The ancient Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan charms its visitors with a unique traditional Buddhist culture and unspoiled mountainous nature. There are plenty of colorful traditional and religious festivals in Bhutan to attend. Active travelers can trek in the beautiful Himalayan mountains of Bhutan and the jungles of its southern lowlands offer possibilities for rafting and birdwatching.
Traditional Buddhist Kingdom located in the Himalayan mountains between India and China, Bhutan is considered one of the least developed nations in the World. However, in different kind of statistics, Bhutan appears as one of the happiest nations in the World. Tourism in Bhutan started as late as in the 1970s and is regulated by the government to protect the traditional culture and nature of the country. Some 20,000 tourists annually are allowed to visit the Land of the Thunder Dragon, as Bhutanese themselves call their tiny country.
Outdoor wonderland. With stunning mountain views of the Himalayas, ancient hillside fortresses, untouched forests and lush tropical jungles, trekking in Bhutan is another very popular activity. The untouched nature of Bhutan is home to endangered animals such as Snow Leopards, Tigers and Red Pandas, and the lush tropical forests of southern Bhutan offer great possibilities for rafting and birdwatching in Bhutan.
How to get there. Visitors travel to Bhutan mainly by air, and most of the tourism arrivals to Bhutan are via Paro airport that receives flights to Bhutan from India and Nepal. There are also a few land border crossings to Bhutan from India. Visas are required from all foreign visitors except Indian nationals.
Traditional Buddhist Kingdom located in the Himalayan mountains between India and China, Bhutan is considered one of the least developed nations in the World. However, in different kind of statistics, Bhutan appears as one of the happiest nations in the World. Tourism in Bhutan started as late as in the 1970s and is regulated by the government to protect the traditional culture and nature of the country. Some 20,000 tourists annually are allowed to visit the Land of the Thunder Dragon, as Bhutanese themselves call their tiny country.
Tourist attractions in Bhutan: trekking, historic sites, nature and culture
Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage is surely the main reason to visit the country. The Bhutanese traditions have remained intact due to the country’s isolation that lasted into the late 1900s. Regular cultural events and festivals in Bhutan are one of the highlights of any visit to Bhutan and should definitely not be missed.Outdoor wonderland. With stunning mountain views of the Himalayas, ancient hillside fortresses, untouched forests and lush tropical jungles, trekking in Bhutan is another very popular activity. The untouched nature of Bhutan is home to endangered animals such as Snow Leopards, Tigers and Red Pandas, and the lush tropical forests of southern Bhutan offer great possibilities for rafting and birdwatching in Bhutan.
Bhutan travel information and practical tips
The climate of Bhutan varies with altitude, from the tropical lowlands in the South to temperate highlands and alpine high mountains with year-round snow in the North. There is a rainy season in Bhutan between May and September with a heavy monsoon between June and August. The best time to visit Bhutan is in Autumn (September–November) or Spring (March-May).How to get there. Visitors travel to Bhutan mainly by air, and most of the tourism arrivals to Bhutan are via Paro airport that receives flights to Bhutan from India and Nepal. There are also a few land border crossings to Bhutan from India. Visas are required from all foreign visitors except Indian nationals.
Photo: jmhullot, used under Creative Commons License (By SA 2.0)
Independent travel is prohibited in Bhutan, so you need to travel with a prearranged and prepaid travel package.
Limited services. The availability of hotels in Bhutan is limited. Thimphu and Paro have the most accommodation options as well as the most restaurants in Bhutan. Nightlife options do not really exist. Renting a car in Bhutan is only possible with a local driver and as part of a preplanned itinerary. With non-existent crime levels, Bhutan is considered one of the safest countries in the world.
Short history of Bhutan
According to archaeological evidence, Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2,000 BC. Buddhism has been the main religion in Bhutan since 700 AC and religion still forms an integral part of everyday life in Bhutan. Different Buddhist sects ruled their own parts of the country with help of Mongols and Tibetans. In early 1600s Bhutan was unified by a Tibetan lama. Tibetans and Mongols attacked Bhutan twice in the 1700s but did not conquer the country. Bhutan had a war against British India between 1864 and 1865. In 1907 a first king was elected and many nations recognized Bhutan's independence. Major political and modernization reforms were made in the 1990s, including lifting the ban on television and Internet. With a new king elected in 2006, Bhutan is now becoming a democracy and had its first elections in 2008.hint See also these nearby destinations: Sikkim
