Bhutan: A kingdom of happiness

From the inspiring beauty of Paro Valley to the streets of Thimphu, Bhutan is a Himalayan kingdom where people pride themselves on their happiness quotient. Situated close to the border of West Bengal, Bhutan is the shortest distance foreign land that can be visited. Bhutan looks as a unique piece of land surrounded by wall of mountains. It looks like a fantasy ending at Paro Airport, an international gateway to Bhutan, is locked by land on all sides. Bhutan is the last kingdom in the world by neighbouring countries like China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sikkim. Bhutan is rich for its scenic beauty making it a tourist destination. The flavours of the country are vibrant, red chillies are an ingredient in every Bhutanese dish. Ghos and Kiras are the national dresses of Bhutan.

The Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan is known as Land of thunder Dragon due to the experience of storms because of Himalayas. The country is blessed with nature’s form of rivers flowing through different parts of the country. Scenic surroundings and peaceful environment are not only factors that encourage 

Bhutan tourism. The culture dominated by old traditions, rich heritage of local people and lifestyle make the country a charming place.

Plums cafe and Druk in Thimphu serve traditional Bhutanese fare like Chicken chowmein, delicious momos, spicy Datshi (national dish of Bhutan) in different versions. In the streets of Thimphu, there is a Swiss Bakery that offers delicious almond cakes and rum cakes. The hotels in the country offer picturesque view of the mountains and access to shopping and entertainment. The clock tower road in Thimphu has variety of shops selling antiques and grocery items. The textile is world famous and is quite expensive. A weekend market takes place from Friday to Sunday, on both sides of Wang Chhu.

Bhutan tour packages are available to visitors for tourism and as it is one of the romantic places. For honeymoon couples, Bhutan trip is enthralling. A stroll through the towns and cities can be an unforgettable experience for you. Bhutan is a land that can be explored in your way. One can go for scenic nature or explore the big cities and restaurants. In Bhutan, one does not need a travel guide, but one can visit top sites like Paro, Phutentsholing and Punakha. One can go for an elephant ride or jungle safari and can then start for Phutentsholing. Evening is the time to explore local markets. Other places like Buddha View Point, Memorial Chorten, National Library and Punakha Dzong are the site scenes which are included in the package.

The best time to visit Bhutan is from October to May when the climate is sunny, as in December and January snow may block mountains, and travel is therefore restricted.

How to reach Bhutan?

By road: Bhutan can be reached from west Bengal. Buses and cars are available from Siliguri. One can take Jalpaiguri train to Phutentsholing, it takes three hours to reach the station.

By flight: Flight to Paro international airport is available from Delhi, Kolkata and Kathmandu.