BHUTAN
Capital: Thimpu
Area: 47,000 sq km (a fifth of UK’s area).
Population: 672,425 (2005 official census) although other estimates put it at around 2 million.
Religion: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha, Tibetan and Nepalese dialects
Time: GMT + 6hrs
When to go
Bhutan's climate ranges from tropical in the south, to temperate in the centre of the country, to cold in the north. Mid December to early January can be a beautifully clear and dry time in western Bhutan. Late December through mid February is the period of heaviest snowfall in the higher elevations. The autumn season, late September through November, is usually mild and the sky is at its clearest affording magnificent views of the Himalaya.
Getting there
Bhutan’s international airport is at Paro. No direct flights are available to Paro from the UK. Some of the best options are via Delhi or Kolkata (India), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Bangkok (Thailand).
There are two possibilities for entry by road. The first is into Phuntsholing from Sikkim and West Bengal (India). The less popular option is to enter into Samdrup Jongkhar via Assam (India).
