Off to Bhutan in Mid April'12

Hi every one,

I am going to Bhutan in Mid April along with 2 childhood friends of mine. I have read almost all posts on Bhutan available at IM. Below I am posting my tentative itinerary for you to see and review (and suggest better)along with few queries.



1) Train from Sealdah reaches at 10.33 IST. If I submit my papers at the Immigration office by 12.00 BTT / 12.30 BTT, By when can I expect to get my entry permit? Are they closed for lunch around that time?
2) Can I depart for Thimphu by 2.00 BST or 3.00BST? By latest what time Local transport to Thimphu is available? Like Coaster buses OR shared jeeps/ taxis? Fare?
3) A friend coming along do not possess a passport and Voter I card (he lost it), but has PAN, Ration, Bank Statement. Will get a Court affidavit too if it helps. I hope all these alternate documents will be enough as evidence at the Indian Consulate at Jaigaon?
4) The Immigration office at Thimphu from where I need to take permits for Punakha; is it open on Saturdays? Waht time does it open?
5) Even for a day trip to Punakha, the permit is required?
6) I heard from someone that to visit each monastery, one requires a separate permit from the Cultural Dept. Is this true? Where is the office of Cultural Dept.? Any other permits required?
7) Thimphu to Punakha (including Wangdue) and back to Thimphu; if we hire a car, what would be the ideal rent? Can anyone provide me with a contact no. of a driver (who is polite, can show us around Punakha and charge reasonable rental for the car)?
8) Can we cover the sightseeing spots in Paro (first day in Paro) on our own or car is needed? I intend to keep the next day for the trek to Taktsang Monastery.
9) Suggest me on how to include a trip to Chele La Pass from Paro in my itinerary.
10) Hotel TT is budget hotel (Rs 500) in Thimphu. Any hotels in the Rs 500 range in Paro?

This is my plan, Railway Tickets are booked. Please inform me if I have missed something. Your suggestions are always welcome.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Regards

Anirban.

Hello Anirban!

When did you post this? Is it after or before you receive my reply on your quarries? Any how, my response:

1.If you take your permit from Fuentsolling, there is very little chance that you will be able leave Fuenstsolling same day and to reach Thimphu.
2. Immigration Office at Thimphu would be closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Hence, you would not be able to submit your application for Permit on Saturday as indicated in your program.

In view of the above, the rest of your proposed program do not seem to have any relevance. I think you have to recast your program suitably. For going anywhere except Thimphu and Paro, you need separate Permit from Immigration Deptt., which is located on the main road of Thimphu (Lorzi lam?). It is walking distance from Hotel TT or Hotel Tandin. It opens at 10 AM (most probably) and follows 5-day week. Authorities do not make any distinction whether you travel during day or night. Permit is must for Punakha or Wangdoo. Chelela Pass from Paro is very much doable. But you need at least half a day for that. To cover Tiger Nest you need a full day, for Chelela Pass you need half a day and another half day would be needed for other points viz. Dzong, Museum etc. I do not recommend our Drivers. Hence I do not have any contact number for vehicle. But I suggest please go to the Taxi Stand yourself and bargain (very hard bargain!) hard to hire car for sight seeing. Don't hire car through your Hotel. You need car for all the sight seeing points at Paro. All these points are quite far from City Center. For Chelela Pass please see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=1zkHX5gfIKQ

I posted this query just before I read your entire trip to Bhutan.
The only option I have left is going to Paro first (instead of Thimphu)..
Thanks anyways. Will update it here for you to see..

Regards

Anirban

Hi everyone,
Please find below my revised itinerary for Bhutan. The earlier plan had some date problems.




For those who plan to visit Bhutan, ensure you visit on weekdays.

Regards

Anirban

Perfect, Anirban! But a little hectic though.....!!

Check out few Portrait photographs during my recent holiday in Bhutan..click the link below

http://www.indiamike.com/india-image...holiday-bhutan

Open link in new tab and click on image for large image size.

Will upload the scenic beauty photographs of Bhutan in some time.
Had a awesome trip..will post few things for sharing and some wonderful facts!

In the meantime, enjoy the portraits.
Valuable comments and critical appreciation awaited!

Hi Anirban!

Glad to know that you had an awesome trip to Bhutan and had now come back home. I have seen your "portrait photographs". I am neither a photographer (a point-N-shoot photographer) nor am I a critic of photography, but I liked your work. I am awaiting your trip report eagerly. Please do share "few things and some wonderful facts" with us. Thanks.