Bhutan Drukair will fly up to 20,000 passengers

Drukair will fly up to 20,000 passengers this month alone - a record for the airline.

The record traffic is a result not only of the peak tourist season beginning this month, but also the upcoming Royal Wedding.

As a result, Drukair has already inserted 28 additional flights, or made available 4,500 more seats, this October. Half these flights are on the Paro-Bangkok, Thailand sector. The airline has placed a second crew in Bangkok to address the record upsurge in passenger traffic.

“We’ve created more than 25 percent additional capacity for October and it’s the highest we’ve ever created,” the airline’s commercial manager, Tshering Penjor, said. He added that the airline has even had to hire temporary staff to cope with the record traffic being experienced.

On October 2, the airline flew 15 flights in and out of Paro airport, setting another record for most flights operated at the airport since its construction in the early eighties.

While some seats on incoming flights to Paro are still available, Tshering Penjor said that preferred dates might not be available. In case of medical emergencies requiring patients to be flown out, he said that Drukair would continue to prioritise such cases. “Drukair has and will continue to extend priority and do all possible, as and when an emergency arises.”

While the airline has created the additional capacity, bad weather and technical problems if encountered, could disrupt the October schedule. “We’ve kept some cushion to ensure during such unforeseen circumstances while flights may be disrupted and delayed, at no point of time, the air services will be crippled,” Tshering Penjor said. He added, “However no one can guarantee against any technical problems or weather related delays and, if we face them, obviously it’ll impact the schedules.”

A technical problem with one of its airbus jets already disrupted the schedule, when it was grounded for maintenance on Tuesday and most of Wednesday.

He also pointed out that, despite the increased frequency of flight operations, safety of passengers and aircraft maintenance would not be compromised, and would remain a priority of the airline.

Source: Kuenselonline

8th South Asian Bodybuilding Championship will held in Thimphu Bhutan

The buses that chauffeured bodybuilders from five of the eight SAARC member nations between Paro airport and Thimphu must have felt unusually heavy yesterday.

Besides the luggage and other officials, it was carrying, close to 100 men of steel weighing between 50kg and more than 100kg from Maldives, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to participate in the 8th South Asian Bodybuilding Championship, which will be held at clock tower square in Thimphu between June 3 and 4.

Participants from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could not make it.

Executive committee members of the World Bodybuilding federation and South Asian Bodybuilding federation are also expected to participate as officials for the event.

“The championships will be held under nine weight categories between 55kg and 90kg and go on up to super-heavy weight category,” officials said. “It’s the first time that a prestigious international sporting event is being hosted in the country.”

The Bhutan Olympic committee, in association with the Bhutan Bodybuilding and Weightlifting federation will be organising the event.

ྠྠྠྠྠSource: Kuenselonline

Bhutan Royal wedding in October will have celebrations

The royal wedding in October will have befitting celebrations for the occasion, although not extravagant or overly grand, according to works and human settlement minister, Yeshey Zimba.

This, the minister announced yesterday, during the meet-the-press meeting in Thimphu. His Majesty the King on May 23, at the opening session of the parliament, announced that he would wed Jetsun Pema, and emphasised that the wedding would happen in a simple traditional ceremony.

“This is a very historic occasion and all the people in the country would like to join the celebrations,” said Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba. “His Majesty wants it simple, but the people will be disappointed, as they have awaited it for so long. It must be something that the people of Bhutan would be happy with.”

The minister, wearing an excited look as he shared the plans, said that everyone, from the people in the villages to the prime minister, would have their own roles. “From the prime minister downward, everyone would be assuming a full responsibility for the arrangements,” he said.

The prime minister is personally coordinating the celebrations. The cabinet had already met once for planning and distributing the roles. The prime minister is meeting the secretaries of the ministries today to give directions as to how things have to be done, said Lyonpo.

The home ministry and the zhung dratshang, as expected, were handed the responsibility of arranging the traditional and cultural arrangements.

The home and culture affairs minister, Minjur Dorji, said the celebration was always on his mind. “It’s a very important aspect of our culture,” he said. “We should maintain the tradition and culture. So the events are also being planned, keeping in mind, how best the people could participate in the celebrations.”

The centenary and coronation celebrations, two significant events in the past three years, economic affairs minister, Khandu Wangchuk said, were grand, as people from all walks of life joined and rejoiced the occasions, but it was not expensive.

“There is no celebration in the country without the schools and children involved,” education minister Thakur Singh Powdyel said. He said that the schools would be celebrating in a befitting way.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan is hosting an International Education Fair in the capital Thimphu

For the first time, Bhutan is hosting an International Education Fair in the capital Thimphu.

Fifty two Universities from India, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and the United States of America are participating in the fair, offering a wide range of courses.

Organised by the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with A Fair Exhibition Media, an Indian company, the fair is attracting a large number of students and parents looking for universities and colleges to enroll in. Most of the visitors are from Thimphu and the neighbouring districts but many have come from as far as Trashigang or Trashiyangtse.

Karsang Ugyen had come all the way from Trashiyangtse, travelling by bus for three days to the capital, to attend the fair. He secured 59 percent in the class XII examinations. There is no way he will qualify for admission in a government college. His only option is to pursue further studies at his own expense. That means looking for a college in India or elsewhere.

Ugyen did not come alone. He came with a group of friends, all looking for an affordable college.

The fair is a good opportunity for them. They don’t have to travel to outside Bhutan to look for a college at huge expense. And more importantly, they can saunter from stall to stall to choose and select from a great variety of courses and colleges in various countries.

The fair ends tomorrow.

Source: BBS

Bhutan construction of the Information Technology Park in Thimphu

The construction of the Information Technology Park, the Thimphu Tech Park, is on track. According to officials working for the project, about 50 percent of the construction works have been completed. The IT Park is expected to be operational by September this year.

Yesterday, a delegation from the World Bank led by the vice president for South Asia, Isabel Guerrero, visited the site to review the progress.

The park is being developed on five acres of land in Wangchutaba, a few kilometers south of the capital Thimphu.

Manju Haththotuwa, the advisor, said “it will generate jobs, help bring in foreign direct investments, and make Bhutan an IT based society.”

It is expected to create 700 direct and 2,800 indirect jobs in the next five years.

It is being developed by Thimphu Techpark private limited, a joint venture of Druk Holding and Investment, and Assetz, a property development firm which is based in India and Singapore at a cost of over 10 million US dollars.

Source: BBS

Bhutan hosting its first ever SAARC summit

It has been a hectic week in the capital, with Bhutan hosting its first ever SAARC summit that ended yesterday.

But at the end of it all there is a deep sense of satisfaction with everyone involved that all went well if not perfectly.

This sense is not only shared by those, who were directly involved in some way with the summit, but also by their friends and family members in the capital and beyond, who were equally tense about how it might go.

Such a feeling grew from the fact that a lot of preparation work was still going on or seemed to be going on even at the last minute.

The unusual weather a few days before the summit threatened to rip apart decorative flags hung all over the city.

There were stories about rushed coordination meetings with no agenda, the interiors of recently completed SAARC villas still smelling of fresh paint and volunteers, who would serve and prepare some meals for the dignitaries, doing some last minute crash course.

Thus a sense of uncertainty as the day drew close. And when it came, everyone did the best they could, starting early and staying late into the night, so that visiting dignitaries were comfortable and felt at home.

Still then the summit was not devoid of its awkward moments. There were stories of hungry angry grumbling journalists, who were ushered into the summit hall hours in advance, but there was nothing to eat once inside.

There were also rumours about how the lights went off in one villa, and the water running out for some time in another and about a canine getting to one delegate. All these incidents unfortunately are true.

But the overall ambience of the summit prevailed, which was one of friendship, harmony and cooperation. The summit in itself went the way it has always been. The leaders gave their speeches and certain declarations were adopted, but a shared sense of destiny for the region did seem to emerge at the end of it.

The summit proceedings broadcast live on national television was watched with interest all across the country, like people normally do when watching an international soccer match.

Today Bhutanese know more about SAARC than they ever did and children can identify the flags of SAARC nations as well as their leaders.

And the country’s organisational capacity to host such summits has been through the litmus test. If it came through, it is because everyone, despite differences, came together as a team.

Now it is time to get back to serving the people and addressing issues, like alleviating poverty, one of SAARC’s founding goals.

Source: Kuenselonline

First Snow Fall in Thimphu, The Capital City of Bhutan

The First snowfall of the year 2009 and that also in a very special day, last day of the year 2009. wow!!!!!

Thimphu, the capital city is covered with white snow... looking cool and wonderful....


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bhutan Thimphu Festival

Bhutan Thimphu Festival Tour

Join the colourful Thimphu Festival Tour. Visit Bhutan at the time of Thimphu Tsechu the grandest festivals in Bhutan. The Thimphu Festival is a religious festival where masked dances are performed to instruct the onlookers in the ways of Dharma. These are also occasions where Bhutanese people dress in their finest ethnic costumes. During the Thimphu Festival Tour you can witness various religious masked dances performed in the courtyards of the Dzong of the area. Our special festival tours visit Bhutan during the famous and colourful Thimphu Festival.

Day 1: Arrival Paro International Airport.
During the journey to Paro, one will experience from the left hand side of the plane, breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On the arrival at Paro International Airport, The representative, your tour guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest at the hotel and tea/coffee, drive to the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. This massive fortress is located on a hill top above the Pachu (Paro River) of Paro Valley. You have to walk about 15 minutes by crossing an ancient wooden bridge built in typical Bhutanese architect. The Dzong houses the District Administration Office and the District Monk Body. It was built in 1645 A.D. Lunch at Hotel. After Lunch Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means Monastery). Kyichu Lhakhang was built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country. It is one of the 108 such temples built by him for spreading Buddhism in this region. Drive to the Paro village town and explore the town. Altitude of Paro is 2260m.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Day 2: Paro – Paro
Drive for 15kms and reach the base of Famous Tiger’s Nest “TAKTSANG” Monastery and hike up which would take Two Hours up and approximately One Hour down. Stop at Taktsang Tea House “Cafeteria” for refreshment of Tea & Coffee. Taktsang is at 2900mts. Hike for another half an hour and you reach the Great and Magnificent Taktsang where you will be greets by the monks who live there and Special Bhutanese Butter Tea will be served with Snacks. Visit the most important monastery were the Guru Rimpoche was flying on a Flamming Tigress from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan to here and meditated for Three Months and flourishment of Buddhism in Paro started from 8th Century. Walk down hill and drive to Drugyal Dzong and on the way enjoys the view of the Taktsang Monastery, also known as “Tiger’s Nest temple”. Near the Drugyal Dzong, if the sky is clear we can see the Mt. Chomolhari on the background.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Thimphu is the Capital City of Bhutan but for the Buddhist Monk body moves to Punakha in Winter and their Summer Capital District is Thimphu but Winter s Punakha because it is cold in Thimphu during winter and Punakha is just perfect at 1300mts

Day 3: Paro – Thimphu
The drive to Thimphu will take roughly Two Hours. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan since from 1974. Punakha used to the capital city of Bhutan before that.
For the first one hour you will follow the Pa-Chu (Paro River) and reach Chuzom where the Thimphu River meets the Paro River and forms Wang-Chu (Chu means Water, River or Stream). Chuzom is a four direction motor road junction where one road leads to Thimphu, one to Phuentsholing the border town to India, one to Haa valley and one where you drove from Paro. It will take another One hour from here to Capital city, Thimphu. Check in the Hotel and after short rest visit National Memorial Stupa, built in 1874 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the father of Modern Bhutan, the Late His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan. The Memorial Stupa, built in 1974 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the Father of Modern Bhutan, The Third King of Bhutan. This Tibetan & Bhutanese Architecture mixed Stupa has got three different sects of Buddhism such as Gongdu on the Top floor, Drukpa Kagyud on Middle with Second Buddha figure facing the Sun Rise and on the Ground Floor it is the Phurba.

Day 4: Thimphu – Thimphu
Full Day Thimphu Festival
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 5: Thimphu – Thimphu
Full Day Thimphu Festival
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 6: Thimphu - Thimphu
AM Thimphu Festival, Lunch in Town, after lunch drive to BBS Tower to get the magnificent picture and view of Thimphu and you can also see our Queens Palaces. Visit to Thimphu Mini Zoo where you can see our National Animal “TAKIN” which has a head of a goat and body of a cow, believed to be made by great Devine Madman in the 16th Century. Visit national Library, School of Thirteen Arts and Crafts, National institute of Traditional Medicines.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.

Day 7: Thimphu – Punakha
After breakfast drive to Winter Capital for the Monastic Body, Punakha at 1300m.
One hour drive reach you to Dochula Pass at 3150mts where you can see and enjoy the Eastern Himalayas in a Panoramic View and best picture time for group of Bhutanese Style of Stupas, as there are 108 Stupas built by Her Majesty for the well being of the Nation and Love Live His Majesty. It descends to Punakha and Wangdue at 1300mts which will take another two hours. Visit Historic and one of the most beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Great Zhabdrung Rimpoche who unified Bhutan in 17th Century.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 8: Punakha - Punakha
After breakfast walk to the famous Devine Madman’s Monastery The Chhimi Lhakhang “No Dog Monastery” built in 1499. Today it is very popular because couples who are married for so many years and don’t have childrens but always desired go there and get blessed from the wodden Phallus and in another Nine months the wife gets pregnant. We will visit the monastery and meditate and picnic lunch will be served outside the monastery in a lush green ground. After Lunch drive to Punakha and visit the beautiful and legendary Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Monastery built by Her Majesty the Queen mother of our Crown Prince.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 9: Punakha – Paro
After breakfast drive to Paro. Lunch at Thimphu. Afterlunch further drive to Paro
Overnight: Hotel in Paro

Day 10: Depart Bhutan.

After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport to board.

Thank You very much for visiting Bhutan with us and we look forward in hearing and re-organizing same Pilgrimage Tour for you, your family members and Friends!!!

Bhutan long and full solar eclipse

Bhutan has witness the long and full Solar Eclipse, the wonder of the world. Following are the picture collection of mine.

"The picture are my personal collection and please do not copy or use the picture in other website and papers."

Thimphu Tashichoe Dzong

Thimphu Tashichoedzong

Tashichoedzong is in the Capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. Tashichoedzong or fortress on the northern edge of the city, on the western bank of the Wang Chu River. It has traditionally been the seat of the Monastrict body and summer capital of the country.

"It was built by the first Religion head, who also founded the Lho-drukpa sect of Buddhism, which has remained the distinctive sect of Bhutan.

The main structure of the whitewashed building is two-storied with three-storied towers at each of the four corners topped by triple-tiered golden roofs. There is also a large central tower or utse.
Tashichoedzong in Winter

The original Thimphu dzong (the Dho-Ngyen Dzong, or Blue Stone Dzong) was built in 1216 by Lama Gyalwa Lhanangpa where Dechen Phodrang now stands above Thimphu. Soon after, Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, who first brought the Drukpa Kagyu lineage to Bhutan, took it over.

It has been the seat of Bhutan's government since 1952 and presently houses the throne room and offices of the king, the secretariat and the ministries of home affairs and finance. Other government departments are housed in buildings nearby. West of the dzong is a small tower of Ney Khang Lhakhang which houses a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha and protective deities. Thimphu Tashi Cho Dzong, the office of the King and the Throne Room and also the Summer Capital of Monastic Body lead by His Holiness the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who spend six months here during summer and move to Punakha for winter for another six months.

In 1641 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal acquired it from Lama Phajo's descendants, but soon finding it too small, he built another one, known as the lower Dzong for the administration, keeping the older one for the monks. The original dzong was destroyed by fire in 1771 and everything was moved to the lower one which was expanded then, and again by the 13th Druk Desi (1744-1763), and also in 1866. It was damaged during an earthquake in 1897 and rebuilt in 1902. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck had it completely renovated and enlarged over five years after he moved the capital to Thimpu in 1952 in traditional style using neither nails nor written plans.
Tashichoedzong in 1921

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Thimphu: National Memorial Chorten (Stupa)

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten (Stupa) was built in 1874 by the Royal Queen Mother, dedicated to the father of Modern Bhutan, the Late His Majesty King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck of Bhutan. This Tibetan & Bhutanese Architecture mixed stupa has got three different sects of Buddhism such as Gongdu on the Top Floor, Drukpa Kagyud on the Middle Floor with Second Buddha figures facing the Sun Rise and on the Ground Floor its the Phurba.

BCCB: School Cricket Match in celebration of 100 Years of Cricket

Damber Singh Gurung (National Coach) With Umpires, Coaches and Captain

Bhutan Cricket Council Board organized the Thimphu schools cricket tournaments in celebration of 100 years of Cricket with ICC, in "CATCH THE SPIRIT" event with it. It's also the first and the important cricket tournaments for the Schools in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan and also the Cricket Board of Bhutan. As from this tournament they Board is selecting the National Team for the category of Under 19 and Under 15. so it's very important for the student and a very good change for them to get into the squad and represent Bhutan in their future.

There are 15 teams participating from the school's of Thimphu in the Tournaments of Under 15 boys team. The upcoming tournament will be for Under 19 Girls.

News: Phuentsholing Thimphu Highway Blocked

The co-passenger of the Wagon R car, which plunged into the Paro river on March 26, is still missing, according to police.

The vehicle, on its way to Thimphu from Paro, fell into the river while maneouvering a bend two kilometres away from the Chunzom police checkpoint. A search team from the Paro police found the body of the driver, who was in his early 30s, on March 28.

Both men were found missing when police arrived at the scene. They found the car entirely submerged in the river. The accident was reported to police by officials at the Chunzom checkpost.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

Source: Kuenselonline

First Spring Rain Fall in Thimphu

Today the 26th of March 2009, there was first spring rain in the capital city of Bhutan. It kept on raining for the whole day.

The people of Bhutan are saying that its a good sign for the country and specially for the farmers of
Bhutan.

The Farmer's said that this year they will have a very good food and crops. All the people in Bhutan are happy.

But, the Druk air flight couldn't land Paro International Airport Yesterday, due to the bad weather.

SPRING IN BHUTAN

My First Blog

About Me:

Hi Everyone,

This is my first blog post.

In my first Blog i would like to introduce my self. I am Tashi Phuntsho, i was born in the year 1982/02nd the November, working in Bhutan Majestic Travel, one of the top Ten travel companies/agency in Bhutan. I have been working in BMT for the last five(5) years as General Manager.

1 Thimphu

There are 20 Districts in Bhutan



1. Thimphu

Thimphu is the Capital City of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.Thimphu Dzongkhag is located in the western part of the country. It shares boundaries with Gasa, Punakha &Wangduephodrang Dzongkhags in the east, Chukha & Dagana in the south, Paro Dzongkhag in the west. In the north, it borders the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Thimphu is more developed Dzongkhags in the country. It has a relatively good road network, especially in the lower Gewogs. The Gewogs in the northern part of the

Dzongkhag, which have rugged and mountainous terrain with extreme cold climate, are connected only by mule track making access and delivery of development

services difficult and expensive.