BHUTAN
Main Destinations
Paro - Beautiful valley, home to some of the oldest Bhutan temples and monasteries, major air hub
Lying in its own beautiful valley, Paro is home to some of Bhutan’s oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries, and is the main hub for travel into and around the kingdom. The seat of Paro District, the city hosts the kingdom’s only international airport, and is the second largest city in Bhutan. At an altitude of 2,195 meters, on average, this stunning city has a population of only around 11,500 people, yet is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, thanks mainly to the wealth of temples and monasteries that can be visited in the valley.
Thimphu - capital of Bhutan, center of government, religion and commerce
The modern capital of Bhutan, Thimphu is the largest city in the kingdom and is located in the central western part of Bhutan. Thimphu replaced the former ancient capital of Punakha in 1955, and lies on the western bank of the Wang Chu, also known as the Raida River. The fourth highest capital city in the world at an altitude of 2,248-2,648 meters, the capital is unusual for being a capital city without its own airport, relying on Paro International Airport, around 54 kilometers away.
Punakha - former capital of Bhutan
The administrative center of the Punakha District, Punakha City was once the capital of Bhutan, until it was moved to Thimphu in 1955. At an elevation of only 1,200 meters, the area is warm in winter and hot in summer, making it one of the most popular destinations in Bhutan for international trekkers. Two major rivers flow through the district, the Pho Chu and the Mo Chu, and the valleys they flow along are the main areas for rice growing in the kingdom, and it is famous for growing the unique red rice that Bhutan is famous for.
Wangdue Phorng - beautiful place in central Bhutan
The capital town of the Wangdue Phorng district in central Bhutan, Wangdue Phorng takes its name from the dzong that was built in the district in 1638, which was given by the first Shabadrang Rinpoche, Ngawang Namgyal, and named after a boy that he found playing by the river. The name mean’s “Wangdi’s Palace”, the name of the boy, and the dzong was built to prevent incursions from India to the south.
Trongsa - central hub of Bhutan with spectacular landscape and dzongs
Known as the “Vanguard of the Warriors”, Trongsa Dzongkhag is located in central Bhutan and was once a crucial location for controlling the ancient kingdom because of its unique strategic location. The Dzong lies on a steep ridge with stunning views of the deep valleys that surround it, an impressive sight visible from anywhere in the town. The town and Dzong were the traditional seats of power in the district for the Wangchuck family before they were proclaimed the Royal Family of Bhutan in 1907, and the dzong controlled the trade between east and west in Bhutan for centuries.
Trongsa - central hub of Bhutan with spectacular landscape and dzongs
Known as the “Vanguard of the Warriors”, Trongsa Dzongkhag is located in central Bhutan and was once a crucial location for controlling the ancient kingdom because of its unique strategic location. The Dzong lies on a steep ridge with stunning views of the deep valleys that surround it, an impressive sight visible from anywhere in the town. The town and Dzong were the traditional seats of power in the district for the Wangchuk family before they were proclaimed the Royal Family of Bhutan in 1907, and the dzong controlled the trade between east and west in Bhutan for centuries.
Pedestaling - a booming small border city close to India
A booing border town in southern Bhutan, pedestaling is the main overland entry point from the Indian State of West Bengal. Lying opposite the Indian town of Jalgaon, this small but prestigious town is the administrative seat of the Chuha Dzongkhag and has a thriving local economy from the cross-border trade with West Bengal. Despite being a relatively small town, it has a permanent population of around 28,000 people, many of whom run or work in businesses related to Indian and international tourism.
The Location
Adventure Bhutan, a virtual guide to the "land of the dragon", officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, a small, land-locked nation in Asia, located in the eastern Himalaya mountains south of China (Xizang - Tibet Autonomous Region), bordering the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, it is also bordered by Nepal and Bangladesh. The country controls several key Himalayan Mountain passes.
Main Airport
Paro International Airport (Dzongkha: སྤ་རོ་གནམ་ཐང༌ Paro gam thang) (IATA: PBH, ICAO: VQPR) is the sole international airport of the four airports in Bhutan. It is 6 km (3.7 mi; 3.2 Nmi) from Paro in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chu.
Capital City
Thimphu also spelled Thimbu, capital of Bhutan. The city, situated in the west-central part of the country, is in the Himalayan Mountains on the Raida (also called Thimphu, or Wong) River at about 7,000 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level.
Language Spoken
The national language is Dzongkha, the native language of the Gallops of western Bhutan. Dzongkha literally means the language spoken in the Dzongs, massive fortresses that serve as administrative centers and monasteries. Two other major languages are the Shalakha and the Huthmacher.
Currency
The ngultrum ,Dzongkha, symbol: Nu., code: BTN) is the currency of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is subdivided into 100 chetrums (Dzongkha: ཕྱེད་ཏམ [pt͡ɕʰɛ́ˈtám], spelled as chetrums on coins until 1979). The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan is the minting authority of the ngultrum banknotes and coins. The ngultrum is currently pegged to the Indian rupee at parity
Emergency Calls
Ambulance 112
Fire 110
Police 113
Peak Season
Spring
The peak tourist seasons in Bhutan are Spring: March-May and Fall: September - November. In particular, March, April, October, and November are especially busy. If you're considering visiting during these months, it's best to book your tour package and flight tickets at least 3 months ahead to ensure your reservation.
Low Season
June to August — Monsoon / Low Season
TEMPERATURE
There is a significant seasonal range in temperatures: the summer months of June – August average temperatures of 24°C -29°C, compared to the winter months of December – February which are near 0°C, for the most recent climatology, 1991-2020.
Highlights: Between June and August, the weather in Bhutan is quite wet, but it rains more during the night. Just carry an umbrella and a raincoat around with you if you must visit Bhutan in these months.