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Stranded in the streets of Bhutan!
I got the opportunity to visit Bhutan in Jan 2006.
I had been planning a long vacation with my wife for a long time. I searched the Internet extensively and was very impressed with the information I got about Bhutan.
Most of the websites of Bhutan tourism are made keeping the Americans and the Europeans in mind. They have to apply for a visa and have to come through a government of Bhutan authorised travel agent.
Foreigners have to pay around $200 per day for food and accommodation. These fees are compulsory. This makes Bhutan probably one of the costliest destinations in the world.
• Airfare for Rs 599 and less!
I wrote to the Ministry of Tourism of Bhutan and I got the answers that I was expecting. Bhutan has a great relationship with India and Indians are treated very well. I was informed that Indians do not require a passport to enter Bhutan. Any identity card issued by the government of India sufficient. Even a driving license will do.
Indians can travel freely, they do not have to pay in USD. This was indeed very good news for me. I planned my journey to the minutest details and made most of the reservations over the internet. My wife and I took the Dadar-Guwahati Express from Mumbai on December 28, 2005 and reached New Jalpaiguri on December 30 early in the morning.
The train journey was very tiring. One thing I hated about the journey was that there were beggars and hawkers roaming around even in the 3AC compartment. The attendant did nothing to prevent this. I think he must be getting favours from those people. The food was not good, but we can rarely expect anything good on our trains.
Text and photograph: Carol Nettar
Also read: Visiting the Holy and High Abode of Shiva!
Share YOUR travel stories and pix!Have you been to Bhutan? What was your favourite sight there? Where did you have the best meal? Do you have a hotel to recommend? Do post details on the message board below so other readers can benefit from your advice. Remember to add information on what was special about the restaurant, hotel or sight you visited, along with relevant telephone numbers and addresses.
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