Accommodation

Standard Accommodation

In Bhutan, there is no star categorization of hotels however at all tourist destinations there are accommodation establishments approved by Tourism Council of Bhutan. The popular destinations such as Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Bumthang, Phuentsholing, have good standard hotels however accommodation is basic at Mongar, Trashigang, Gangtey, Samdrup Jongkhar. Interestingly all hotels / lodges / guest houses are built in traditional architecture offering good cuisine and reasonably decent, clean, accommodation. Away from main towns there are purpose built huts on some of principal trekking routes. Otherwise there is nothing like camping out under the clearest skies that you have ever seen. Wherever you spend the night, the warm Bhutanese hospitality will make you feel welcome

We have carefully selected the list of accommodation units with the best of location, ambience and service:

Phuentsholing: Lhaki Hotel, Hotel Druk, Centennial Hotel, Hotel Namgay, Sinchula Hotel & Central Hotel

Paro; The Village Lodge, Hotel Olathang, Kyichu Resort, Namsey Chholing Resort, Gangtey Palace, Hotel Eye of the Tiger, Janka Resort, Rinchen Ling Lodge, Hotel Silverpine, Hotel Valley View, Hotel Jigmeling, Tashi Namgay Resort, Dechen Cottages, Bhutan Resort, Pelri Hotel, Samdenchholing Resort & Hotel Lhaki Yangchak

Thimphu: Kisa Hotel, Hotel Druk, Hotel River view, Hotel Motithang, Hotel Pedling, Hotel Jumolhari, Hotel Pine Wood, Hotel Wangchuk, Hotel Taktsang, Druk Tshering Guest House, Hotel Kelwang, Bhutan Suites, Wangchuk Resort & Hotel Dragon Roots

Punakha: Hotel Zangtho Pelri, Hotel Meri Punsum, Y. T Hotel, Puna Tshangchu Cottages, Damchen Resort & Singye Lodge

Wangdue: Kyichu Resort, Tashiling Lodge and Dragon Nest Resort

Gagntey: Hotel Dewachen, Theckchenphodrang Lodge, Phuentshochholing Lodge & Gakling Lodge

Trongsa : Phuenzi Lodge, Norling lodge & Yankhil Resort

Bumthang: Mountain Lodge, Jakar Village Lodge, Swiss Guest House,Wangdichholing Resort, Wangdichholing hotel, Hotel Home, River Lodge, Gongkhar Lodge, Pelling Hotel, Kaila Lodge, Gadhen Resort, Rinchenling Lodge, Leki Guest House, Udee Guest House & Mepham Guest House 
Mongar: Shongar Lodge, Druk Zhongkhar Lodge, Hotel Wangchuk, New Lee Hotel & Samling Hotel.

Trashigang: Kelling Lodge, Hotel Doejung and Ranjung Guest House

Samdrup Jongkhar: Hotel Menjong, Hotel Dekling, Hotel TLT, Friends Hotel & Tashi Longched Trokhang Hotel.

National Dress

Kira 

GHO AND KIRA

If you want to try wearing a Bhutanese dress, you have many shops to choose from in Thimphu. Gyeltshen Dorji shop, just north of Tshering Dolkar’s handicraft shop, has ready-made gho and kira in a variety of patterns and qualities, including children’s sizes.

Gho range from Nu 800 for machine-woven cloth and Nu 1900 for hand-woven cloth to Nu 5000 for a silk gho.  A hand-made kira costs about Nu 1200, and a silk kira sells for Nu 6000 or more. You can find all the necessary accessories there to complete your Bhutanese outfit.

Donning a Gho

The gho, when first put on, should reach almost to the ground. Fold the sleeves of tego (shirt) back to form cuffs. Tuck the right front panel into the left and bring the left panel over to the right. Grasp the gho at the sides and fold towards the back. Gather the material at your waist until the hemline is above the knee (the king wears his below the knee).

The gho is secured with a kera (narrow woven belt) which forms a pouch. You need shoes and knee-high socks to complete the outfit. Pants are worn under the gho in winter and tucked into the long socks.

Gho

Wearing a Kira

The kira is first draped around the back under the right arm. Wrap it around the front and fasten on your left shoulder with a koma (silver hook). Fold it left to right across your front and then right to left. The remaining cloth is gathered under the left arm and wrapped around the back to the right shoulder, and fastened with a second koma. A kera is wrapped around the waist to form a pouch.

The kaymeto (widthways border) is always worn at the back.

A toego (jacket) is often worn with the kira, and the sleeves of the wonju (blouse) can be folded back over the toego to form cuffs.

Population

People of Laya, Gasa

Population and People

The estimated population of the country is 7, 00,000 with the growth rate of 3.1% per year.  The country is still predominantly rural and about 85% of the people live in villages.

Three main ethnic groups constitute its population:

Sharchops: live in eastern part of country are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan and are Indo Mongoloid origins.

Ngalops:  Ngalops are descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from 9^th century and settled in the western part of Bhutan.

Lhotshampas: Nepalese group, began settling in the southern part of Bhutan in the late 19^th century. The Lhotshampa represents different Nepali speaking ethnic groups primarily Brahman, Chettri, Gurung, Rai and Limbu.