, customized to the Western taste. Meals are usually served in buffet style.
TRAVELLING AHEAD OF THE MASSES
Bhutan is one of the rare countries in the world where you can still travel ahead of the masses. For centuries Bhutan lived completely isolated from the outer world and it’s only since the 1970’s that tourism is possible. To safeguard its rich natural environment, religion and culture, the country has consciously adopted a controlled tourism and development policy. Although there is no longer a restriction on visitor numbers; all tourists have to pay a minimum daily tariff of approximately 200 US dollars, fixed by the government. This automatically regulates the number of tourists.
All tourists (group or individual) must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided package tour or custom designed travel program. You cannot travel independently in the kingdom. The arrangements must be made through an officially approved tour operator, either directly or through an overseas agent. If you make it to Bhutan, you can expect a first class treatment in the hotels and during trekkings.
Travel tip: Book your travel as early as possible, especially during high season and festivals. This ensures you will get a good hotel and confirmed Druk Air flight seats. If you want to travel to Bhutan for the festivals, you must book your tour four to five months in advance. If you are traveling for different seasons, book your tour two to three months in advance.
- Travelling to Bhutan
You can enter Bhutan by plane through the internationals airports of Bangkok (Thailand), Calcutta/Kolkata (India), Gaya (India), Siliguri (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Yangon (Myanmar, former Birma) or Kathmandu (Nepal). Paro Airport in the south west of the country, Read more.....
Travelling in Bhutan
Bhutan knows no trains or domestic flights, so you can only travel by car or bus in Bhutan. The country has a relatively well developed network of roads accessing all major towns. However, most roads are small and badly or not at all paved and unlit. Read more.....
Travelling from Bhutan
If you want to purchase old and used items (100 years or older), be cautious. The Bhutanese customs authorities strictly monitor the export of any religious antiquities or antiques of any kind from the Kingdom. You’re not allowed to take items out of the country which haven’t been officially certified as non-antique. Read more.....
Travel Documents
You need a valid passport to enter Bhutan. Make sure it has sufficient empty pages for stamps, especially if you are travelling via India or Nepal. Also make sure your passport isn’t about to expire (six months or less). Read more.....
Costs - The Bhutanese government has set a non negotiable minimum daily tariff. The daily tariff includes all of your accommodation, food, land transport within Bhutan, services of guides and porters, supply of pack animals on treks and cultural programs as appropriate. Read more.....
Just like the many different landscapes, Bhutanese cuisine is just as varied and splendid and every region knows its own speciality. Dairy foods, in particular butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are very popular. A lot of meat and poultry like chicken, pork, beef, goat, mutton and yak is consumed, as well as fish. These are usually served in the form of stews (tshoem), with in it a wide variety of fresh vegetables and spices like cardamom, ginger, caraway and turmeric. All meals are accompanied by white rice (ha chum) or pink-red rice (eue chum), which is steamed or boiled. Besides rice also buckwheat and maize are used.
If there’s one thing typical for Bhutanese cuisine, it is that the Bhutanese love it spicy! Chillies are not considered to be a seasoning, but a true and valuable vegetable. Therefore traditional Bhutanese food is lavishly spiced with dried or fresh red and green chillies. How can it be any other way than that Bhutan’s favorite ingredient is processed in its national dish? While in Bhutan, you ought to try the national dish of Ema-Datsi, consisting of ema (chilli) cooked in datsi (cheese). Everybody has their own interpretations of this recipe and it will excite your senses for sure!
Bhutanese peppers.
If you don’t like it so spicy, don’t be worried. Most of Bhutan’s professional chefs take into account the Western less spicy taste. You can choose from Continental to Chinese, and from Bhutanese to Tibetan and Indian cuisine. Most hotels offer dinner in buffet style.
Although (sweet milk) tea is a popular beverage in Bhutan, most people prefer Sura. This saltered butter tea is served on all social occasions. Regarding water, you should better not drink tap water, but choose mineral water. During trekkings the water is boiled and therefore safe to drink. Regarding alcohol, the chang (local beer) and arra (a spirit distilled from rice, maize, wheat or barley) are common and very much favored. They are easily available in bars, exept on Tuesday (dry day). The legal drinking age is 18 years and above. Doma (betel nut) is offered as a customary gesture of greeting. Since 2004 Bhutan is the world’s only country where public smoking is prohibited. If you’re a smoker, you’re allowed however to import tobacco to use indoors, but you have to pay an import tax of 100%.
Tip: when you’re offered food, you can say “meshu meshu“, covering your mouth with the hands in refusal according to Bhutanese manners, and then give in on the second or third offer.
Hot link
http://thinley.tripod.com/recipe/Herbivore.html#emadatshi
Or check http://www.asiarecipe.com/bhumain.html for Bhutan meat dishes recipes.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Bhutanese culture and Buddhist influence go hand-in-hand. The influence of religion is highly visible in every day life and is a major reason for Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural legacy. The hundreds of sacred monasteries, stupas, religious institutions, prayer flags and prayer wheels make Buddhism a faith that nowadays still is very alive and probably always will be in the kingdom. Not only this makes Bhutan a very authentic country; it is also because of the traditional woven garments the people wear, the typical robust yet refined architecture and the splendid cultural festivals which are steeped in Buddhism. All of these combined make Bhutan into a unique cultural setting.
All religious ceremonies and rituals (and there are many!) are regularly performed, with reverence for all of life. All Bhutanese families go on a pilgrimage on auspicious days, offering prayers and butter lamps to the gods of the Himalayas. National and regional festivals coincide with the seasons, happening all year round.
Bhutan might globally be a small country, yet it holds a very strong identity and unity. The rich cultural heritage is strongly promoted by its government. Although modernisation is slowly making its way, generating urban settlements and introducing computers, mobile phones and other Western modernities, most of Bhutans people still live quietly in small remote villages. The predominant way of life are small family farms and Bhutan’s number one occupation is being a farmer.
Sacred animal faced traditional dancer
- National Symbols
Everywhere in the country, you’ll find Bhutan’s mythology expressed in many different ways. Most striking is the name its inhabitants have for the kingdom: Druk Yul, literally meaning ‘land of the thunder dragon’ in Bhutanese mythology.Read more.....
- Architecture
Talk about Bhutan and you talk automatically about Buddhism. This religion is integrated in all aspects of the country, including architecture. Typical is the degree of uniformity: all structures correspond with traditional designs. Read more.....
- Traditional Dress
Bhutan’s culture is very much alive and expressed in everything, including the traditional clothing its people have been wearing for centuries. While machine milled traditional clothing is popular for daily wear, the traditionally woven dress is worn on all formal occasions including working in the office. Read more.....
- Art
Bhutans unique spirit and identity is also reflected in the arts and crafts, which are all religiously rooted. Three characteristics are typical for Bhutanese art: it has no independent aesthetic function, it is religious and anonymous. Read more..... - National Sports
Bhutans absolute # 1 sport is archery. Each village has its' own archery range and every festival knows a high-spirited competition. Archery tournaments happen all through the year on local, inter-village and national level. Read more.....
- Festivals
- Bhutan’s colourful festivals definitely will leave a big impression on all visitors. Although they are very joyful and the local alcohol arra is drunk abundantly, all festivals are holy spiritual events and its attendees gain merit for the next life. Read more.....
