A place called simply Bhutan

By business bhutan | 01 September 2012 | 

A living museum that will preserve traditional architecture, culture, and way of life and also create employment for the youth

Yangchen Zam fromThimphu:Traditional, shingle roofed structures made of old timber, windows and doorframes from demolished houses stand at odds with the surrounding at the NazhoenPelri Youth Center complex. Its interior is a reproduction of ancient architecture and lifestyle that are on the wane.

The idea behind this project is to create a living museum that will replicate traditional way of life, preserve Bhutanese architecture – something that is simply Bhutan in its truest sense.

“Simply Bhutan, supported by Drukyuel Foundation, is a distinct project that aims to preserve local culture and tradition while also generating employment opportunities for young job seekers,” said the project manager, Karma Gyeltshen.

Thirty two high school graduates and a graduate whom the labor ministry had taken in for a three-month attachment program run Simply Bhutan. They also helped in building the museum. They are paid Nu 3,000 a month.

Additional youth could not be employed due to budget constraints.

There are also plans to showcase Bhutanese music, mask dance, and painting among other activities. However all these are on hold for want of funds.

“It is mainly to empower young entrepreneurs through preservation, promotion and showcasing our traditions and cultural diversity,” said Karma Gyeltshen.

At present, youth at Simply Bhutan are engaged in activities like cooking in traditional Bhutanese kitchen and selling souvenirs in three stalls. They are also trained in development of various skills, cultural education, photography, videography, and entrepreneurship. There are seven trainers working full time at Simply Bhutan.

An estimated budget of about Nu 6mn was spent in materializing the project. However as many more additional activities are on the cards, the total cost is likely is shoot up, according to the project manager.

The museum will also be hired out to individuals and organizations to host activities or special occasions.

Meanwhile, since its launch on August 26, around 33 Bhutanese and two groups of foreign tourist s have visited the museum.

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National Symbols of Bhutan

National Emblem

National Emblem

The National Emblem of Bhutan is a circle that projects a double diamond thunderbolt placed above the lotus. There is a jewel on all sides with two dragons on vertical sides. The thunderbolts represent the harmony between secular and religious power while the lotus symbolizes purity. The jewel signifies the sovereign power while the dragons (male and female) stands for the name of the country Druk yul or the Land of the Dragon.

National Flag

National Flag

The National flag is rectangle in shape that is divided into two parts diagonally. The upper yellow half signifies the secular power and authority of the king while the lower saffron-orange symbolizes the practice of religion and power of Buddhism, manifested in the tradition of Drukpa Kagyu. The dragon signifies the name and the purity of the country while the jewels in its claws stand for the wealth and perfection of the country.

National Flower

National Flower

The national flower is Blue Poppy (Meconopsis Grandis). It is a delicate blue or purple tinged blossom with a white filament. It grows to a height of 1 meter, on the rocky mountain terrain found above the tree line of 3500-4500 meters. It was discovered in 1933 by a British Botanist, George Sherriff in a remote part of Sakteng in eastern Bhutan.

National Tree

National Tree

The national tree is cypress (Cupressus torolusa). Cypresses are found in abundance and one may notice big cypresses near temples and monasteries. Cypress is found in the temperate climate zone, between 1800 and 3500 meters. Its capacity to survive on rugged harsh terrain is compared to bravery and simplicity.

National Bird

National Bird

The national bird is the raven. It ornaments the royal crown. Raven represents the deity Gonpo Jarodongchen (raven headed Mahakala), one of the chief guardian deities of Bhutan.

National Animal

National Animal

The national animal is the Takin (burdorcas taxicolor) that is associated with religious history and mythology. It is a very rare mammal with a thick neck and short muscular legs. It lives in groups and is found in places above 4000 meters high on the north-western and far north eastern parts of the country. They feed on bamboos. The adult takin can weigh over 200 kgs.

National language

Bhutan is a multi-lingual society. Today, about 18 languages and dialects are spoken all over the country. The state language is Dzongkha which in the olden times was spoken by people who worked in the Dzongs that was the seat of temporal and spiritual power. Later, Dzongkha was introduced as the national language of Bhutan.

National Anthem

The national anthem was first composed in 1953 and became official in 1966. It is known as Druk Tshenden Kepay Gyalkhab Na (In the land of the Dragon Kingdom, where cypress grows).

National Day

17th December is celebrated as the National Day of the country that coincides with the crowning ceremony of Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck as the first hereditary king of Bhutan, in Punakha Dzong on 17 December 1907. It is a national holiday and every Bhutanese celebrates the day with pomp and festivity throughout the country.

Source: Tourism Council of Bhutan 

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Druk Air New Route To Singapore

Air link established with Singapore

The national airline made its maiden flight to the island state on Tuesday
HRH Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck cuts welcome ceremony cake
Expanding Bhutan’s air connectivity to five countries, a direct air link between Singapore and Bhutan was established after national airline Druk Air flew its inaugural flight to the island state, on Tuesday.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck was on board as chief guest, leading a delegation, comprising DHI, Druk Air, and government representatives, among others.

On arrival, HRH Chimi Yangzom Wangchuk also inaugurated a photo exhibition entitled “Bhutan: the Untouched Kingdom” that will be on display for a month at Changi international airport’s terminal three.
Druk Air will fly twice a week to Singapore (Changi Airport Terminal 1) commencing September 1, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The current airfare to Singapore for local passengers is Nu 21,425 one way, and Nu 43,300 round trip. (Source: Druk Air)


The exhibition, which is complemented by an exhibits of arts and crafts, also provides an opportunity for travellers to don the gho andkira, and even to try their hand at archery, all as part of an attempt to raise awareness about the country as a tourist destination.

The operator of the airport, the Changi airport group (CAG), later hosted a welcome ceremony that was attended by information and communications minister, Nandalal Rai, and Singaporean minister for transport, Lui Tuck Yew.

“Singapore is indeed privileged to be chosen by Drukair as it expands operations here to south-east Asia,” said the CEO of CAG, Lee Seow Hiang. “This represents the strong bilateral ties that both countries enjoy.” He added, “It is also an affirmation and encouragement for us at Changi, in the sense that it demonstrates the kind of connectivity that we can provide new entrants like Druk Air.”

Lee Seow Hiang also pointed out that CAG has and will continue collaborating with the tourism council of Bhutan and Drukair to market Bhutan as a tourist destination, not only in Singapore but Australia as well.

Both Druk Air and the CAG see Australian tourists using Singapore to fly to Bhutan. The Singapore connection is expected to reduce travel time from the island state to Bhutan by almost half, from 12 to six hours, as stopovers in Bangkok, Thailand, can be avoided.

Speaking to this paper, Drukair CEO Tandin Jamso, said that Singapore was chosen, based on increasing tourist arrivals from Australia and New Zealand. He added that, following the visit of Their Majesties the King and the Queen to Singapore, interest in visiting Bhutan has been generated, and is increasing.

He said that Singapore also establishes a second gateway to Bhutan from the southeast market, besides Bangkok, allowing tapping into markets like Indonesia.

On whether Druk Air sees Singapore, a major aviation hub, replacing Bangkok at its busiest sector, Tandin Jamso said that, while there may be some loss of traffic on the Bangkok sector, as Japanese and Australian tourists opt to fly to Bhutan via Singapore, Bangkok will remain a “very important hub”. He said that both airports would cater to different markets and, while traffic may lessen on the Bangkok sector, it is expected that overall tourist numbers to Bhutan should increase. Currently, Drukair is operating a record 13 flights a week to Bangkok.

The expansion of Druk Air’s route network is another significant milestone for Bhutanese aviation.

The president of the hotel’s association of Bhutan, Tobgye S Dorji, who was also on the inaugural flight, highlighted how far aviation has come, not just from 1983, when Druk Air established its first scheduled flights between Kolkata and Paro using a twin propeller 19-seater Dornier 228, but from the 1960s.

Tobgye S Dorji said that he had experienced flying into Paro in a Dakota DC-type aircraft in the late 1960s. “Those days, the Dakota, a non-pressurised aircraft, ‘clacketed’ all the way into Bhutan, wing tips touching the valleys literally, now, it’s luxurious, who’d have imagined flying to Singapore then.”

Meanwhile, Drukair has deferred commencement of scheduled flights to Mumbai, India to the end of the year, based on lower anticipated traffic figures. But Tandin Jamso said that Mumbai would become an additional gateway in India to Bhutan.

Tandin Jamso pointed out that Druk Air has submitted to the government that an air services agreement with Hong Kong be established, so that it can commence operations to the Chinese business hub.

Source: Kuensel.

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Gross National Happiness

Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.

Gross National Happiness: Development Philosophy of Bhutan

Economists the world over has been arguing that the key to happiness is obtaining and enjoying material development. However, Bhutan tries to argue the case differently by advocating that amassing material growth does not necessarily lead to happiness. Defying this notion, Bhutan is now trying to measure progress is not by the popular idea of Gross Domestic Product but by through Gross National happiness.

His Majesty the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck expressed his view on the goals of development as making “the people prosperous and happy.” With this strong view in mind, the importance of “prosperity and happiness,” was highlighted in the King’s address on the occasion of Bhutan’s admission to the United Nations in 1971. This vision was further elaborated by the fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck who declared in the first years of his reign that “our country’s policy is to consolidate our sovereignty to achieve economic self-reliance, prosperity and happiness for our country and people.”

While the emphasis is placed on both, prosperity and happiness, the latter is considered of more significance. The fourth Druk Gyalpo emphasized that for Bhutan “Gross National Happiness,” is more important than “Gross National Product.” Thus, Gross National Happiness is now being fleshed out by a wide range of professionals, scholars and agencies across the world.

Concerned about the problems afflicting countries that focused only on economic growth, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to make the nation’s priority not it’s Gross Domestic Product but Gross National Happiness. For this he suggested that the progress of the nation be measured by “Gross National Happiness.” He said that the rich are not always happy while the happy generally considered themselves rich. While conventional development models stressed on economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of Gross National Happiness claims to be based on the premise that true development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.

The four main pillars of Gross National Happiness are:

1. Equitable and equal socio-economic development,


2. Preservation and promotion of cultural and spiritual heritage,

3. Conservation of environment and,


4. Good governance which are interwoven, complementary, and consistent.

They embody national and local values, aesthetics, and spiritual traditions. As a result, we can see that the concept of Gross National Happiness is now being taken up by various other countries, following footsteps of Bhutan. This has led them to define prosperity in more enhanced terms and to actually measure people’s well being rather than measuring what they actually consume. Crucial to a better understanding of Gross National Happiness, is one its wider reach and awareness amongst other countries, two, and the various indices that has now been formulated to assess even material gains and lastly, the growing need to synthesis the moral with the cultural values as the core of any economic policy.

Gross National Happiness as a development paradigm has now made possible for Bhutan to take its developmental policies into the remote corners and include the far flung villagers into the development aspects by meeting their needs and accentuating the need to protect and preserve our rich environment and forest cover. The success of Gross National Happiness can be found in many areas besides developmental aspects. The policy of low volume but high value tourism has indeed assisted not only in the high revenue generation but in fact facilitated the promotion and preservation of our cultural values.

Further, the concept of Gross National Happiness has greatly enabled her in the pursuit of development, at the same time promoting happiness as the core philosophy of life. For the government, it has facilitated the drive towards self sufficiency and self reliance, the ultimate reduction in the gap between the rich and the poor and ensuring good governance and empowerment of her people.

Following the international seminar on Operationalizing Gross National Happiness held in Bhutan in February 2004, the participants felt it useful to establish a Gross International Happiness Network, indicating the influence of Gross National Happiness beyond the Bhutanese Borders.

The Network attempts to find best examples of sustainable development that incorporates values reflecting general well being of the people. The GIH Network is a collaboration of the following institutions:

1.  Center for Bhutan Studies, Bhutan

2.  Spirit in Business, USA and the Netherlands

3. Social Venture Network Asia, Thailand

4.  ICONS, Redefining Progress & Implementing New Indicators on Sustainable Development, Brazil

5.  Inner Asia Center for Sustainable Development, the Netherlands

6.  The New Economics Foundation, UK

7.  Genuine Progress Indicators / GPI Atlantic, Canada

8.  Corptools/Values Center, USA

9.  International Society for Ecology and Culture, UK

source: Tourism Council of Bhutan 

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Peak season

Autumn lives up to billing as peak season

  

Thimphu Tshechu: Almost half of all dollar-paying tourists, scheduled to visit Bhutan this month, are already here for the Thimphu tshechu, records with the tourism council of Bhutan secretariat show.

Close to 5,000 international tourists are scheduled to visit the country this month, of which 2,408 are specifically booked for September 22-27, Thimphu tshechu, the biggest draw for the autumn tourist season.

Thimphu and Paro tshechu, according to last year’s tourism monitor, continued to receive maximum tourists every year.

Last year, during the same period, more than 4,000 tourists visited Bhutan; while the overall tourist turnout stood at 64,028, which includes visitors from the region.

Tour operators, hoteliers, guides, and handicrafts do brisk business at this time of year, and the national airline, Drukair, deploys additional flights to accommodate the sudden increase in passengers during the tshechu season.

The president of association of Bhutanese tour operators, Karma Lotey, said this festive season was even busier than last year. “There’s a shortage of almost everything, right from vehicles and guides to hotel rooms,” he said.

Hotels in Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, and Wangduephodrang are packed with the autumn season guests.  A hotelier said it was a normal thing to be packed during the peak season. “Hotel occupancies are at their fullest during the peak seasons and, during the lean season, we’re empty again,” he said.

Most tourists, according to last year’s tourism monitor, chose their time of visits, depending on the festival dates and favourable weather.

Meanwhile, the tourism council’s target for this year is to bring in 100,000 high-end tourists.  The total international tourist arrival, as of September 24, stood at 26,440.

The tourism sector is second to hydropower, when it comes to contribution towards the national exchequer.

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Travel Requirements

Travel Requirements

Visitors have to book a trip to Bhutan through a government registered Bhutanese travel agent.

The Royal Government of Bhutan sets minimum tariff for packages to Bhutan and this must be paid in US dollars prior to arrival in Bhutan.

Trip Organizing

Select an itinerary from our lists of tour packages.

If you want a custom itinerary, please mention the following in the Tour Booking Form:

§  The number of days you plan to spend in Bhutan.

§  Tentative date of arrival.

§  Group Size.

§  Personal interests and things you want to do while in Bhutan.

§  Indicate clearly where you are Arriving From.

Payments for your tour to Bhutan and your Druk Air ticket must be made prior to a month before your arrival in Bhutan through wire transfer.

§  Email a copy of the Bank Transfer to Little Bhutan at sogel87@gmail.com/bhutancrownadventures@gmail.com

§  On receiving full payment, your Druk Air Ticket and the approved visa a copy will be e-mailed to you.

§  Your final Visa will be stamped on your passport upon arrival at Paro Airport.

§  For those entering Bhutan by road through India, your visa will be stamped at the immigration check point in Phuntsholing or Samdrup Jongkhar.

Visa & Passport

Bhutan Crown Adventures will process your Bhutan visa after receiving the full tour payment, a passport copy and a scanned copy of your passport size photograph. Once we obtain the visa, we will email a copy to you which you will require upon arrival in Bhutan.

However, your final visa will be endorsed and stamped on your passport at the port of entry to Bhutan. Two passport size photographs will be required. If required, Visa extension can be obtained from Thimphu

Indian national don’t require Visa. Visa will be issued on arrival upon producing government issued document -voter’s ID or passport

Daily Tariff

The minimum tariff for tourist visiting in groups of 3 persons or more are as follows:

Tariff – US$ 250 per person per night halt.

This includes:

§  All internal taxes and charges (including the royalty)

§  Accommodation (Excluding 5 star hotels)

§  All Meals

§  Licensed Bhutanese tour guide

§  Transport

§  Camping Equipment for Trekking Tours

The rates given above are applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan. The rates shall apply uniformly irrespective of locations and the type of accommodation provided for.

Surcharges

Individual tourists and smaller groups of less than 3 persons shall be subject to surcharge with the minimum daily tariff.

Single individual US$ 40 per night

Group of 2 persons US$ 30 per person per night

Discounts

§  There shall be no charge for CHILDREN up to the age of 5 years. However, those between the ages of 6-12 years accompanied by elders or guardians shall be given 50% discount on daily rates.

§  Full time STUDENTS below the age of 25 years holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions shall also be given a 25% discount on daily rates.

§  A discount of 50% on daily rates shall be given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 people.

§  100% discount shall be given to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.

Cancellations

Tour Programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to charges as follows:

§  within 30 days of start of program~ no charges.

§  within 21 days ~ 10% of tariff.

§  within 14 days ~ 15% of tariff.

§  within 7 days ~ 30% of tariff.

§  less than 7 days or without notice ~ 50% of tariff.

§  after arrival in Bhutan ~ 100%

Delayed Arrivals

There is no charge for delays in arrival and departure because of weather conditions disrupting flights or road blocks. The tourist must however bear the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, and other services required.

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From Desk

Dear Travel Partners

Greetings from the Kingdom of Bhutan.


Bhutan Landlocked Adventure is an aspiring inbound tour operator in Bhutan with a vision of quality service the travel agent is staffed with a team of experienced professional tour managers and guides.

We offer you the glance of breathtaking wonders of eastern Himalayas in the hope that it will inspire you to travel and experience at first hand the adventure of discovery for yourself. Our way of life is quite different from that of the rest of the world and this attracts tourist from every corner of the world. Bhutan is a great travel destination with its rich and unique culture, tradition and natural environment. Bhutan Landlocked Adventures hope that you will find new web-site of great assistance in planning your vacation to Bhutan with us. Customized tours and quality travel packages emphasized by us has attracted a wide range of travelers from all over the globe to travel with us. We have specialized professional in the field of trekking, mountain biking, motor biking and culture guiding. We take pride in providing unmatched quality service and satisfaction of our clients has always been our main concern. We are confident to make your stay in Bhutan a memorable one with our excellent service which is further enhanced by our long on-field experience with clients the clients are escorted by trained, knowledgeable and competent English speaking guides who are all certified by the Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. The Japanese, French and German language speaking guides are also arranged on prior notice and at additional cost. All hotels and luxury lodges during your stay are certified by the Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. All of the tours mentioned in the website have been designed with flexibility in mind and is definitely not rigid. Your itinerary and request are highly welcome so that we can custom tailor a program for you as per choice. Please contact us with your queries. We would love to provide our service in your travel to Bhutan.if you have interest in doing Business with us do let us Know.

We thank for your patience and look forward to fruitful partnership! here is my company's website.


Thanking you

Sincerely,
Managing Director
Sonam Gyeltshen

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