Budget Travel Guide: Bhutan Under Rs 1.25 Lakh

Must see/do:

Tiger’s Nest: Located at 3,120m (10,240ft) above sea level, Tiger’s Nest (Paro Taktshang) is a must-do on every hiker’s list – a revered temple and monastery built in 1692.

Receive a phallic blessing: Chhimi Lhakhang is a ‘phallic’ village and at the Temple of the Mad Monk God (Temple of Fertility) you will be blessed with a consecrated wooden phallus.

Golf on the Roof of the World: Royal Thimpu Golf Club, a 9-hole golf course, is one of the highest in the world.

Visit: Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong (Palace of Great Happiness), National Museum of Bhutan in Paro, Dordenma Buddha in Thimphu, Dechen Frodrang, Changlimitang Stadium and Archery Range, Chorten National Memorial, Tashicho Dzong, Dochula Pass, Punakha Dzong.

Look out for the fun road signs from Bro (Border Road Organisation). Read also | The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Trip to Bhutan for Indian Tourists: Travel Documents Required and More

You need to eat:

• Ema Datshi: A traditional Bhutanese stew with yak cheese and lots of chilli
• Shakam Paa: Made with ground beef, dried chilli and radish.
• Yasha Maru: A very spicy dish made with chicken, garlic, onions, ginger, tomatoes and onions.
• Phaksha Paa: Gravy or stew made with pork.
• Zow Shungo: Made from leftover vegetables
• Shakam Datshi: Made with dry ground beef and served with red rice
• Puta: Buckwheat noodles
• Gone High: Lettuce
• Suja: Tea made from fermented yak butter and yak milk.

In Paros: For traditional Bhutanese food, head to First Floor Hotel (Budget), Tshernyoen’s Cafe, which serves cakes, cookies, brownies; order ginger and pumpkin curry at Sonam Trophel restaurant; go drink and dine at the Jiva Linga.

In Thimphu: Budget Bhutanese dishes at Cypress Restaurant, Norzinn Fine Dining; order a pizza with Bhutanese toppings at Druk Pizza; for Swiss rolls, omelets, pies, donuts, go to Swiss Bakery; head to the Bhutanese kitchen for an authentic Bhutanese lunch, order an arra (a local drink); have a drink at The Hub, which also features live music. For Indian food, head to The Royal Dhaba.

Visa: Indian citizens can apply for a permit, but they must have an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian citizens under the age of 18, a passport or birth certificate can be used for entry and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Travel insurance: The mandatory travel insurance requirement was abolished on 23 April 2024. However, it is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance.

Sustainability fee: The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily fee paid by visitors to support the development of Bhutan. Indian citizens (on presentation of a valid Indian passport or voter’s ID card) pay 1,200 Ngultrum (or INR equivalent) per person per night daily. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 pay INR 600 per night and children under 5 pay no SDF.

flight: Paro is the only international airport in Bhutan. Druk Air’s Delhi-Para-Delhi direct economy class flight starts at ₹49,000. Flight duration: 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Arrival by road: There are four official entry points by road from India: Samtse and Phuentsholing (in western Bhutan), Gelephu (in central Bhutan) and Samdrup Dzhonkhar (in eastern Bhutan).

Residence: Stay in boarding houses, their prices are reasonable. Remember that most guesthouses do not have elevators, and the upper floors of the guest house are cheaper than the lower ones.

A guest house room costs between 3,500 and 8,000 baht per night, while the 5-star Le Meridien Paro Riverfront in Paro will cost 51,000 baht + taxes per night, and the Pemako Hotel in Thimphu will cost 59,000 baht + taxes per night. night

Currency: The currency of Bhutan is called the Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN). 1 BTN = 1 INR.

Moving: The most convenient way to travel in Bhutan is to hire a vehicle and driver from a car rental company or travel service provider. Use the Druk Ride app. Self-driving car rentals are not available.

Royal Bhutan Helicopter Services Limited (RBHSL) is available for private hire. Please note that helicopters fly only in clear and calm weather. Read also | Journey to the end of the year 2023: yes ₹1 lakh? Go to Bhutan

Money saving tips:

• When traveling in a large group, you will save a lot on the guide fee (usually 2000 baht per day).
• Buses are much cheaper than a shared taxi between cities, which will cost around 500 bolaires per person; a bus ride will cost one third of that.
• If you are traveling in a group of six, hiring a full taxi for sightseeing or travel costs around 3,500 baht on average.
• Buying from street vendors or direct from the source will save you at least 50% compared to Emporium prices.
• You will save a lot if you enter Bhutan by land (convenient from Bagdagra, Guwahati), but the journey is tough.

Dos and don’ts:

• Maintain silence when visiting any holy place.
• If you want to photograph those praying or participating in holy celebrations, ask for permission. Make sure you are not standing between the religious observers and the altar.
• Remove hats and headgear when visiting holy places or meeting with elders. When sitting on the floor with a monk, nun, elder or master, it is advisable to sit cross-legged.
• When visiting a temple, wear a dress with long sleeves and cover your legs.
• Remove your shoes when entering holy places and refrain from taking pictures inside holy places.
• Do not sit on sacred lama thrones in temples or touch religious objects or paintings.
• Hunting and fishing are illegal in most of Bhutan.
• Do not venture into the wild without an accredited guide.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited throughout Bhutan and it is illegal to sell or buy tobacco products in Bhutan.
• The export of any antiques is strictly prohibited and controlled.