“Bhutan,” ‘the land of thunder Dragon’ and ‘the last Shangri La’ on earth, is situated in the lap of Eastern Himalayas between India and the People's Republic of China. Covering an area of 18000 sq miles, the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world. Spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and unique ancient Buddhist monasteries have made Bhutan an exemplar tourist destination, it is bestowed with rich bio-diversity harboring around 300 medicinal herbs and 165 endangered species. Each part of Bhutan has its own, historical, geographical, cultural, traditional and religious significance.
The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is fast emerging from centuries of self imposed isolation. First opened to tourists in 1974 in very regulated manner upon the coronation of present Bhutanese King, this mountain kingdom is still perhaps the world’s most exclusive tourists destination.
Due to the Royal Government’s far-sighted policy to preserve the countries pristine environment and its culture, the harmful effects to industrialization and mass tourism on the environment and the traditional lifestyle of Bhutanese have been carefully avoided. This makes Bhutan a truly unique destination.
An unspoiled country with majestic mountains, a unique cultural heritage preserved for many centuries, an architectural style like no other, a landfill of warm hearted and friendly people, reveals a true paradise in the lost era of the present century.
Communications. The Bhutanese postal system is slow but relatively reliable. The honesty and goodwill of Thimphu’s postmen are worth a mention. As of 1989, postcards for all destinations except India, Nepal and Bhutan require a 3 Nu. stamp. Letter for Europe require 4.50 Nu., for Asia 4 Nu., for America 5 Nu., for India, Nepal or Bhutan 50 Pychetrum. A letter takes about ten days to reach Europe, one week to Japan and three weeks to America. Packages (up to 5 kg or 11 lb.) should be sent by registered mail. Bhutanese stamps are beautiful and a joy stamp collectors. If this is your interest, ask at the philatelic office of the Thimphu Post office to see the stamp albums and also buy first-day covers there. There is a public telex in Thimphu, in addition to telex lines used by government offices. The rates are for a minimum of three minutes but the lines are frequently out of order. Likewise, if the telephone lines are working, it is possible to make international calls but there is likely to be a long delay as calls have to go through two exchanges, one in Bhutan and another in India. If you should get through and are not cut off, a clear connection is rare. Telephoning can be a trying experience for the nerves and a waste of time. Moral: only try telephoning in a real emergency and don’t count on a good connection.
Climate It is hard to generalise about Bhutan’s weather since the mountain climate varies enormously from one region to another. It varies with the altitude and can also reach extremes of heat and cold within the same 24 hours at any given altitude.
Southern Bhutan is tropical, with a monsoon season. The east is warmer than the west. The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdi Phodrang, Mongar, Tashigang and Lhuntshi enjoy a semi-tropical climate with very cool winters, Paro, Thimphu, Tongsa and Bumthang have a much harsher climate, including occasional snowfalls in winter. The north of the country is inhabited up to 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in summer. The climate there is rough, with monsoon rains in summer and heavy snowfalls in winter that block the passes leading into the central valleys.
In these valleys, where most tourist activities are concentrated, the winters (mid-November to Mid-March) are dry, with daytime temperatures of 16-18oC (60-65oF) if the sun is shining. By contrast, the evening and early mornings are cold, with night-time temperatures falling below freezing. Snow covers the mountain tops but reaches the valley only two or three times each winter.
Spring lasts from mid-March to the beginning of June, with temperature warming gradually to 27-29oC (80-84oF) by day and 18oC (64oF) at night. However, cold spells are possible up until the end of April, with a chance of new snow on the mountains above the valleys. Strong, gusty winds start blowing almost every day from noon to about 6 pm, raising clouds of dust. (Many roofs get blown off in this season!) The first storms break, and they become more and more frequent with the approach of the monsoon which arrives in mid-June.
This brings the rainy season. Bhutan then receives abundant rain, especially in the south, as it gets the full force of the monsoon coming up from the Bay of Bengal, to which its mountains form a barrier. However, apart from the first days of the monsoon when it rains without stopping, the rain falls mainly in the late evening and at night. Temperatures get a little cooler - 23-24oC(73-75oF) by day and 15-16oC(59-61oF) at night but the sun often comes out from behind the clouds and the days are very pleasant. It is worth noting that, unless you are extremely lucky, it is almost impossible to get a clear view of the high Himalayas from the end of March until the end of September.
At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly arrives. All at once the sky clears, a brisk breeze picks up and temperatures start falling towards freezing at night although bright sunshine continues to keep the days warm. Autumn is a magnificent season that lasts until mid-November.