Ultimate guide to Bhutan

Ultimate guide to Bhutan

Bhutan! A country nestled in the Himalayas, known for its stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and commitment to sustainable tourism. If you are looking for an ultimate Bhutan travel guide, look no further. All the details you need about traveling to the kingdom of Bhutan is compiled in this travel guide. Includes: Currency How to get around Places to visit Hotel recommendations Got questions? Reach out to me on Instagram(@ishitakhe) or email me at ishitaconcordant12@gmail.com
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Currency

The currency of Bhutan is the Bhutanese but the Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee (INR), which is also widely accepted in Bhutan.

Both cash and cards are widely accepted everywhere including hotels, restaurants etc.

1 Bhutanese Ngultrum = 0.99 Indian Rupee=0.012 USD

How to get around

Bhutan lacks public transport and rail connectivity. Hiring a taxi for one week is the only way to get around the country.

Note: Indians have to take a package group tour to Bhutan with local guides and can't backpack or travel on their own. 

Tourists can either fly to Paro airport or enter through road via Bagdogra.

Places to visit

Paro

Paro Taktsang
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Legend has it that Padmasambhava, the ‘Second Buddha’, meditated here for three months when he brought Buddhism to Bhutan. He’s said to have arrived on a flying tiger; for those without such transportation, a steep, two-hour climb is the only way it can be reached.
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Thimphu

National Memorial Chorten རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་རྗེས་དྲན་མཆོད་རྟེན།
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Iconic Buddhist stupa featuring a gilded spire, a vase-shaped upper story & 4 ornate portal.
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Buddha Dordenma Statue སྟོན་པ་རྡོར་གདན་མ།
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Towering Buddha statue overlooking the valley & perched above a temple filled with art & exhibits.
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Dechen Phodrang Monastery བདེ་ཆེན་ཕོ་བྲང་།
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Buddhist complex in a mountain landscape with a monastic school & centuries-old chapel mural.
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Folk Heritage Museum Kawajangsa
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the Folk Heritage Museum immerses visitors in the rich tapestry of Bhutanese folk heritage and rural history. With its captivating exhibits bringing medieval Bhutan to life, a visit to this museum is essential to completing your journey through Bhutan.
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Tashichho Dzong
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Tashichho Dzong, ‘Fortress of the Glorious Religion’ or ‘Fortress of Auspicious Doctrine’, or popularly known as Thimphu Dzong, is an impressive structure that houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance
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Dochula Pass
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The Dochu La ( Dochu Pass, la means pass in Dzongkha) is a mountain pass in the snow-covered Himalayas within Bhutan on the road from Thimphu to Punakha where 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens"
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Punakha

Punakha Dzong སྤུ་ན་ཁ་རྫོང་།
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Imposing palace & fortress dating to the 17th century in a serene setting overlooking the river.
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Suspension bridge
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Chimi Lhakhang
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Built in 1499, this Buddhist monastery features a statue of Lama Kunley & a wooden phallus.
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Hotel recommendations

Thimphu

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Phuntsho Khangsar Hotel
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The Willows Hotel
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Paro

My personal recommendation

I personally stayed in Nirvana Lodge with my family, and we absolutely loved it. Its situated very close to the tiger's nest monastery.

Nirvana Lodge
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Situated very close to the Tigers nest monastery in a peaceful setting having cosy and beautiful interior and a friendly host.
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Hotel Khamsum
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Paro Eco Lodge
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Punakha

Nobgang B&B Restaurant
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Chechey Homestay
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Spirit Village Lodge
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Food recommendations

Hotel Druk Thimphu Bhutan
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Do try the delicious Bhutanese red rice, thukpa soup and ema datshi before you leave Bhutan.
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I hope you enjoyed this guide and found it helpful. Do reach out to ishitaconcordant12@gmail.com for any questions

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Travelling in a big and diverse country like India can be challenging. But I am here to guide you through every step of planning and research to explore this beautiful country. Hello wanderers, I am Ishita Khemariya and I have traveled extensively in many parts of India, exploring its vast majestic landscapes, learning about its diverse culture, history and people. I am the person to trust when it comes to planning your perfect India trip. If it's your first time in India, you can be assured of having a great time. I know all about the overrated tourist hotspots which you should skip and also about the hidden gems which are not found on tourist maps. I'm thrilled to share my knowledge and tips into my detailed, practical, and exciting travel guides. I will leave no stone unturned in curating your dream vacation. ✅ Whom am I suitable for: Travelers looking for offbeat travel, vegetarian/vegan sustainable travel, budget travelers, couples, backpackers, and slow travelers who enjoy soaking in authentic local experiences. ❌ What I'm not a great fit for: Travelers focused on partying and luxury travel. It brings me so much joy to know that these guides can help you and your loved ones have the most memorable travel experiences possible. Make sure you find me on social media. Let's connect. Happy travels, and I'll see you on the road.
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