Kuzoozangpo
I recently visited Bhutan, and it was an experience, that I would recommend to satiate any of the traveler's soul out there. I am creating a series of blogs for details, this post is more generic of my itinerary and could be used to for the people who are planning a trip. Before traveling I did a very little research, and hence would only be able to put up things, basis the firsthand account only.
Bhutan has a population of around eight hundred thousand and a well maintained infrastructure to support that much (& not more). The major cities a traveler would be interested in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Jakar.
So to begin with how to reach this place. You must have read there are two options, via Paro or via Pheuntsholing(P/ling). You can book a direct flight from Druk Air to Paro, or can reach Bagdogra by flight and then take a cab, or a bus from Siliguri to P/ling. Indians dont need visa to enter Bhutan, but they require a permit, which can be received from any of these two places. I went through P/ling, considering the price difference in the direct flight to Paro, and the flight to Bagdogra.
Once I reached Bagdogra, straight away hailed a cab to P/ling. They will ask for 3K for a car like Swift, but can be easily bought down to 2500, and if pushed, then to 2.2K, and obviously this would depend a lot on the rush. Any ways, moved through beautiful raw Bengal on a pleasant day to reach P/ling by 7 PM Bhutanese time (BST).
On entering, you would have an altogether different feel, as the roads are cleaner, no honking (literally none) of horns, Zebra Crossings, no traffic lights, buildings of same (not similar, same) architecture.
Once, you reach and get your stay settled, you need to get a permit to enter the next day (details about P/ling in another post). Since the city is small, everything is more or less walk-able. The process for getting this permit is gruelling and one might want to get back and visit north east instead. You can also carry your vehicles and need a form and handwritten application for those too (not much idea about the driver's license). But determined to get into, we stood for the process. To my luck the queue was smaller, only about 50 people altogether in multiple queues for different process steps (details in different post).
You get a permit, you can now go to Thimphu and Paro, to go further you need to get another permit from Thimphu.
There are multiple check points, where these permits, will be checked, stamped, entried onto the system, etc. so keep it on your person.
Once you reach Thimphu (on the banks of Wangchoo river), there are ample hotels, would suggest staying near town center only. In rush season, get your hotels prebooked. I stayed in Gaykil near clocktower. Thimphu is a beautiful city, well maintained, and has a very unique touch to it, which no other hill city I have seen has. Local people wear traditional dress, gho (an overcoat), Kira (a rap-around for women), and I cant recall the name of the shirts, which women wear.
You reach Paro, it seems to be a much smaller place, but has a very similar feel to it, as of P/ling and Thimphu, as the buildings, roads, local cuisines, dresses, all are similar. Only difference is that all is on a much smaller scale, including the river (Paro Chuu). You go to Tiger's nest monastery from this town.
Thimphu to Paro by cab would be around 2 hrs, and they charge 1000 bucks for cab. You can share the cab, if you feel like. P/ling to Thimphu is around 5 hrs, 3K for a cab, 250 for a bus.
Bhutan does not sell any tobacco product, so for smokers, please carry your stock, and also, dont smoke in public. It is punishable offence.
Will cover the details of the cities along with places to go around in different posts on this blog only.
I recently visited Bhutan, and it was an experience, that I would recommend to satiate any of the traveler's soul out there. I am creating a series of blogs for details, this post is more generic of my itinerary and could be used to for the people who are planning a trip. Before traveling I did a very little research, and hence would only be able to put up things, basis the firsthand account only.
Bhutan has a population of around eight hundred thousand and a well maintained infrastructure to support that much (& not more). The major cities a traveler would be interested in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Jakar.
So to begin with how to reach this place. You must have read there are two options, via Paro or via Pheuntsholing(P/ling). You can book a direct flight from Druk Air to Paro, or can reach Bagdogra by flight and then take a cab, or a bus from Siliguri to P/ling. Indians dont need visa to enter Bhutan, but they require a permit, which can be received from any of these two places. I went through P/ling, considering the price difference in the direct flight to Paro, and the flight to Bagdogra.
Once I reached Bagdogra, straight away hailed a cab to P/ling. They will ask for 3K for a car like Swift, but can be easily bought down to 2500, and if pushed, then to 2.2K, and obviously this would depend a lot on the rush. Any ways, moved through beautiful raw Bengal on a pleasant day to reach P/ling by 7 PM Bhutanese time (BST).
On entering, you would have an altogether different feel, as the roads are cleaner, no honking (literally none) of horns, Zebra Crossings, no traffic lights, buildings of same (not similar, same) architecture.
Once, you reach and get your stay settled, you need to get a permit to enter the next day (details about P/ling in another post). Since the city is small, everything is more or less walk-able. The process for getting this permit is gruelling and one might want to get back and visit north east instead. You can also carry your vehicles and need a form and handwritten application for those too (not much idea about the driver's license). But determined to get into, we stood for the process. To my luck the queue was smaller, only about 50 people altogether in multiple queues for different process steps (details in different post).
You get a permit, you can now go to Thimphu and Paro, to go further you need to get another permit from Thimphu.
There are multiple check points, where these permits, will be checked, stamped, entried onto the system, etc. so keep it on your person.
Once you reach Thimphu (on the banks of Wangchoo river), there are ample hotels, would suggest staying near town center only. In rush season, get your hotels prebooked. I stayed in Gaykil near clocktower. Thimphu is a beautiful city, well maintained, and has a very unique touch to it, which no other hill city I have seen has. Local people wear traditional dress, gho (an overcoat), Kira (a rap-around for women), and I cant recall the name of the shirts, which women wear.
You reach Paro, it seems to be a much smaller place, but has a very similar feel to it, as of P/ling and Thimphu, as the buildings, roads, local cuisines, dresses, all are similar. Only difference is that all is on a much smaller scale, including the river (Paro Chuu). You go to Tiger's nest monastery from this town.
Thimphu to Paro by cab would be around 2 hrs, and they charge 1000 bucks for cab. You can share the cab, if you feel like. P/ling to Thimphu is around 5 hrs, 3K for a cab, 250 for a bus.
Bhutan does not sell any tobacco product, so for smokers, please carry your stock, and also, dont smoke in public. It is punishable offence.
Will cover the details of the cities along with places to go around in different posts on this blog only.
