Area Code 84 – Paro

Overview of Bhutan Area Code 84

Area code 84 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Paro region in the Kingdom of Bhutan, under the country's national numbering plan administered by the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA). Paro is a western district of Bhutan, home to the international airport and the historic Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) monastery. The code covers the administrative district of Paro, including the town of Paro and its surrounding gewogs (village blocks).

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in Paro from within Bhutan, subscribers dial the national trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the local subscriber number. The local numbers in Paro are typically 6 digits long, making the complete national significant number (NSN) 8 digits (including the leading '0' for domestic calls).

• Domestic call (within Bhutan): 0 84 XXX XXX
• International call (from abroad): +975 84 XXX XXX

For example, to reach a fixed line in Paro with the local number 271 234, a caller from Thimphu would dial 0 84 271 234. A caller from the United States would dial 011 975 84 271 234 (or +975 84 271 234 from a mobile phone).

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 84 code is allocated exclusively to the Paro district, which is one of the 20 dzongkhags (districts) of Bhutan. It is not an overlay code; it is the sole geographic code for the district. The district is bordered by Thimphu to the east, Haa to the west, and Chukha to the south. Paro is a significant administrative and tourism hub, hosting the only international airport in Bhutan. The code is used for fixed-line services provided by Bhutan Telecom and other licensed operators, and it is not used for mobile services, which use separate non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 17 for B-Mobile).

Caller Instructions

For callers within Bhutan, always include the trunk prefix 0 before the area code when dialing from a different district. For international callers, the country code +975 replaces the trunk prefix, and the leading '0' is omitted. It is important to note that Bhutan uses a closed numbering plan for fixed lines, meaning the area code is always required even for local calls within Paro. However, some local calls may be possible without the area code if the network allows abbreviated dialing, but this is not standard.

When calling from a mobile phone inside Bhutan, you can dial the full national number (0 84 XXX XXX) or, if your mobile operator supports it, you may dial the international format (+975 84 XXX XXX) without incurring additional charges, depending on your plan. For international callers, ensure you have the correct exit code for your country (e.g., 011 from North America, 00 from most European countries) before dialing +975.