Surely, when you hear of Bhutan, the first word that comes to your mind is Happiness, because there is no other country in the world who has collective happiness as a goal mentioned in their constitution. The Government of Bhutan measures
A trip planned with a heart full of expectation and wonderment. We first began our quest by identifying the places in Bhutan we wished to visit. This is one of my favorite parts of planning a trip- figuring out how to fit in the best experiences of a new country you plan to visit within the given time-frame. However, almost always I am left with a feeling that there is more to the places visited than what I have experienced, every time I leave a country. So after hours of browsing and mulling over distances and logistics, optimistically given our time availability of 8 days, we planned Thimpu, Punakha
Bhutan: Getting There
Landlocked from all sides by India and Tibet Autonomous region, accessing Bhutan is quite tricky. There is only one air strip in Paro predominantly operated by Druk Airlines with very limited connectivity. We decided the best means to enter Bhutan would be crossing by road through Phuentsholing which was a 4 hour drive from Bagdogra Airport. The flight and the 4 hour drive itself leads to 2 days gone in just travelling as the terrain of the roads are not quite suitable for travel during night time.
Most of the travel bookings in Bhutan, however, need to be done offline. While there are hotels that can be found through Bhutan Bookings, it is more common and encouraged by the Bhutan Government to hire a Travel Agent Operator/ Tour Operator for the end-to-end services right from Visa, Car, and Hotel Bookings.
While, I usually avoid taking guided tours as I believe it truly restricts the experience of a new country, given the restrictions in Bhutan, as an exception, we decided to take the plunge and go with a tour operator for this one. Thankfully we were not disappointed. We got a reference of a good tour Operator Bhutan INC through a friend and decided to make all our reservations through them.
Bhutan Visa Formalities
Bhutanese are very favourable to Indian visitors and are open to Visas on Arrival. While Visas on Arrival, are seamless, it is better to ensure online approval before arrival just to avoid uncertainty. With the online approval, all you would need is a passport size photograph when you arrive in Bhutan. Also, ensure arrival on office Hours when the Visa Office is open as they are closed on specific days in a week (You can get a clarity on this through any tour operator).
Bhutan Itinerary for 7 Days
Day1
We started our journey by road from Bagdogra, a 3.5-hour journey from the airport and we reached Phuentsholing by night. Do visit Kizom Cafe while you stay there, complete your visa formalities and get set for an epic road journey to Thimphu
Day2
Next day, have an early start and head towards Thimphu. Note though the distance takes 4 hours to cover if you do not stop enroute and that is not going to happen for the scenery is such that you would want to stop every couple of Kilometers. We made it by evening and then went on to see the view of Thimphu city from this beautiful point
Day3
Local sightseeing in Thimphu, start with the Big Buddha, view the Tashichho Dzong, get a small peek into Bhutanese culture at Simply Bhutan, visit the museums and art school to view Bhutan’s budding artisans at school. Do not miss Bhutanese Cuisine at Kalden Restaurant. Read more about must have experiences in Bhutan.
Day 4
Leave for Punakha in the morning and head straight to Punakha Dzong first and then for the river rafting in the serene streams in Punakha. The Chimi
Day 5
If you are following the Bhutan Itinerary for 7 Days you may not have time to stay in Punakha for longer. Leave for Paro and ensure to visit Dochula Pass en route. A memorial surrounded by misty mountains, make the most of the visibility in the destination. Reach Paro by sunset and enjoy more majestic mountain views in the drive
Day 6
Wake up early morning and head to begin the trek to the beautiful Tiger’s Nest. Nestled atop the mountains, Paro Taktsang (Popularly known as Tiger’s Nest) is one among the 13 Taktsang’s where Guru Padmasambhava has meditated. Credited for bringing in Buddhism to Bhutan, the monastery is revered in Bhutan. More on the trek in a separate post.
Day 7
As much as the legs ache after the Tiger’s Nest, wake up to finish the last round of sightseeing in Paro, shop for souvenirs if you have not already in Thimphu and make your way back to Phuentshilong. It is officially time to go back home
Things to keep in mind before traveling to Bhutan
Indian currency of all denominations are very much acceptable in Bhutan with the only caveat being that the change they would provide always in Bhutanese currency. So make sure you use up your Bhutanese currency before you exit the country
Given the proximity to the Indian Border, you would be getting connectivity on your Indian SIMs till Pheuntsholling after which you could choose to take a local sim. There is very limited internet connectivity across Bhutan and Wifi remains scarce with intermittent connectivity at hotels
Language is not a constraint, almost all citizens in Bhutan are fluent with English and very very accommodating and helpful to Tourists
A sidenote for Indians, Do remember to cross only in Zebra Crossings, the Police are very strict about that and can fine you if found violating that rule
Vegetarian options can be easily found and the proximity to India also influences the cuisine, as a lot of Indian
Alas, my curiosity of visiting a happy country was fulfilled. No, it is not a country where everyone plasters a smile and walks around all day. It is a country whose citizens are content with what they have and live harmoniously meaning no harm to anyone else. Quoting a Bhutanese citizen
“I go to sleep every day ensuring that I have done nothing wrong, and that peace of mind is worth more than any success I could ever achieve”.
I left the country hoping to come back again soon and until then to remember the simplicity to that secret of happiness.
Hope you enjoy traveling basis the Bhutan Itinerary for 7 Days detailed in this post. Have you been to Bhutan? If yes, was your itinerary similar or different? Do share your experiences in the comments below.