If there’s one Bhutanese food restaurant you have to eat at when you’re in Bhutan it’s the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant. This was probably the best Bhutanese food meal that I had in all of Bhutan. The food and the knowledge of Bhutanese culture was amazing.
Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant – They also have a museum, but the best reason to come here is for their restaurant. They aim to really preserve traditional Bhutan culture and food. Even though I had been in Bhutan for almost two weeks already, I tried some very unique Bhutanese dishes at the Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant and also got a lesson on how to eat traditional Bhutanese food. This is one of the world’s greatest Bhutanese restaurants and preservations of Bhutanese culture in Thimphu.
Here are some of the main Bhutanese dishes we ate:
Suja – herbal butter tea
Sweet buckwheat
Bitter buckwheat noodles
Dried fiddlehead ferns
Roasted barley dough Bamboo shoots and fermented beans
Dried beef with fermented yak cheese
Sikam paa – dried pork with chilies
Chanterelle mushrooms
Ema datshi – chillies and cheese Bhutanese chicken curry
Kewa datshi – potatoes and cheese
After our huge Bhutanese food lunch, we had some Indian food with Matt including some momos and paratha for dinner. It was a great day of food in Thimphu, Bhutan!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to http://food.mybhutan.com to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
Trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan (Paro Taktsang in Bhutanese Dzongkha), which sits literally on the edge of a cliff. The hike takes about 3 – 4 hours or so.
The trail, although steep, isn’t really dangerous in any parts, as long as you keep your eye on the trail and don’t try to get too close to the edge. At the top of Tiger’s Nest Monastery they don’t allow any photography, so you have to check in your bag. We walked around the monastery for a little while, ate some snacks, and then headed down.
Despite Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan being one of the most famous attractions and icons of Bhutan, it really is spectacular.
Round-Trip Taxi from Paro to Tiger’s Nest – 1,400 BTN ($20.99) It’s typically recommended that you visit Tiger’s Nest at the end of your trip to Bhutan so that you acclimatize better to the elevation.
Gangtey Palace Hotel – After returning from Tiger’s Nest, we checked into the classic Gangtey Palace Hotel for our final night in Bhutan!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to http://food.mybhutan.com to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
Travel
lovers always remain keen to visit a destination like Bhutan that is bestowed
with natural beauty and serenity. Bhutan is a worth-visiting country that’s why
people somehow plan the trip even if they have a low budget!
Althoughvisiting
Bhutan with a low budget isn’t easy because
of the fixed daily tariff that is imposed by the Bhutanese government. Still,
you can follow some tips to explore this fascinating land without burdening
your pocket. Keep reading to know more:
Visit Bhutan during Lean Season:
The
daily tariff rates change as per the season in Bhutan. These rates are
comparatively high in peak season months when a high number of tourists visit
the country. So, you should avoid planning a trip in that season to save
amount. Instead, plan your trip anytime from December to February and from June
to August as these months are considered the lean season of visiting Bhutan.
…whereabouts unknown (Paro, Bhutan) | by jmhullot
You
can save USD 50 per person by doing so because the tariff rates are USD 250 in
peak season and USD 200 in the lean season. You can also get discounts on
airline tickets, hotel bookings and other expenses in the lean season.
Plan a Group Tour:
Solo
trip and couple trips aren’t very budget-friendly in Bhutan. Tourists
travelling alone to Bhutan have to pay USD 40 per night in addition to the daily
tariff as sub-charge. Couples also have to pay the sub-charge of USD 30 per
night/per person.
Travelling
in a group can be beneficial as a group of 3 people and above has been exempted
from sub-charges. Apart from it, the Bhutanese government also give some
relaxations to big groups like:
One person from the group of 11-15 people gets
a 50% discount on the daily tariff.
One person from the group of 16 travellers or
more gets 100% off on the daily tariff.
Don’t Buy Premium or Luxury Tour Packages:
Many
people don’t know, but the minimum daily tariff of Bhutan is included of all
the things such as a stay in a 3-star hotel, meals, tour guide, local
transportation and entry charges of various tourist attractions.
So,
buying a premium tour package, in this case, would only drain your money
because you will have to pay tariff plus package charges. These packages would
surely enhance the luxury by giving 5-star hotel stay and personal activities,
but you can also have fun without these packages in Bhutan.
Visit Royalty Exempted Regions of Bhutan:
Your minimum daily tariff also contains sustainable development fee; which is USD 65. But to promote tourism, the government have exempted this charge on tourists who are only visiting the eastern region of the country. This makes their tariff amount lower than others who will visit the entire country.
The eastern region covers Tashigang, Mongar, Lhuntse, Pema Gatshel Tashi Yangtse, and Samdrup Jongkhar districts. You can have an amazing time in this region as well. You can explore ancient medieval fortresses, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries in this region.
Those phantasmal snow-capped peaks, the mesmerising
green forested meadows, the fluffy clouds joining the mist from the hills, the
scent of pine, fir and deodar, the crickets and birds chirping to break the
silence of nature — if you are eager to experience this magic of nature then
Himachal is the place to be.
The plethora of activities such as skiing, camping, paragliding,
zorbing and various other adventure sports. One major attraction of visiting
Himachal would be to taste the delicious earthy flavours of the state. Himachal
Pradesh has recently established itself as a haven for food lovers. The
gastronomic local delicacies are served in all popular restaurants.
Most of the restaurants serve a delicious blend of
local ingredients and exotic flavours. The dishes are prepared with nouveau
culinary techniques mixing the aroma of a rich blend of local spices. The most
popularrestaurants
in Himachal Pradesh use fresh organic ingredients availed
from local production.
There are picturesque mountain restaurants that give
you an opportunity to soak up the legendary scenic beauty while you titillate
your taste buds with rumbustious culinary delights of the wilderness from the
land of lofty Himalayas. Set foot in Himachal prepared to get floored with food
that really touches your soul!
Evergreen
Restaurant, Kasole
Evergreen Restaurant located in Kunihar, Kasole, Parvati Valley is
famous for the amazing view that it offers along with food. It serves delicious
Chinese and continental spreads. Located in a small hill town, this restaurant
makes you feel relaxed with soothing food mixed with calm scenery all around. This
restaurant is rated in the top 10 restaurants in Kasole.
Renaissance,
Manali
Renaissance Manali presents a homely, warm and relaxed atmosphere. This restaurant is famous for customising your orders based on your preferences. It commands alluring views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Enjoy a range of Mexican and Italian specialities along with authentic Himachali food. Try their chicken hot and sour soup and hot chocolate among hot beverages in a cool chilled-out ambience. This restaurant is located in Old Manali Road, Near Manu Temple.
Café Simla Times, Shimla
Café Simla Times gives you the
opportunity to grab a book with the best cup of coffee in Shimla. It is one of
the oldest coffee shops in Shimla. The interiors of the café is fascinating
with handwritten posters and pamphlets pasted on the walls.
A cosy café with a bar to sit with your beer and watch the mesmerising sunset across the hills while you listen to some jazzy live music. Try out the best of Café Simla such as wood-fired oven pizzas, shakes, and desserts and enjoy the live local bands performing over the weekends.
Goofa Ashiana, Shimla
Goofa Ashiana, located at the Ridge, The Mall at Shimla serves delectable Asian and Indian meals. The combination of a cosy ambience with a picturesque setting along with delicious fast food offerings makes it a very popular eating place for guests.
The mouth-watering menu of Goofa Ashiana includes authentic Chinese and North Indian cuisines. You can even get some hot Gulab Jamuns, samosas, sandwiches, pakoras, cakes and patties. It is a landmark building in Shimla because of its gazebo-like shape. This place makes for a good early family dinner or maybe a sumptuous breakfast.
Cecil Restaurant, Shimla
The British reminiscent of aura and glamour, Cecil Restaurant, is among Shimla’s elite corners. This all-day dining-out restaurant in Longwood Shimla still breathes the fashionable royalty that it was once. The food spread includes international, pan-Indian along with palatable local Himachali dishes. Get mesmerized by the stunning views and the combinations of pizzas, pasta, non-veg spreads, soups and appetizers.
Having an English style High Tea under the vast skylight in Cecil’s signature atrium lounge or some freshly brewed coffees, or maybe some premium alcoholic drinks along with a wide menu of a variety of snacks. Professional service and good food make this place coveted. Try Mexican, Chinese, Continental or Thai — you will be impressed and left speechless. The colonial elegance with the exotic curries and soups makes Cecil a must-visit restaurant.
La
Plage, Manali
The immensely popular restaurant La Plage in Manali has a Chic and sophisticated interior with wooden furniture and large windows that allow a lot of sunshine. Gorge authentic French cuisine sitting amidst brightly coloured interiors.
This spacious eatery looks inviting and is known for its range of delightful French cuisines. The dishes prepared along the lines of authentic recipes with a blend of genuine spices exude real robust French flavours. If you are the exploring type and in love with what’s new in food, do try this place. The chef will walk you through the menu and help you choose what is best. And the best will not cease to surprise you.
Deyzor
Hotel Restaurant, Kaza
Deyzor Hotel Restaurant is a charming eating place in Kaza and is
the best in Kaza. The friendly, polite and professional staff serves some
amazing dishes. The restaurant has a warm, colourful, cosy and inviting décor.
The restaurant gets even more interesting with the quirky and inspiring quotes,
facts and trivia pasted all across the restaurant. Expect some fresh food
cooked with love and care.
This place serves delightful Indian as well as continental fares. The desserts are to die for. Taste some apple pie to believe it. There is Simba the St. Bernard to win you over in case you are a pet lover. The restaurant follows environment-friendly policies and bans the use of single-use plastic. Have a tete-a-tete with Skalzang, the owner, to get to know some of his archery feats.
Other
Restaurants to Try in Himachal
Also try out the Moonpeak of McLeodganj, Dharamshala around Dalai Lama’s temple path; Himalayan Café of Kaza, for a serene look at the lake; Lazy Dog Lounge of Manali for its surrounding greenery; and Rasta Café in the Kullu Valley for authentic recipes prepared with organically sourced ingredients.
