In this article, we will discuss different tips to note when you travel to Bhutan for Vacation. Also, we will discuss the dos and don’ts which you have to take care of in Bhutan.
What is the etymology behind Bhutan?
Bhutan is officially called the kingdom of Bhutan but earlier known as Dzongkha. This is a country that is located in the eastern part of the Himalayas and is covered by China and India. Bhutan is a country that has a population of over 754,000 people, which was calculated earlier.
Bhutan is a country that is surrounded by many countries, but they follow Buddhism as their religion. It is also said that Bhutan is known to be the foothold of the Himalayas. This means that if you want to climb the Himalayas, you will have to go to Bhutan first.
You can also assign your personal Bhutan travel guide that will take you to all the places. The spread of Buddhism in Bhutan was done by the great Gautama Buddha. There is no certain etymology behind the name Bhutan, but there are traces in the Tibetan endonym.
The name Bhutan is originally taken from the Sanskrit transcription called the Bloat anta. This translates to the end of Tibet and is a reference to the location of Bhutan in its southern province. In the 17th Century, Bhutan was named Druk Yul, which translates to the land of the thunder dragon.
Different countries in the world had just discovered Bhutan and called it by different names. This is because there was no fixed name at that time, but in the 17th Century, it was given a name. Bhutan is known to be the first separate kingdom on the Western map, which was called Broukpa.
What are the tips to know when you plan to visit Bhutan for vacation?
Here is the list of tips anyone can use before they plan to visit Bhutan for a vacation.
- Take note of peak and non-peak time
This means that whenever you are visiting any place, you have to check its peak and non-peak time. The main peak season to visit Bhutan is from March to May. This is because of the summer season, which is there in the whole of Asia. Also, if you go to Bhutan in non-peak time, it will take less cost to travel.
- Check the cost difference between peak and non-peak
This means that you will have to check and see the total money that you are going to be spent when you are visiting. If you go to Bhutan in the peak season, then it will cost you a lot of money. This is because many people are travelling at that time to visit this cold and religious place.
- Know the seasons
The activities which you want to do in Bhutan will depend on the season you visit. If you want to go trekking, you can visit between April to October. This is the time when the winter hits and will be cold and good for trekking. Also, you will feel a light rain when you go in between these months in Bhutan.
- Time your arrival to Bhutanese festival
Many festivals are celebrated in Bhutan itself. The two of the most famous festivals are Paro and the Thimphu Tshechu. This is the time when most of the tourists will get to explore the Bhutanese traditions the most. This is the time when the Bhutanese people will showcase their dance, clothes, and also skills. Other festivals are celebrated in Bhutan other than religious ones.
- Consider a homestay
You should consider staying in a rented house as it will reduce the trip of the cost. This is because the cost of spending a night at a hotel in Bhutan is very high. Also, when you stay at home, the food and other things will be taken care of by the family itself. Most of the families that live in Bhutan nowadays have modern technology like hotels.
- End it in luxury
Most of the time you will spend in Bhutan will be travelling and sightseeing. That is you will be every day on the road travelling from here to there to see places. So to make it a good experience you can stay in the home of a family. Also, you can stay in the different luxury hotels that are situated in Bhutan.
What are the dos and don’ts in Bhutan?
Given below is the list of things that you have to do while you are in Bhutan.
- You have to make sure that you dress up properly when visiting the temple and also offices.
- You will have to make sure that you remove your hat and also your footwear when inside a temple.
- You will always have to maintain silence when you are in a religious place.
- They have a rule of walking clockwise around the monument for everyone to follow.
- You will need to have proper permission to take antiques out of Bhutan.
- You have to carry all the documentation with you when you travel to Bhutan.
- You will have to take a tour guide, travel insurance Singapore if you are from another country.
- If you lose any of your travel documents, you should immediately visit the nearest TCB office.
- You have to report any kind of misbehave done by anyone to your to the TCB.
Given below is the list of don’ts in Bhutan.
- You should never touch any monuments or artefacts without permission.
- You should not smoke in public or religious areas.
- The carrying and also using of a drone is strictly prohibited.
- Spitting and also pissing on the wall is a punishable crime.
- Taking photographs and video are not allowed in some places.
- You should avoid feeding any animals that you find on the road or in the wild.
- You should not wash, throw or swim in the lakes or rivers.
- You always have to sit with your legs crossed to avoid any misunderstanding.