10 Places to visit in Bhutan

Find out the best places to visit in Bhutan and the things to know before you arrive.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a beautiful country situated in the southern lower regions of the Himalayan Mountains sandwiched between the People’s Republic of China in the north and the Republic of India in the south. The country has three main zones: Western Bhutan, Central Bhutan, and Eastern Bhutan.

Bhutan – The Land of Thunder Dragon is the only Carbon Negative country in the world. Every year, Bhutan absorbs more than six million tonnes of carbon.

Bhutan aims to supplement 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide with the export of electricity. Bhutan is the only country known for its innovative Gross National Happiness Index. In short, Bhutan has stopped destroying their environment and started protecting it, and that every nation and individual has the power to do.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, does not have traffic lights. Bhutan- an intoxicating country. Vacationers from everywhere throughout the globe visit Bhutan for either social outings or trekking campaigns. Our trek was, to a greater extent, a social tour. We visited Monasteries and Dzongs, which are spread all through the nation.

Things to know before travelling to Bhutan

Is Indian currency accepted in Bhutan?

Ngultrum (BTN) is the currency unit of Bhutan. A Ngultrum is of the same value as a Bhutan Indian rupee. Bhutan accepts INR 100 & 50 Rupee denominations, but India does not take Ngultrum. Bhutan does not accept Indian Rupee denomination notes of INR 500, INR 1000 and INR 2000.

Is a Passport required for Bhutan from India by air?

Indian nationals intending to visit Bhutan can show any of their authorized country identity cards to enter Bhutan. I.e., valid driving license, voter id, etc. Note, Bhutan did not accept Aadhar cards until now. And there is no need to get a Visa for people coming from Indian.

How much cash can I carry to Bhutan?

If you are an Indian Citizen, as per RBI notification, you are allowed up to a limit of 25000 Indian Rupees per person. Foreigners can carry a maximum of USD 10,000 or equivalent (source IATA) and declare if it exceeds the limit.

Where can I get a permit for Bhutan?

Indians travelling to Bhutan by road must obtain an Entry Permit from the Immigration Office of Royal Government of Bhutan at Phuentsholing, located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon, West Bengal (Nearest Railway Station: Hasimara, Nearest Airport: Bagdogra).

How can I get to Bhutan from India?

Indians can reach Bhutan by road, train, and flight.

Are there flights to Bhutan from India?

Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines are the two major airlines in Bhutan, and Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan. You can get flights from major cities such as Kolkata and Delhi.

How many days do you need in Bhutan?

With so much to see in Bhutan, an ideal tour of the country would be for the whole thirty days of your visa, which might be enough time to visit around two-thirds of the country’s amazing sights and attractions. However, at least five days are needed to make the most of Bhutan’s best views and experiences.

Do Indians need a visa to visit Bhutan?

Visa Free for Indian Passport Holders. This reciprocal visa-free travel system means that no visa is required for Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan, as long as they have the correct identification. Indian tourists can visit the famous Punakha Dzong and all the scenic spots in Bhutan without a visa.

Which is the best time to plan a trip to Bhutan?

October to December is the ideal time to visit Bhutan as the air is bright and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder, but from then until April, the climate remains dry and pleasant, and in late spring, the famous rhododendrons bloom spectacularly, flooding the valleys with colour. One can expect snowfall in mid-Jan till early February snows only in Bhutan’s northern Dzongkhags (Districts). Gasa, Punakha, Bumthang, Paro, and Thimpu experiences snowfall during late December and January. High season months to visit Bhutan are March, April, May, September, October, and November. Ideally, one can spend around 5-7 days visiting beautiful valleys and attractions.

How much does a trip to Bhutan cost?

Tourists must pay US$250 per person per day (US$200 a day from December to February and June to August). A US$30-$40 surcharge per person applies for groups of one or two. The $250 fee covers accommodation, transport in Bhutan, a guide, food, and entry fees.

What should I wear in Bhutan?

Comfortable clothing and sturdy, soft-soled shoes are essential for travel in Bhutan. We recommend warm clothing, and except for the summer months, down jackets and woollen sweaters are suggested.

Souvenirs in Bhutan?

One can purchase traditional handicraft items as souvenirs: handcrafted bags, wall hangings, hand-woven textiles, gold and silver jewellery, Himalayan beads, handmade wooden bowls, cane and bamboo items, and wood products.

Top places to visit in Bhutan

Paro Taktsang

The cultural icon of Bhutan is Paro Taktsang! Paro Taktsang is a small monastery, also known as Tiger’s Nest. It is a Buddhist temple complex with white buildings with golden roofs, lofty mountains, and emerald green valleys. Paro Taktsang is in a remote location. Hence it can create technical difficulties at times, though the hallmark of the Monastery is its isolated location. The Monastery consists of 4 main temples and several dwellings.

The temple is accessible only by the mountainous paths. Hence only three main trails lead to the holy place. The first path is quite adventurous. A trail passes through the pine forest, decorated with bright prayer bannerettes symbolizing protection from evil forces, positive energy, vitality, and good luck. The other two paths pass through the plateau, called “a hundred thousand fairies plateau.” The inside structure of the temple with its extravagant magnificence: gold-plated vault and flashing lights that are enlightening brilliant icons. An enormous statue of a tiger is in the lobby of Thousand Buddhas.

The tiger represents Paro Taktsang based on the legend when a tigress picked the area of the Monastery. The tigress brought here on her back the originator of Bhutan’s Buddhism master Padmasambhava. Looking at the Taktsang Palphung monastery from Paro valley or the bottom of the cliff, it seems almost impossible to reach the Monastery. The entry fee is 500 Ng for all non-Bhutanese visitors, except those travelling on the daily package rate. Worth visiting the Earth’s most breathtaking altitude location.

The Gangteng Monastery

The Gangteng Monestry (Phobjika), known as Gangtey Gonpa or Gantey Monastery, goes through the Gangteng Valley. Gangteng is the greatest Nyingma cloister (a covered walk in a monastery) in Bhutan and the seat of the Gangteng manifestation line. Snowy mountain ranges encase the valley.

The valley likewise gets secured with snow throughout the winter months, compelling individuals to move to progressively charming climes during the long stretches of January and February. The most practical choice for getting to Gangtey is hiring a taxi from Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, or Wangduephodrang.

When travelling from Paro or Thimphu, it is advisable to stop in Punakha and then drive to Gangtey. From Thimphu to Phobjika, the distance is 125 km, and the taxi charges 2278 NU. (2278 Nu Bhutan cash approaches 2274.59 Indian Rupees)

Great Buddha Dordenma

On a slope in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital and biggest city is an enormous, brilliant Buddha sitting on an overlaid contemplation corridor. The immense statue of Shakyamuni Buddha constructed on a mountain top is considered one of the giant statues of Buddha in the world.

Bronze with a cover of gold makes up the Buddha, symbolizing its indestructibility. The position of authority above which the Buddha Dordenma sits is a vast reflection hall, where several devotees meditate every day. Inside Thimphu’s 169 foot Buddha Dordenma statue, there are 125,000 small Buddhas epitomized within its illuminated bronze chest, extending from 8 to 12 inches tall.

The many Buddhas imply that Thimphu, which has a population of around 100,000, has a higher number of Buddhas than there are people. The Buddha Dordenma is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day, and it will be closed on Mondays and other National holidays.

Tashichho Dzong

Tashichho Dzong has been the headquarters of the administration since 1952 and directly houses the honoured position room and workplaces of the lord, the secretariat and the services of home issues and money. Other government divisions are in structures adjacent.

It was first built in 1216 A.D. by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa, where Dechen Phodrang remains above Thimphu. The dzong is near Thimphu town, alongside the banks of the Wang Chhu River. It is an astonishingly enormous structure, encompassed by well-kept yards and delightful greenhouses. There is a Nu 300 (INR 300) Tashichho Dzong entry fee to enter the fortress. You can hire a cab from Paro airport to reach Thimpu.

Simply Bhutan Museum

Bhutan is simply awesome! Unlike conventional historical centres, which have everything in a case or holding tight dividers, one can encounter everything here. The remarkable characteristic of this project is the depiction of the well-established ways of life of the Bhutanese individuals.

Repurposed timber, window and door jambs, and various remnants from houses make up the structure. It is said to be a living gallery. They will offer you the traditional beverages, move for you, close by involvement about what they are discussing in the museum. A maximum of one hour is sufficient to visit the place. A personal guide is available to take a tour of the entire museum. The entry fee is 300 NU.

Bhutan Textile Museum

Bhutan Textile Museum is a national textile museum in Thimphu. The purpose of the textile museum in Bhutan is to promote the history and culture of Bhutan. It is straightforward to filter through the vast amounts of various textures in plain view at this world-celebrated Bhutanese propelled culture pot.

The presentations at the National Textile Museum are named as pursues:

Royal Collection
Role of Textiles in religion
Achievements in textile arts
Weft pattern weaves
Textiles from indigenous fibres
Warp pattern weaves

Apart from this, the museum organizes design competitions as well to display the best textiles. Likewise, the museum has probably the most friendly and proficient visit guides who guarantee that you get the chance to find out about the antiquated weaving practices of these glad individuals and everything else in the middle. Another hot fascination includes at this museum is the live weaving studio rooms. Visitors must pay 250 Nangultram as the entrance fee while visiting the National Textile Museum; the rates are subject to change.

Royal Botanical Park

The Royal Botanical Park, Lampelri, is the primary organic park in Bhutan and structures the setting of the Dochula Pass. The garden has 46 types of rhododendron, of which 18 species are local to the recreation centre while the other 26 species are brought from different areas of Bhutan and planted here.

The park office opens from 9 am to 5 pm in summer and from 9 am to 4 pm in winter. The park leans on waste administration promotion projects to teach the overall population. The trash in and trash out approach is emphasized.

The park has a lake known as Baritsho Lake, which has religious holiness as the neighbourhood individuals give votive contributions. Aside from the rhododendrons in the natural garden, different assortments of plants in the botanical park comprise 115 types of ferns. Some of the other significant trees are enormous oak, magnolia, and birch.

The park is likewise a well known winged creature watching zone, with at least 46 avifauna species. Some of the uncommon species announced are monal fowls and blood birds. There are 21 creature species distinguished in the park, which incorporates musk deer, tiger, panther, red panda, and the panther feline. Entry to the gardens is free. The gardens are open throughout the year, with a few exceptions for special events in which tickets are necessary.

Changangkha Lhakhang – A Traditional Bhutanese Temple

The Changangkha Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Thimphu! The temple was established in the 12th Century from Ralung (Ra means Goat and Lung denotes a place or oral transmission) Monastery, located in the Tsang region of Tibet south of Karo Pass. Guardians come here to get good names for their babies or gifts for their young youngsters from the defender god Tamdrin.

A phurba honours children by giving a consecrated string. Once upon a time, the Monastery was a large university of Buddhists. Good karma individuals see the statue happily grinning. Whereas, bad karma individuals see the figure as a bit pitiful.

Memorial Chorten

The National Memorial Chorten was worked in memory of Third Druk Gyalpo and is devoted to World Peace. The Chorten is an enormous white structure delegated with a brilliant tower. It is near the centre point of Thimphu city and is one of its most notorious landmarks.

Guests will discover older Bhutanese individuals circumambulating (walking all the way around) the Chorten for the day. Chorten truly signifies ‘Seat of Faith’, and Buddhists frequently call such landmarks the ‘Brain of Buddha.’ The Chorten is an unusual Buddhist design and exemplary art case with exquisite artistic creations and complicated figures. The entry fee is 300 Ng per person.

Chagri Dorjeden Monastery

The Chagri Dorjeden Monastery is also known as Cheri Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan. The Monastery is now the school of Tibetan Buddhism and is at the Thimphu Valley’s northern end.

It sits on a slope over the stopping point at Dodeyna, and it takes about an hour to stroll up the lofty slope to achieve the cloister from that point. It sits on a slant over the stopping point at Dodeyna, and it takes about an hour to stroll up the lofty slope to achieve the cloister from that point.

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