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BHUTAN
The Land of Thunder Dragon - The World's last Shangrila
Hundreds of years ago, though land locked, Bhutan was more than
a mere expression of geography, it was an independent state, visited
by emissaries from neighbouring countries. Bhutan's first king,
who made a note in history, was Drukpa Rimpoche, "the peerless one"
who came to Bhutan at the age of 23, from Tibet in 1616. He was
the 'ideal king', after the pattern lay down by Greek political
philosopher Plato, who centuries before, wrote his famous treatise
on the ideal head of state.
THE LAND
Secluded and isolated from the rest of the world for thousands
of years, the land-locked country with an area of 18,000 sq. miles
nestles in the heart of Himalayas. To the north lies Tibet, behind
a thrust of magnificent snowpeaks, to the south, midst dense tropical
forests that smoother the Himalayan foot - hills, it merges India;
to the west is the erstwhile kingdom, now state of Sikkim, and to
the east the Indian territory of Arunachal Pradesh.
With a breadth of 144.84 km and 305.7 km long from east to west,
the true Bhutan of unforgettable mountain country jeweled with painted
shrines, forts, hamlets and monasteries, is in the high, picturesque
valleys of the eternal highlands. In the dense jungles of the south
and conferous forests of the north roam wide elephants, tigers,
Himalayan bears, musk deers, Blue Mountains sheeps and the rare
clouded leopards on the verge of extinction.
General Information
Area : 18,000 square miles
Position : Approximately between 26' 45" and 28' 10" north latitude
and 88'45" And 91'10" east longitude
Population : 1,200,000
Capital : Thimpu
Government : Form of constitutional monarchy
State Religion : Mahayana Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyupa Sect.
Languages : Dzonkha, Nepali, English and a number of dialects including
Sharchopkha and Khen Kha.
Unit of Currency: Ngultrum (Nu.) Rs. 1 of India
Season :
Spring : March - May
Summer : June - Aug.
Autumn : Sep. - Nov.
Winter : Dec. - Feb.
Entry
Air and overland route effect entry. The best is by air from Delhi
or Kolkata to Paro or to Bagdogra, which is about 10 kilometres
away from the Indian town of Siliguri. The 179 kilometres journey
from Phuntsholing to Thimpu takes about 9 hours by Bus.
Immigration
All foreign nationals other than Indian nationals' in-groups of
four or more may visit Bhutan.
THIMPHU
 A
few years old, the late King Jigme Dorje Wangchuk, to replace the
ancient capital of Punakha built it a mountain range away. Across
the Thimpu river, up the valleys is the Dechenchholing Palace while
five kilometres below the town is Bhutan's oldest Dzong, Simtokha,
now housing a university and school for the study of the dialects
or Ozonkha, the Bhutanese language.
Excursions from Thimpu
Closest to the town and a short exhilarating drive away is the
Dochu - la- pass, at a height of 2,743 metres (9,000 ft) renowned
for its scenic beauty. West of the capital overlooking the city
at a height of 3,058 metres (10,000 ft) is Phajoding, an ancient
monastery. Safe and slow, but sure the Himalayan yak is the means
of transport to Dongtshola, a high pass from where the great peaks
seem to be just a stone's throw away.
PARO
 The
Government of Bhutan Transport Service provides jeep and station
wagons for trips to Paro, the winter capital and Punakha, the ancient
capital 52 km and 80 km respectively from Thimpu. With patchwork
fields, willow glades, murmuring trout - filled streams and scattered
hamlets, Paro is the most attractive of Bhutan's valleys, the air
exudes a sense of profound peace.
Many rivers run through Bhutan, the more important are the Sankosh,
Raidak and the Manas. Rising in the great mountainous heights of
Bhutan, they flow through the Dooars and fall into the Brahmputra.
PHUNTSHOLING
 Gateway
to Bhutan, this small modern town, 13 km to north of Hasimara, the
last town on the Indian side of the border in West Bengal, is a
preview of what awaits the vistor to Bhutan. The late King Jigme
Dorji opened the kingdom to the world, when he proposed the country
to join the committee of nations that compose the United Nations
Organisations, now a 208 km National Highway, starting from Phuntsholing
connects the plains of India in West Bengal to Paro, Thimpu, Central
and Eastern Bhutan crossing altitudes as high as 3,048 metres. The
Kharbandi monastery affords a fine view of the plains, nearby is
Torsa River, a superb picnic and fishing spot. A new monastery has
built by Kharbandi, side by side with the development of a new industrial
estate.
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General Information
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