3rd Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally - 2010

wanderernomad · 17th December 2009, 22:31

Thanks mate. While we are at it any buying pointers? That is what to buy when in Bhutan. Especially the local things.

navan49 · 17th December 2009, 23:05

Hi Wnomad,

First of all it is peculiar time to visit Bhutan.Specially most of the people go in Summer to get rid off the heat in the plains. But winter is the real different time to enjoy the cold. On your drive you can't enjoy. While going on the way just below Dorchula on the right in the far away vicinity you can see the snow covered mountains.

Now let me tell you from Thimphu. Thimphu you can visit the Tashicho Dzong(Dzong means Fortress). It is built of mud and stones in 1900s. Town is a small one. You can go round in a couple of hours. There is a Bhuddhist Chorten which is called as memorial Chorten. A monastry called Phajoding Monastery. The scenic view of Thimphu you can enjoy from two strategic places.

1. Near the town above the Lungthenzampa Middle Secondary School or From YHS School.
2. 4 kms away from the road point after Lungtenphu army camp. Yo can have the snap of Simtokha Dzong.

You can have 2 days for Thimphu. In these two days get a pass to visit Punakha and Paro from immigration dept, Thimphu. Then one day early morning if you start at 7.am you can reach Lobesa around 8.30. take the left road to Punakha on the way you can see a lhakhang called Chimi Lhakhang just on the right side of the road in the top of a hill. Once you reach Punakha you can see the Punakha Dzong which lies in between a river which we call as Ma chu and Pochu. Chu means river.

Further if you go towards Gasa road you can visit another monastry called Zangthopelri. Just stop on the road on return after the Dzong or near the Punakha H S School and look at the river you can see lots of river fish and the otter. If you wish you can reach back to Thimphu in the evening. Remember it will get dark at 5 pm. Better stay back a night there and come in the morning. If you want to halt you can stay either in Kunga Hotel which may be around 1000rs per night or Welcome hotel or if you want to go for a higher ent pl opt for Dechen Cottages. All in Kuruthang about 3kms before Punakha. On return stop in the Dorchula pass 20kms away from Thimphu. there are 1008 chortens are there. If you are lucky you can see some snow and play on it. So four days over. While going from the road to Punakha after a while from the main road if you look right side you can see the Wangdue podrang DZong.

The 5th day you can proceed to Paro. On the way you can see the Airport. In paro You can see Rinpung DZong inthe valley near rhe town across a wooden bridge. Aboue the Rimpung Dzong you can see the Ta DZong cum Muzeum. If you wish further 16kms after paro u can visit the ruins of Drukgyel dzong and also the famous Amankora hotel. On the way to Drukgyel you can visit a Historic Buddhist temple called Kychu Lhakhang. Like that your 6 days will be over.

Thimphu if you wish in a middle end with in 1000 you can stay in gasel, AV and MethPema. In Av you will find a guy called Ajay and his wife Ganga. They are the owners and very helpful people and seek their help to get your special permit to Punakha and paro. On return you can come down to Phuntsholing fromParo which will save uou around 30Kms. Next what to buy. You cen get Thai goods Rice cooker,Water boiler etc etc. Even you can buy some thing in Phuntsholing. They are of Thai and daka goods. Get some Thai cups and saucer which are unique and may cost 600 a set. Hope this will do for today. Pl ask any doubt if you have As a Team BHP memebr I can share my knowledge.

navan49 · 17th December 2009, 23:09

Carpets,bamboo baskets of Kengpas in handicraft emporium. Wine of Army welfare projects. very good stamp collection in Thimphu Philetelic Beauro in Thimphu Post office. Jackets and sweaters. Umbrellas,Heaters and so on. Phuntsholing fixed price shops are Anil Stores and Kasi Stores. Good place to stay in Phuntsholing is Kuenga Hotel with in 600 per Room Old building safe. Central Hotel 1000 plus. Namgay Hotel may be 2k plus.

navan49 · 18th December 2009, 09:09

Hi Ralliests,

The pronunciation differs with the spelling in Bhutan. For example the written word DZONG is pronounced as JONG. Like that some confusion may arise in such situation ask them to spell. Every where a good percentage of people talk Hindi and English.

navan49 · 21st December 2009, 23:08

Hi Ralliests,

What happened to you all. Suddenly you all become silent like the winter cold in Thimphu. How about your preparations are going on. Post some thing time to time. Or you all are already in between the mountains and valleys in Bhutan where you cant access net.

wanderernomad · 22nd December 2009, 11:05

Navan : Mate it doesnt start till Feb 10, lolz. Anyway thank you for the pointers. Ill keep a print out of this information. It seems there are a lot of things that can be bought from there. And dont worry about the cold, I am a mountain man and love snow and harsh winters. The permits will/should not be a problem as have a couple of old course mates in the Royal Bhutan Army. I am sure they would be able to sort those things out. Regarding the shopping lists I ams ure there would be many things but what do you consider (having seen both the markets Bhutan and Indian) that make an absolute sense to buy from there. Plus apart from Punakha and Paro? anyhting? Schedule is not fixed and we may linger on for a few more days.

Sudipto-S-Team · 23rd December 2009, 10:50

One small dampener - carry cash. Electronic money exchange in Bhutan is in a very rudimentary stage. Very few select shops/hotels accept credit cards (and they are very expensive). ATMs have just been launched in Bhutan and they don't accept Indian or international cards (as of May 09). So make a guesstimate of how much you will need and carry it in hard cash. Indian rupee is accepted everywhere (unlike in Nepal). Exchange rate is 1:1.

navan49 · 23rd December 2009, 11:02

That is a good point reminded by suito. Keep im mind that carrying the INR in the denomination of Rs500 and 1000 is an offence. So keep in mind you have to carry the denominations of 100s only. You can carry 500 and 1000 for your Indian side expenditure.

wanderernomad · 23rd December 2009, 19:12

Ohh jolly good. Now we will have pockets bulging with 100 denomination ones. But I think between the three of us we would be able to carry enough for our requirements. By offence you mean its illegal and punishable?

planet_rocker · 16th January 2010, 11:39

FOR ALL BHUTAN RALLY 2010 PARTICIPANTS

Quote:

Dear Friends,

The last date of all type of Entries for the 3rd. Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally 2010 is Thursday, 14th. January 2010. Those who like to participate in this enchanting and fantastic Car Rally, please enroll your name with requisite Entry Fee by this date. No request shall be entertained after this date.

Competitors who have already enrolled their name are hereby requested to kindly furnish all the documents within 15th. January 2010 so that we can send the requisite paper to the Bhutan Government well in time for the immigration purpose.

I shall be available at the Bhutan Consulate at Tivoli Court, Ballygaunge Circular Road, Near Beck Bagan Junction from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. everyday till 15th. January to collect your documents. Please call me on my mobile no. for any sort of clarification.

Regards: Soumyajitt Dutta (B-2)

Competitor Relations Officer

3rd. Indo-Bhutan Friendship Car Rally 2010

Hope everyone / Saurabh M & NOS Power have already gone through the details ....

sorry for posting this a bit late

navan49 · 17th January 2010, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

Ohh jolly good. Now we will have pockets bulging with 100 denomination ones. But I think between the three of us we would be able to carry enough for our requirements. By offence you mean its illegal and punishable?

Yes, It is illegal. The currency can be confiscated. Once it is caught it will be deposited in Bhutan's revenue account and you will never get back.

wanderernomad · 17th January 2010, 21:02

@navan. Thank you for the pile of useful information mate. Could you please tell me about the communication thing. Will our prepaid/postpaid cell phones work there or we need to buy a local calling card or a local number?

NOS Power · 18th January 2010, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by planet_rocker

Hope everyone / Saurabh M & NOS Power have already gone through the details ....

sorry for posting this a bit late

planet, we were the first to give our entry to Soumyajit da. So no worries there. Car will be prepared this week.

planet_rocker · 18th January 2010, 11:44

@ Joseph - can you give us a pictorial update on the mods on Saurabh da's car? Saurabh hasn't yet updated the BH thread.

Wish you all the best. Very chilly today

Saurabh M · 24th January 2010, 23:23

A quick update from my side. BH has gone to the workshop on Saturday and is getting ready for the event. Went there today, the rollcage has been painted. I will be replacing the clutch, brakes and if required, suspension. Will have the mineral oil replaced with semi-synth. Will be installed after all the work is done.

Will try to drop in daily in the evening to monitor progress. Will try to take pics and post them, as suggested by @Planet.

In the meantime, here are some pics of this year's route, uploaded on the FCRAS website:Friendship Car Rally Association : Know the Track

17th December 2009, 22:31	#46
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Thanks mate. While we are at it any buying pointers? That is what to buy when in Bhutan. Especially the local things.
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 23:05	#47
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi Wnomad, First of all it is peculiar time to visit Bhutan.Specially most of the people go in Summer to get rid off the heat in the plains. But winter is the real different time to enjoy the cold. On your drive you can't enjoy. While going on the way just below Dorchula on the right in the far away vicinity you can see the snow covered mountains. Now let me tell you from Thimphu. Thimphu you can visit the Tashicho Dzong(Dzong means Fortress). It is built of mud and stones in 1900s. Town is a small one. You can go round in a couple of hours. There is a Bhuddhist Chorten which is called as memorial Chorten. A monastry called Phajoding Monastery. The scenic view of Thimphu you can enjoy from two strategic places. 1. Near the town above the Lungthenzampa Middle Secondary School or From YHS School. 2. 4 kms away from the road point after Lungtenphu army camp. Yo can have the snap of Simtokha Dzong. You can have 2 days for Thimphu. In these two days get a pass to visit Punakha and Paro from immigration dept, Thimphu. Then one day early morning if you start at 7.am you can reach Lobesa around 8.30. take the left road to Punakha on the way you can see a lhakhang called Chimi Lhakhang just on the right side of the road in the top of a hill. Once you reach Punakha you can see the Punakha Dzong which lies in between a river which we call as Ma chu and Pochu. Chu means river. Further if you go towards Gasa road you can visit another monastry called Zangthopelri. Just stop on the road on return after the Dzong or near the Punakha H S School and look at the river you can see lots of river fish and the otter. If you wish you can reach back to Thimphu in the evening. Remember it will get dark at 5 pm. Better stay back a night there and come in the morning. If you want to halt you can stay either in Kunga Hotel which may be around 1000rs per night or Welcome hotel or if you want to go for a higher ent pl opt for Dechen Cottages. All in Kuruthang about 3kms before Punakha. On return stop in the Dorchula pass 20kms away from Thimphu. there are 1008 chortens are there. If you are lucky you can see some snow and play on it. So four days over. While going from the road to Punakha after a while from the main road if you look right side you can see the Wangdue podrang DZong. The 5th day you can proceed to Paro. On the way you can see the Airport. In paro You can see Rinpung DZong inthe valley near rhe town across a wooden bridge. Aboue the Rimpung Dzong you can see the Ta DZong cum Muzeum. If you wish further 16kms after paro u can visit the ruins of Drukgyel dzong and also the famous Amankora hotel. On the way to Drukgyel you can visit a Historic Buddhist temple called Kychu Lhakhang. Like that your 6 days will be over. Thimphu if you wish in a middle end with in 1000 you can stay in gasel, AV and MethPema. In Av you will find a guy called Ajay and his wife Ganga. They are the owners and very helpful people and seek their help to get your special permit to Punakha and paro. On return you can come down to Phuntsholing fromParo which will save uou around 30Kms. Next what to buy. You cen get Thai goods Rice cooker,Water boiler etc etc. Even you can buy some thing in Phuntsholing. They are of Thai and daka goods. Get some Thai cups and saucer which are unique and may cost 600 a set. Hope this will do for today. Pl ask any doubt if you have As a Team BHP memebr I can share my knowledge. Last edited by Rehaan : 16th January 2010 at 22:45. Reason: Formatting an older post of yours.
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 23:09	#48
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Carpets,bamboo baskets of Kengpas in handicraft emporium. Wine of Army welfare projects. very good stamp collection in Thimphu Philetelic Beauro in Thimphu Post office. Jackets and sweaters. Umbrellas,Heaters and so on. Phuntsholing fixed price shops are Anil Stores and Kasi Stores. Good place to stay in Phuntsholing is Kuenga Hotel with in 600 per Room Old building safe. Central Hotel 1000 plus. Namgay Hotel may be 2k plus.
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 09:09	#49
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi Ralliests, The pronunciation differs with the spelling in Bhutan. For example the written word DZONG is pronounced as JONG. Like that some confusion may arise in such situation ask them to spell. Every where a good percentage of people talk Hindi and English.
	() Thanks

21st December 2009, 23:08	#50
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi Ralliests, What happened to you all. Suddenly you all become silent like the winter cold in Thimphu. How about your preparations are going on. Post some thing time to time. Or you all are already in between the mountains and valleys in Bhutan where you cant access net.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2009, 11:05	#51
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Navan : Mate it doesnt start till Feb 10, lolz. Anyway thank you for the pointers. Ill keep a print out of this information. It seems there are a lot of things that can be bought from there. And dont worry about the cold, I am a mountain man and love snow and harsh winters. The permits will/should not be a problem as have a couple of old course mates in the Royal Bhutan Army. I am sure they would be able to sort those things out. Regarding the shopping lists I ams ure there would be many things but what do you consider (having seen both the markets Bhutan and Indian) that make an absolute sense to buy from there. Plus apart from Punakha and Paro? anyhting? Schedule is not fixed and we may linger on for a few more days.
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 10:50	#52
Sudipto-S-Team Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,320 Thanked: 290 Times View My Garage	One small dampener - carry cash. Electronic money exchange in Bhutan is in a very rudimentary stage. Very few select shops/hotels accept credit cards (and they are very expensive). ATMs have just been launched in Bhutan and they don't accept Indian or international cards (as of May 09). So make a guesstimate of how much you will need and carry it in hard cash. Indian rupee is accepted everywhere (unlike in Nepal). Exchange rate is 1:1.
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 11:02	#53
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	That is a good point reminded by suito. Keep im mind that carrying the INR in the denomination of Rs500 and 1000 is an offence. So keep in mind you have to carry the denominations of 100s only. You can carry 500 and 1000 for your Indian side expenditure.
	() Thanks

23rd December 2009, 19:12	#54
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	Ohh jolly good. Now we will have pockets bulging with 100 denomination ones. But I think between the three of us we would be able to carry enough for our requirements. By offence you mean its illegal and punishable?
	() Thanks

17th January 2010, 21:02	#57
wanderernomad Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 2,534 Thanked: 1,276 Times View My Garage	@navan. Thank you for the pile of useful information mate. Could you please tell me about the communication thing. Will our prepaid/postpaid cell phones work there or we need to buy a local calling card or a local number?
	() Thanks

18th January 2010, 11:44	#59
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	@ Joseph - can you give us a pictorial update on the mods on Saurabh da's car? Saurabh hasn't yet updated the BH thread. Wish you all the best. Very chilly today
	() Thanks

24th January 2010, 23:23	#60
Saurabh M BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CCU & Ontario Posts: 610 Thanked: 153 Times View My Garage	A quick update from my side. BH has gone to the workshop on Saturday and is getting ready for the event. Went there today, the rollcage has been painted. I will be replacing the clutch, brakes and if required, suspension. Will have the mineral oil replaced with semi-synth. Will be installed after all the work is done. Will try to drop in daily in the evening to monitor progress. Will try to take pics and post them, as suggested by @Planet. In the meantime, here are some pics of this year's route, uploaded on the FCRAS website:Friendship Car Rally Association : Know the Track
	() Thanks