Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [2]
Uncovering a fresco, spinning a prayer wheel or peering into a sacred alcove in one of Bhutan’s lofty, isolated temples.
Joining the clamour and crowds of a tsechu Click here as the masked dancers perform extraordinary feats and playful atsaras (masked clowns) swing their whips and wooden phalluses.
The banter and the boasting, the singing and the skills and the near-misses of an archery tournament Click here.
Watching artists, young and old, create religious and traditional arts and crafts employing skills passed down from generation to generation Click here.
The powerful whirr of hundreds of fraying prayer flags reciting in blustery winds at a lonely mountain pass Click here.
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The winter is a good time for touring in western Bhutan, bird-watching Click here in the south’s subtropical jungles, and whitewater rafting Click here. The days are usually sunny, cool and pleasant, but it’s quite cold once the sun sets and you will need to pack warm clothing. From December to February, there is often snow in the higher regions and occasional snow in Thimphu. The road from Thimphu to Bumthang and the east may be closed because of snow for several days at a time. It would be best not to plan to visit these regions at this time.
Spring, from March to May, is recognised as the second best time to visit Bhutan for touring and trekking. Though there are more clouds and rain than in the autumn, the magnificent rhododendrons, magnolias and other wildflowers are in bloom and birdlife is abundant. You can get occasional glimpses of the high peaks, but these are not the dramatic unobstructed views possible in autumn. Spring is also the time of the magnificent Paro tsechu.
Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season. And what a monsoon! During these three months 500mm of rain falls in Thimphu and up to a metre falls in the eastern hills. The mountains are hidden, the valleys are shrouded in clouds, and roads disappear in heavy downpours and floods. Summer is still a great time to visit Paro, Thimphu and other parts of western Bhutan. In the mellow monsoon light, the vivid green rice paddies contrast with the dark hills and the stark white dzongs to produce picture-perfect vistas. And the markets are bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables.
A major factor in choosing a time to visit Bhutan, and one that may override considerations of weather patterns, is the festival schedule. These colourful events offer a first-hand glimpse of Bhutanese life and provide an opportunity to see the inside of the great dzongs. It’s possible, and highly recommended, to work at least one festival into a tour or trek program. boxed text, for details on the calendar. In recent years overcrowding has become an issue during the major tsechus at Thimphu and Paro, which coincide with the best seasons. At these times flights and accommodation are heavily booked and you may find you need to pay a premium for accommodation or settle for lower-standard accommodation. You stand a much better chance of getting flights, accommodation and probably a more intimate and rewarding festival experience if you schedule your trip around one of the other cultural events.
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DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
A compact umbrella and/or rainjacket – for any region at any time of the year.
Hat, sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses (especially if trekking; Click here).
Earplugs (Bhutanese dogs sleep all day and bark all night).
Walking poles (even if you aren’t trekking, you will find these knee savers useful for steep hikes up to dzongs and temples).
Swimming costume for communal hot-stone baths and hot springs.
A flashlight for unexpected power cuts and for viewing interiors of dark temples and monasteries.
Motion sickness medication for the long and winding drives (Click here).
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COSTS & MONEY
Tourism in Bhutan is managed through partnership of government regulators and private travel agencies under a policy summed up