🇧🇹Bhutan

Typically bring

• A valid Indian passport (validity of at least 6 months is typically advised, though 14-day stays may require less — verify before travel).
• Return or onward flight ticket.
• Proof of accommodation or a registered tour operator's itinerary.
• Photocopies and digital copies of your passport and relevant pages.
• Sufficient evidence of funds (bank statement or travel cards).
• Travel insurance is strongly recommended but not always explicitly checked at the border.

Watch out for

• Do not overstay the permitted 14 days; overstaying can lead to fines, deportation, or future entry restrictions.
• All foreign tourists (including Indians) are generally required to use a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or guide for most of the country — independent travel is restricted in many areas.
• Flights to Bhutan (especially Paro) are weather-dependent and can be delayed or cancelled; build buffer days into your plans.
• Carry enough Indian Rupees or Ngultrum — ATMs in Bhutan are limited, especially outside Thimphu.
• Bhutan has a daily tourist fee Minimum Package for foreign visitors (including Indians, under separate provisions) — confirm current rules with your tour operator well in advance.

Good to know

• The local currency is the Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN), pegged at par with the Indian Rupee; Indian Rupees are widely accepted, especially in smaller denomination notes.
• Dzongkha is the national language, but English is widely understood in tourist areas and towns.
• Mobile and internet connectivity (4G) is generally available in Thimphu and major towns, but coverage can be patchy in remote areas.
• Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom with rich cultural heritage — dress modestly when visiting monasteries and dzongs, and remove shoes and hats where required.
• Bhutan is generally very safe for travellers, with low crime rates; standard caution about personal belongings still applies.
• Alcohol is allowed but public drunkenness is frowned upon; smoking in public places is banned.