Religious buildings: A distinctive feature of Bhutan is the graceful buildings of “dzongs” – monasteries-fortresses (it was from them that the construction of large cities began). Dzongs were brought to Bhutan from Tibet. The architectural style of the dzongs is peculiar: these are structures with walls inclined towards the center, the buildings have the shape of a truncated pyramid. In Bhutan, the dzongs have acquired gigantic dimensions, they are surrounded by high walls and can accommodate several thousand people. In the past, in case of danger, the entire surrounding population took refuge in the nearest dzong. Each such fortress was located on a hill, from where a vast panorama was opened. The dzong is a defensive building with many secret passages, powerful walls and massive towers. Over time, settlements appeared around the dzongs. One half houses the local administration,
Of great interest are the Bhutanese temples “laghangi” located far from populated areas, on the tops of mountains and other secluded places, monks retire to temples for prayers and spiritual practices. The third type of religious buildings are monasteries – both male and female, where monks receive education from the age of 6-7. They are also located at a distance from settlements.
Geographical location: located on the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas. In the north and northwest it borders with China (Tibetan Autonomous Republic, the length of the border is about 470 km), in the south, east and southwest – with India (Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal – Pradesh, 605 km). Bhutan has no access to the sea. The total area of the country is about 47,000 sq. km.
Visa – Documents for entry are issued within 1-2 weeks, for this you need to book a hotel in advance, send a copy of your passport, a copy of your photo and a completed application form, as well as a copy of your air ticket. A visa will be stamped in your passport upon arrival at Paro airport.
Flora and fauna. In the valleys of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra, bananas grow, the central part is occupied by forests, in the north the peaks of the Himalayas, covered with eternal snows, rise. Deciduous evergreen and deciduous trees predominate, there are also coniferous forests. Above 4000 m there are alpine meadows.
Of the mammals, elephants, rhinos, tigers, leopards, panthers, wild bulls, monkeys, musk deer, Himalayan bears, and foxes are common. There are also many snakes.
The official language is the Tibetan dialect Dzongke, or Bhotiya. Some of the city’s residents also speak Gurung. In recent years, English has gained great importance, including in the field of education.
The overwhelming majority of the population of the capital (over 2/3) professes the Lamaist form of Mahayana Buddhism. About 25% of believers are adherents of Hinduism.
What to buy: Popular with tourists and numerous art, weapons and jewelry markets, famous throughout Asia.
Area – 47000 sq. km.
Population – 2.5 million people
Time – 2.5 hours ahead of Moscow time
The flight to Paro is currently carried out by two airlines:
National airline Druk Air flying to Bangkok, Singapore, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Indian cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Guwahati, Gaya, Bagdogra.
Paro Airport – one of the three airports in the Kingdom Located six kilometers from the city of Paro at an altitude of more than two thousand meters in the cramped valley of the Paro River, the airport is surrounded by five thousandth peaks, therefore it is considered one of the most difficult on the planet. In addition to Paro, another airport has been operating in Bhutan since 2009 – Yonphulla Airport in the city of Tashigang and the airport in Bumthang accepting domestic flights.
The climate of Bhutan varies with altitude and, like much of Asia, is influenced by the monsoons. The climate is humid in the southern plains and foothills, in the Himalayan valleys of the central region the climate is temperate, in the north of the country it is cold with year-round snow on the Himalayan peaks. The temperature depends on the altitude. So the temperature in Thimphu, located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level in the western part of the country, in June-September +15 +26 ° C, in January drops to -4 -10 ° C.
Monetary unit of Bhutan– Ngultrum, 1 Ngultrum = 100 Chethrum. Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee. Bhutan has two nationwide banks with branches throughout the country. Currency can be exchanged at the hotel. Credit cards are accepted for payment only in large hotels and shops of the capital (preference is given to cards of large payment systems). In the province, it is almost impossible to exchange currency or pay for goods by non-cash means of payment.
Vaccinations No
specific vaccinations are required, but those planning to travel by trekking are advised to be vaccinated against polio, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A and malaria. There are no private doctors or clinics in the country, but a system of public hospitals where treatment is free for tourists. Thimphu is the country’s main hospital National Referral Hospital, where you can get the best service. In hospitals, you can get primary care, but in case of a serious illness or injury, you need to travel to another nearby country.
