Bhutan is not just an amazing travel destination but also known for its unique cuisine. Authentic Bhutanese food dishes are tightly related with the culture, tradition, and nature of Bhutan. The food are interesting and unique however some dishes are influenced by Indian and western culture.

Here are 10 authentic foods to try in Bhutan.

Ema Datshi is one of the most popular foods of Bhutan. A curry prepared with chilies and Bhutanese cheese with common seasonings like salt, oil, makes Ema-datshi delicious, hot and spicy.

Khur-le is a delicious Bhutanese pancake dish made using wheat or buckwheat flour. Commonly, bitter buckwheat is preferred in making this dish and this food is believed to be as old as the history of Bhutan.

Hoentays are similar to momos where buckwheat dough is used for wrapping. Known to have originated in Haa Valley in Bhutan hoentays are rich-textured and filled with combination of turnip leaves and cheese either fried or steamed.

Puta is yet another buckwheat-based delicacy, handmade noodles popular in central district of Bhutan. It is prepared boiled and sometimes fried with butter or oil with salt and black pepper. It is often served as breakfast in Bhutan.

Sikam paa is one of the favorite non-vegetarian dishes of Bhutan served during special occasions like Losar, important public gatherings etc. Available in almost every local restaurant, it is prepared using dried pork, often fried with red chilies.

Yaksha Shakam is a yak’s meat dish, a delicacy in Bhutan. Yaks are reared as important cattle by nomads in higher altitudes. However it is hard to find yak’s meat the meats sold are of yaks that die in accidents in difficult geographic terrain in the mountains.

Hogay is a Bhutanese salad made in variety of ways; a popular version is made with cucumber. Cucumber is sliced into small pieces and mixed with chili, onions and tomatoes, cheese, and salt.

Ezay is a chili paste served with foods like rice and dumplings. Any food without ezay is incomplete in Bhutan.

Lom is a dish prepared using dried turnip leaves that provide an alternative to green vegetables in winters. Lom is prepared with dry beef and pork.

Suja is a salted buttery milk tea loved by all in Bhutan. A trip to Bhutan is incomplete without trying suja.

Bhutan has its own unique food culture and if you travel to Bhutan, do not forget to experience the authentic delicious food in Bhutan.

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Meghalaya is one of the beautiful states of Northeast India. The name Meghalaya literally means ‘the adobe of clouds’ and is often referred to as the Scotland of India. You will find many interesting things from living root bridges to many beautiful caves in this state. Meghalaya as a whole is a combination of everything that a soul seeks for during tranquil holidays.

The state has some of the thickest primary and subtropical forests with wide variety of flora and fauna, hence constitutes one of the important ecotourism and wildlife circuits in the country. Tourists come to this wonderland in large numbers in different seasons of the year seeking for adventure opportunities in the form of trekking, rock and mountain climbing, hiking, caving, water sports and more. They also come to Meghalaya for spending peaceful holidays and understanding interesting tribal culture and customs. There are many places to visit in Meghalaya that can blow you away with its beauty.

Shillong the capital of Meghalaya is encircled by pine trees and astounding valleys that stand tall providing relief from the blazing heat across the country. This hill station has soothing and comfortable atmosphere and is suitable to visit at any time of the year. One of the most astonishing places in Meghalaya is Cherrapunji; hidden inside the thick lush green forests it provides many places of attractions. One such place is the Umshiang Double Decker Living Root Bridges, aka the Living Root Bridges formed by living rubber trees roots by tree shaping. Mawsynram is another place in the state famous all around the globe for being the wettest place on earth with highest rainfall. Elephant Falls are amongst the famous falls in Meghalaya. It got its name from Britishers during colonization. Meghalaya is no less than heaven on earth and is always flooded by visitors. Another beautiful place in Meghalaya is the Mawsami cave. It is like a maze of caves well lit reflecting shades of stone colors with plenty of flora and fauna inside.

Jowai, Nongpoh, Baghmara, Nohkhalikai Waterfalls, Dwaki, Umiam Lake and different wildlife sanctuaries add on to the beauty of this heaven in northeast India. This beautiful state can mesmerize you with everything that it has to offer from the lush green hills, crystal clear lakes, and mysterious caves, waterfalls to the interesting and rich culture, traditions and delicious cuisine. 

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Sikkim is famous for so many things but most importantly it is famous for its natural beauty. The state has enraptured so many tourists and people from around the world since a long time ago. The sweeping excellence of the white snow covered Himalayas make Sikkim in winter a wonderland. The picturesque postcards of winter, the white snow covered land, the snowfall that we admire; they all come to life in Sikkim.

The winter here is very cold and snowfall is common turning the landscapes white with the unspoiled cover of snow. The mountains peaks look wonderful, frozen lakes, acres of forests and a chance to drench in pretty snowflakes descending from heaven are always tempting everyone for a vacation here. Sikkim is one of the coldest places in the country, home to Mountain Khangchendzonga where the temperature falls as low as -32° C leading to the occurrence of snowfall. During winter the average temperature in high altitudes of Sikkim is between -7°C to 5°C. And the average temperature in general in winter ranges from 10⁰ Celsius to 4⁰ Celsius, sometimes even dropping as low as 0⁰. In Sikkim, the cold season arrives by November and continues till March. The high-altitude areas of this northeast mountainous state are then draped in snow.

The snowfall does not occur in the whole of Sikkim but it is very chilly everywhere throughout the winter. There are places in the East and the North where the landscapes are blanketed with the white fuzzy snow in the winter and people enjoying the snowfall at this time of the year can be seen a lot.

If you wish to witness snowfall you must visit Gurudongmar Lake. It is recommended to visit this lake in winter even when it is bone shivering cold since no matter how low the temperatures fall, a part of the water never freezes completely. The lake is a vision in winter that no can afford to miss! Similarly Changu Lake is one of the famous high altitude lakes in India and is breathtaking in winter. During winter the lake freezes completely and even in its frozen glory, the inside of the lake can be seen easily it is beauty to behold. Some other famous tourist destinations in Sikkim and perfect to visit in winters are Zero point, Yumthang valley, Zuluk, Nathula pass and Nathang valley.

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The beauty of the erstwhile kingdom of Tripura stems from the splendour of it natural and cultural heritage. It offers a plethora of delightful attractions in its cavalcade of historic places. Blending into the hills and valleys, the villages are a tapestry of rich ethnic traditions.

Getting to Tripura is as easy as visiting any other famous places of attractions in India. You can get there by air, railway or by bus easily and comfortably. Once you reach this beautiful place in the Northeast India, you can get around and explore places by various modes of transportations. However the main mode of transport is auto rickshaws, you can still hire cabs or choose bus to travel. Some of the top activities to do are to visit tourist places in Tripura like Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary that is truly a biodiversity heaven, the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary Situated about 111 km from Agartala or the Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary also a home to a bewildering variety of plant species. Apart from these sanctuaries, you can always visit other popular tourist places in Tripura like the capital city Agartala, enchanted Jampui hills, beautiful Pilak, interesting Unakoti etc. The capital city of Tripura offers many sites to visit so does Jampui hills and Pilak. If you are a history enthusiast and curios about archaeological sites, Tripura is the perfect destination for you. If you happen to be in the state during festivals like kharchi puja, garia puja, diwali, pous sankranti, ashokastami fair, boat race or durga puja, you will have some of the top experiences in Tripura.

Plan for your trip to this spectacular state in Northeast India and not worry about any special permits, since no permits are required to enter Tripura. The people of Tripura speak English, Bengali and Manipuri apart from some local languages. There are many places to go for shopping in Tripura you will also find many beautifully made handicrafts by the locals and handlooms made with bamboos and canes. Also, you will find yourself indulging in the delicious culinary delights of the state and feasting upon them. Tripura is one of the must visit states in Northeast India.
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Bhutanese food has been influenced by India, China, and Tibet, but the local food still remains unique.  The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese food is its spiciness, with chillies being an essential part of nearly every food item. 

You will get a lot of options to choose from the Bhutanese cuisine. Some of the foods you need to definitely try on your next trip to the mountain kingdom are the delicious ema datshi a stew made with chillies and cheese, shamu datshi stew made with cheese and mushrooms, kewa datshi stew of cheese and potatoes,  gondo datshi etc. Bhutanese love their locally produced cheese and many dishes are made by using them. Apart from these popular foods in Bhutan do try the mouth watering gondo datshi also called as butter egg fry. This food in Bhutan is best eaten with Himalayan red rice. Shakam ema datshi is a non-vegetarian version of datshi made with dried beef. If you are a beef lover and always ready for challenges, this food in Bhutan is a must try dish for you since the beef is really spicy. An interesting food to try out is the unique flavoured shakam shukam datshi. It is also made with dried beef cooked with cheese and chillies. However what makes it different is the unique flavour imparted from the presence of Bhutanese dried white chillies that are used in place of the regular local chillies. Yaksha shakam, red rice grown in the fertile soil of Bhutan, jasha marro and paksha paa a famous pork dish are some of the many popular and delicious foods of Bhutan you must try. No one really wants to waste the leftover food and the Bhutanese have come up with a great idea of making a dish called zow shungo made of leftover vegetables and red rice, a quick ready meal in itself.

The jaju soup, jasha tshoem, khur-le, puta, khatem etc are just some of the authentic Bhutanese dishes that are served all over Bhutan. Bhutan is country of combination of everything beautiful and precious. The Bhutanese cuisine is no less. Visiting places, exploring them and having to get to feast with all these delicious dishes, is a dream for many.

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Phobjikha valley is a small town in the central part of Bhutan surrounded by mountains and lush greenery. The place is known for its beautiful landscapes and passes and a day’s hike will take you through the town woods, and valleys. The vast U-shaped glacial valley also known as Gangteng valley, offers beautiful landscapes ideal for walking and hiking. 

With semi-nomadic way of life of the locals who enjoy archery and dart throwing as their favourite pastime in Phobjikha valley the place can be reached by bus and car. Some of the interesting places to visit near Phobjikha valley are the Gangtey Monastery about 4 hrs away, it is also the largest monasteries in western Bhutan, Kumbhu Lhakhang about 2 hrs away from the valley is considered to be spiritually refreshing and is said to have been built by Tibetan sculptors and Jomolhari a popular trekking spot in Bhutan starting at Paro is about 98 km away from Phobjikha valley. Apart from these places to visit in Bhutan and in and around Phobjikha valley, the Nyelung Drachaling, a 14^th century Buddhist temple is also a popular place in the country, Khewang Lhakhang is another beautiful spot that is the oldest lhakhang in the valley worth visiting. Damcho Lhakhang, Black- Necked Crane Information Centre, Wangmo Hand – Woven Carpet Factory, Gangtey Nature Trails and Hikes, Kuezang Chholing Shedra are also some of the popular attractions in the country not very far away from Phobjikha valley. The Wangmo Hand –Woven Carpet Factory was started by local women who make beautifully weaved carpets with intricate designs and patterns at reasonable prices. The Phobjikha valley offers some wonderful trails for hikers and birdwatchers. Visit this valley and places nearby and be stunned by the natural beauty of these places. 

The best time to visit this mesmerising valley in Bhutan is between October and March and you do not have to worry about accommodations here. There are several types of accommodation in and around Phobjikha valley from hotels and resorts to camps and lodges and you can also opt for a homestay for an intimate experience in this beautiful valley.

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