News and Events
Norbugang Bird watching campsite
The construction of the Norbugang
Bird watching campsite facility located approximately 125 Kilometers from
Bumthang and 70 kilometers from Mongar has been completed and is available for
use.
The facility has campsites & restroom
facilities and has been handed over to a local operator, Aum Sonam of
Thridangbi. A sum of Nu. 150/-(one hundred fifty) will be charged for usage of
the facilities per tourist/night. |
Takin Festival 21-23 Feb 2013
Takin Festival will be held every year in Gasa to showcase Bhutan’s rich natural heritage, raise awareness on conservation of biodiversity, create avenues and strive towards financial sustainability of the park management, provide off-season ecotourism opportunities to the tourism sector, and provide supplemental income opportunities to the park residents, specifically the upland communities. Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) is the second largest among the ten natural preserves in the country. It is closest to the country’s capital, Thimphu, and to the country’s international airport at Paro. The park spans across five dzongkhags of which almost all of Gasa Dzongkhag is encompassed. Offering spectacular Himalayan vistas of awe-inspiring scenic beauties and enchanted mix of cultural and wildlife safaris, JDNP is considered a conservation heritage of nature and culture in harmony. Gasa Dzongkhag is located in the north western part of Bhutan. It is the least populated district in the country, but the richest in terms of medicinal plants and temperate biodiversity. The district is famous for having many hot springs and medicinal baths. It is also declared as an organic district. Gasa is also well known for the popular Bhutanese folklore of Gasa Lamai Singye and Changyul Bhumoi Galem which depicts the tragic love story equivalent to that of the famous Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet. Gasa Lamai Singye, who is Bhutanese equivalent of Romeo, was serving as a servant to the abode of monastic body in Gasa when Galem (equivalent of Juliet) was helping her parents with farm works in her village of Changyuel in Punakha. The story ended with Galem committing suicide when her parents vehemently objected to her idea of marrying Singye. During the Takin Fair in Gasa, watch skilled nomadic herders as they weave tents, blankets, rugs and bags from raw material culled by shearing yaks. You might also like the demonstrations of local cane work tradition, which includes the much photographed conical hats that are a specialty of the region. Enjoy rich meals derived from yak meat and dairy, and try chugos, the dried and hardened cubes of yak cheese that are a popular snack. Learn about some of the environmental issues gripping the region and the world from the Wildlife. Conservation Division’s information booth, or catch a high altitude screening of a documentary film about the Takins and the issues undermining their survival and habitat. Become the natural observer of Bhutan’s little-known national animal at Gathana (where the tourist will be making short treks from Damji under Gasa Dzongkhag) as you track their salt licks and watch their mating and social behavior. Enjoy a medicinal hot spring bath in Gasa. The Takin Festival will be held annually from 21st to 23rd February. |
Toursim Council of Bhutan formally announced that tariff revised wef 1st Jan 2012.
USD 250 per person per night on a twin sharing basis for the months of March, April, May, September, October and November wef 1st January 2012. USD 200 per person per night on a twin sharing basis from the months 1. USD 250 per person per night on a twin sharing basis for the months of March, April, May, September, October and November wef 1st January 2012. 2. USD 200 per person per night on a twin sharing basis from the months of January, February, June, July, August and December wef 1st January 2012. 3. Existing Low Season Discount will be discontinued from 1st July 2011 as announced earlier. 4. Royalty will be kept at USD 65 through out the year 5. All other provisions of the earlier announcement reffered to above such as discounts, FIT surcharges, and agents commission will remain the same and come into effect as announced. 6. 50 percent discount on royalty for children below 12 years of age will be changed to 100 percent discount on royalty from 1st July 2011. |
Tourist arrivals increase by more than 50 percent in 2011
Last year a total of 64,028 high-end tourists visited Bhutan. The figure includes 16,418 regional high ends and 1,728 regional tourists who came by land but stayed in more than three star hotels. Officials said this is the highest recorded number of visitor arrivals in the country with a growth of 56.65 percent from 2010.Bhutan also saw 36,805 re-gional tourists who entered the country by land and had did not stay in three star hotels and above. High-end tourists are those who come by air and pay a minimum daily tariff of USD 250 during peak season and USD 200 during off-season. The daily tariff was raised from USD 165 during off-season to USD 200 a day and from USD 200 during peak season to USD 250. The peak seasons are March, April, May, September, October and November. The daily tariff was raised from USD 165 during off-season to USD 200 a day and from USD 200 during peak season to USD 250. The peak seasons are March, April, May, September, October and November.America, Japan, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, Australia, France, Singapore and the least from Canada. The most visited places are Thim-phu, Paro, Dochula, Punakha, temples, dzongs and trekkings. The council’s target for this year is to bring in 100,000 high-end tourists. |
Punakha Festival 2013
Trongsa Festival 2012
Trongsa, the sacred and the temporal heart of the country is a two days journey from Thimphu. Situated in central Bhutan and once the seat of power over central and eastern Bhutan, both the first and second kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. All four kings were invested as Trongsa Penlop (“governor”) prior to ascending the throne. The dzong built in 1648, is a massive structure with many levels, sloping down the contours of the ridge on which it is built. Because of the dzong’s highly strategic position, on the only connecting route between east and west, the Trongsa Penlop was able to control effectively the whole of the central and eastern regions of the country from here. Of the many festivals being held in various parts of Trongsa, the highlight is the three day annual Tshechu being held annually where people from all walks of life congregate. The Tshechu falls sometime in the month of December. Besides the mask dances, one can witness the unfurling of the sacred Thongdrol and receive blessings. People also receive blessings from the sacred Nangtens that is open during the last day of the Tshechu. |