UPCOMING EVENTS IN BHUTAN

Dear travel partner, Kuzu zang pola. Bhutan has been a choice of destination for many Indian travelers over the years. The Secretariat of the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has increased the focus on the Indian market and has initiated a series of marketing initiatives to promote Bhutan as an up-market international leisure destination neighboring India. Our 2013 marketing activities began with particpation at several industry events that included SATTE, Travel Outbound Workshop and the popular OTM Mumbai. During these events our Bhutanese private sector hoteliers and DMC's interacted with many Indian trade members with the objective of enhancing the quality of the experience for their customers. In order to support our Indian trade partners, we have initiated a monthly newsletter that will help you provide more information on the destination that would be desirable to your discerning Indian travelers. For this month's newsletter, we have focused on the upcoming events of 'Paro Tshechu' and 'Chortan Kora' festivals. We have also included entry points in Bhutan along with some recommended tour inclusions that is sure to entice more of your customers. Going forward, the monthly newsletters will highlight our cuisine, art and culture, events, festivals and other interesting facts on Bhutan. We trust you will enjoy reading our monthly newsletter which will serve as a definite guide to enhancing your itineraries. We look forward to your queries and feedback on exec.office@charsonadvisory.com. Kadrin Chey (Thank you) for supporting Bhutan. Sincerely, Tourism Council of Bhutan India Representative Office

GETTING TO BHUTAN Visitors can visit Bhutan either by air or by land. The main points of entry are through Phuentsholing in the south that links Bhutan with the Indian plains of West Bengal; through Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar that links with the Indian state of Assam and through Paro, where the entry is through Drukair, the National airline of Bhutan. Travel by Air India : Calcutta, New Delhi, Bodghaya, Bagdogra, Mumbai (Proposed) and Guwahati Nepal : Kathmandu Thailand : Bangkok Bangladesh : Dhaka Singapore : Singapore Bhutan’s only international airport at Paro caters to the needs of visitors coming in through flight. In fine weather, as you soar higher up, you can enjoy the spectacular display of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga at their best. MUST DO ACTIVITIES Hot Stone Bath: This is a popular form of medication practiced in Bhutan since time immemorial. Red hot stones heated over logs of wood are immersed from one end and as the water gets heated a person slowly enters the trough and sits immersed neck down in water. This is said to have lots of medicinal benefits and are usually done when having knee, join and back pains. Taktsang: The Tigers Nest is the most popular tourist site in the country and a must visit place due to its location and the relaxing hike to the monastery. Perched on a high steep cliff, a spectacular view from afar awes and takes away your breath at the first sight. Just before reaching to the actual location of the monastery, you can have a panoramic view of the entire place, which could be a little scary due to the cliff but the beautiful view will beat the fear inside you. Food tasting at Folk Heritage Museum: This is one of the places in Bhutan, where you can get all the Bhutanese food without having to travel to the remote places. The meal starts with Aara (local alcohol) and Suja (butter tea) and then the food is served in traditional wooden plates and bowls. UPCOMING EVENTS IN BHUTAN Gomphu Kora Festival - 20th – 22nd March, 2013 Gomphu means "Meditation Cave" and Kora means "Circumambulation". The name is derived from a cave formed out of a rock-face next to a temple that has been built as a tribute to this sacred site. During this festival, people from all over eastern Bhutan descend upon the narrow valley, dressed in their finery, to partake in the festivity, to worship and to reunite themselves with their illustrious past. For some, traditionally, the festival is also an occasion to have a date for the people of Eastern Bhutan that leads to many marriages. Do not miss to join this amazing festival to experience like no other! TOUR INCLUSION IDEAS - BHUTAN Shopping in Bhutan - Shopping in Bhutan is a pleasurable and diversified experience offering a variety of goods that revolve mainly round textiles. One may shop for items like hand-woven textiles, carved masks of animals, woven baskets of cane and bamboo, wooden bowls known as Dapas, finely crafted gods of silver. Kayaking and Rafting: The natural setting and the sheer variety of the rivers' courses makes up for a unique opportunity to explore Bhutan's beautiful wilderness. It is more than a teaser and an invitation to anyone interested in adventure travels. The best time for rafting and kayaking is from March to April and November to December. UNDERSTANDING BHUTAN Bhutan commonly referred to as the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' is one of the most sought after travel destinations today. Bhutan is a trekker's paradise and an environmentalist's dream. With 72 percent of the country under forest cover, Bhutan's pristine ecology is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. Bhutan has been described as a unique, deeply spiritual and mystical experience. Eastern Bhutan welcomes travellers into a world of unexplored trekking, historical and cultural escapades, great scenery, textiles highlights and natural wonders. The districts of Mongar, Lhuntse, Tashi Yangtse, Tashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar constitute the eastern circuits. Western Bhutan comprises of the six western Districts in the country that includes Thimphu, Paro, Haa, Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha and Gasa. In this circuit one may attend the annual Haa Summer Festival in July and delve into the wonders of a living culture. Central Bhutan comprises of the two central Districts of Trongsa and Bumthang. It boasts unique attractions and is home to many sacred monuments in the country. One can witness numerous festivals including the annual tshechu of Trongsa and Bumthang, the Jampa Lhakhang tshechu, or witness the Ura tshechu that is unique. Southern Bhutan is the ecological hub of the country comprising of seven southern districts of Bhutan, namely, Samtse, Chukha, Dagana, Tsirang, Sarpang, Zhemgang and Pemagatshel. Zhemgang. FEATURED ATTRACTION The Royal Manas National Park Manas National Park, a lush region hosts a wealth of animal and plant species which makes it one of the world’s most biodiversity rich sites. A visitor to this Park can take a plunge into the river or take an elephant ride through the jungles and remote villages where one can encounter colourful hornbills and golden languor swinging in the trees. Getting there Paro is the first port of call if you're flying in. Transfer to Thimphu, the nation's capital and then drive south to Gelephu, a subtropical border town, before continuing on to the Assamese town of Kokrajhar, and then to Panbang. Or you can also drive from Paro to Thimphu to Trongsa to Zhemgang and Gelephu (a minimum four days by car). Best time to visit Although the park is open the year round the best time to visit is winter from November to January. Log cabins have been built to provide a comfortable stay for visitors to the park. Basic amenities such as running water and electricity are also available. Things to see and do Take a safari on elephant back through the jungles Meet tribal Khengpa people and stay in their traditional bamboo homes (with tastings of the local home-brewed chaang!) Raft down the broad sweep of the Manas river, neighboring the Indian state of Assam and home to exotic Golden Langurs, Gangetic Dolphins and the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros. Take a refreshing plunge in the river. Look for frolicking pods of rivers dolphins. Encounter colorful hornbills taking wing, rhinoceroses munching in the grass or golden langurs swinging in the trees. DID YOU KNOW? National Flag The upper yellow half signifies the secular power and authority of the King while the lower saffron-orange symbolizes the practice of religion and power of Buddhism, manifested in the tradition of Drukpa Kagyu. The dragon signifies the name and the purity of the country while the jewels in its claws stand for the wealth and perfection of the country. National Dress Men wear a heavy knee length robe tied with a belt, called a gho, folded in such a way to form a pocket in front of the stomach. Women wear colorful blouses over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth called a kira. A short silk jacket may be worn over the kira. Economy Bhutan's economy is mainly based on select sectors such as agriculture, forestry, hydroelectricity, manufacturing and tourism. The country's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Language Bhutan is linguistically rich with over eighteen dialects being spoken in the country. The national language is Dzongkha, which is the native language of the Ngalops of Western Bhutan. The other major languages are the Tshanglakha and the Lhotshamkha. Currency Bhutan's currency is Ngultrum (Nu) and it is par with the Indian Rupee. Indian Rupees of smaller denominations are widely accepted in Bhutan.

For further information, please contact: Tourism Council of Bhutan, India Representative Office C/o Charson Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. 1104 Arcadia, 11th Floor, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021 – India Tel: 91 (22) 65172273; Fax: 91 (22) 22828835; Email: exec.office@charsonadvisory.com Tourism Council of Bhutan Tarayana Centre, Chubachu, Thimphu, Bhutan Tel: 975 2 323251/2 ; Email: info@tourism.gov.bt; Web: www.tourism.gov.bt