Page 10 - Bhutan Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

THE LAND Physically, Bhutan can be divided into three zones: Alpine Zone (4000m and above) with no forest cover; the Temperate Zone (2000 to 4000m) with conifer or broadleaf forests; and the Subtropical Zone (150m to 2000m) with Tropical or Subtropical vegetation. Because of its wide altitudinal and climatic range, the flora and fauna is PAGE 3-7 diverse and rich. Population | Time | Visas History | Religion Forest types in Bhutan are Fir Forests, Mixed Conifer Forest, Blue Pine Forest, Chirpine Forest, Broadleaf mixed with Conifer, Upland Hardwood Forest, Lowland Hardwood Forest, and Tropical Lowland Forests. Almost 60% PAGE 8 Language of the plant species that is found in the eastern Himalayan region can be found in Bhutan as well. Bhutan boasts of about 300 species of medicinal plants and about 46 species of rhododendrons. Some common PAGE 9 sights for the visitors are the magnolias, junipers, orchids of varied hues, gentian, medicinal plants, daphne, giant Climate rhubarb, the blue poppy which is the national flower and tropical trees such as pine and oaks. PAGE 10 The Land A wide range of animal could also be found frequenting the jungles of Bhutan. Some high altitude species are the snow leopards, the Bengal tigers that are found at altitude ranging 3000 to 4000 meters, the red panda, the gorals PAGE 11 and the langurs, the Himalayan black bear and sambars, the wild pigs and the barking deer, the blue sheep and The People | What to Pack | the musk deer. In the tropical forests of Southern Bhutan one can come across the clouded leopards, the one PAGE 12 horned rhinoceros, elephants, golden langur that is unique to Bhutan, the water buffaloes and the swamp deer. Currency | Credit Cards Changing Money | Tipping Insurance Bhutan also has a great variety of bird species. It is recognized as an area of high biological diversity and is known as the East Himalayan ‘hot spot’ situated as it is at the hub of 221 global endemic bird areas. The recorded PAGE 13 number of bird species is over 670 and there are chances that this number could still go up. In addition, 57% of Etiquette | Safety & theft Bhutan’s globally threatened birds and 90% of the country’s restricted rare birds are dependent on forests. Bhutan PAGE 14 has about 415 resident bird species. These inhabitant birds are altitudinal refugees, moving up and down the Communications | Media mountains depending upon the seasons and weather conditions. Of about 50 species of birds that migrate in winters are the buntings, waders and ducks, thrushes and the birds of prey. Some 40 species are partial migrants PAGE 15 and they include species such as swifts, cuckoos, the bee-eaters, fly catchers and the warblers. Shopping | Customs Bartering Bhutan is also home to about 16 bird species that are endangered worldwide. These include the White bellied PAGE 16 heron, Pallas Fish eagle, Blyth’s King fisher to name a few. Phobjikha valley in Wangdue Phodrang and Food & Drinks Bomdeling in Trashi Yangtse are also two important places in Bhutan that are visited by the endangered Black PAGE 17-21 Necked Crane. Culture & The Arts | Religion