POPULATION 708,427
FOREIGN VISITORS PER YEAR 28,500
CAPITAL THIMPHU
LANGUAGES DZONGKHA, SEVERAL LOCAL LANGUAGES, TIBETAN AND NEPALESE DIALECTS
MAJOR INDUSTRIES AGRICULTURE, TIMBER, HYDROELECTRIC POWER UNIT OF CURRENCY BHUTANESE NGUTRUM (NU)
SEE NEWLY OPENED AREAS OF THIS FABLED LAND
Things are afoot in the high Himalaya, and we don't mean the mighty yeti. Beautiful Buddhist Bhutan has always coyly shielded its charms from the wider world, but new areas of this remarkable mountainous land are finally opening for business.
Of course, you've been able to visit for years, but most tours hit the same highlights: a part-awesome, part-terrifying flight into peak-protected Paro, a jaunt around western Bhutan's cultural sights, then perhaps a trek through pristine mountains (Bhutan's conservation credentials are exemplary). There's no independent travel here; itineraries are sanctioned by the Tourism Council and guides are compulsory.
But now, at last, it's possible to visit other parts of this famously reclusive country. In a bid to raise tourist numbers, areas once off-limits are being opened up. Royal Manas National Park, prowled by some of the planet's last remaining tigers, has reopened. And the Far East, where most locals have seen more yetis than tourists, is accessible and is getting better infrastructure. You can join local spider-hatted Brokpa in the merak Sakten region for butter tea at new tourist shelters, or experience a home stay in Trashi Yangtse.
It's also hoped that new festivals - celebrating seasons, valleys and odd-looking animals - will spread the visitor numbers (and ngultrum) across a wider swath of Bhutan.
The bad news? All this loveliness could cost even more. Bhutan has never been a budget destination, charging a tariff of US S200 per day (Though this covers most on- the-ground costs). This figure is set to rise to US S250 in 2012, although at the time of writing, it wasn't a done deal; such an escalation doesn't sit well with global recession. If it doesn't happen, go quickly - the increase won't be deferred forever. |
