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Bhutan “The Last Shangrila.”

Bhutan Visitor Facts

Area: 47,000 Sq Km.

Location: Nestled In The Eastern Himalaya Between India And China.

Population: 0.7 Million (Approximately).

Capital: Thimphu.

Time: Bhutan Is Plus 6 Hours Gmt.

Politics: Constitutional Monarchy.

Official Religion: Tantric Form Of Mahayana Buddhism In Drukpa Kagyupa Sect.

Language: The Official Language Of Bhutan Is Dzongkha, However English Is Widely Spoken Across The Country.

Currency: Ngultrum (On Par With Indian Rupee).

Exchange Rate: Us$ 1 = Approx Nu. 83.08 ( Calculated on 20th Dec. 2022)

Electricity: 220-240 Volt. Primary Socket Types Euro, British And Indian.

National Bird: Raven (Corvus Corax Tibetanus).

National Flower: Blue Poppy (Meconopsis Grandsis).

National Tree: Cypress (Cupressess Corneyana).

National Animal: Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor).

National Day: December 17 (1st King Sir Ugyen Wangchuck Enthroned 1907).

National Dress: Gho For Men And Kira For Women.

What To Pack: During The Warmer Spring And Summer Months (Mar-Aug), Light Clothing With An Additional Layer For The Evenings (Jacket Or Jumper) Is Advisable. In The Autumn And Winter Months (Sep-Feb), A Warm Jacket, Hat, Gloves And Fleece Are Recommended.

Tipping: Although Not Compulsory, Tipping Has Become Common Practice In Bhutan. Tipping Is Entirely Discretionary.

Bhutan Is A Small Country In The Himalayas Between The Tibet Autonomous Region Of China And India.

Brief History of Bhutan

Bhutan was inhabited 4000 years ago, there were archeological evident indicating settlements in Bhutan dating back to 2000-1500 BC. Bonism was the main religion in Bhutan before the arrival of Buddhism…

Besides The Stunning Natural Scenery, The Enduring Image Of The Country For Most Visitors Is The Strong Sense Of Culture And Tradition That Binds The Kingdom And Clearly Distinguishes It From Its Larger Neighbours. Bhutan Is The Only Vajrayana Buddhist Nation In The World, And The Profound Teachings Of This Tradition Remain Well Preserved And Exert A Strong Influence In All Aspects Of Life. Due To Its Pristine Environment And Harmonious Society, The Tiny Kingdom Of Bhutan Has Been Called “The Last Shangrila.”

Bhutan Is A Unique Country Both Culturally And Environmentally. Perched High In The Himalayas, It Is The World’s Last Remaining Buddhist Kingdom. It Has Developed The Philosophy Of Gross National Happiness; Where Development Is Measured Using A Holistic Approach Of Well-Being, Not Just Based On Gross Domestic Product.

It Is Still Termed As A Third World Country With Subsistence Farming Practised In Much Of Bhutan. In Broad Terms The Land Is Fertile And The Population Small. In Addition, The Current Generation Receives Free Education, And All Citizens Have Access To Free, Although Rudimentary, Medical Care. The Sale Of Tobacco Products Is Banned And Smoking In Public Areas Is An Offence Punished With Fines.

Major Sources Of Income For The Kingdom Are Tourism, Hydroelectric Power And Agriculture.

While Traditional Culture Has Been Very Well Preserved, The Opening Of The Country To TV And Internet In 1999 Has Had A Major Effect, And Modern-Day Culture Is Mostly Centered On Bars And Snooker Halls. As A Result, There Is Very Little Or No Evidence Of Quality Contemporary Art, Theatre Or Music.

Culturally, Bhutan Is Predominantly Buddhist With Dzongkha As A National Language (Although There Are Regional Variations – Such As Sharchopkha, The Predominant Language In Eastern Bhutan), And A Common Dress Code And Architectural Style. Bhutanese People Primarily Consist Of The Ngalops And Sharchops, Called The Western Bhutanese And Eastern Bhutanese, And Lhotshamphas (Southern Bhutanese), A People Of Nepalese Gurkha Origin, Respectively. The Ngalops Primarily Consist Of Bhutanese Living In The Western Part Of The Country. Their Culture Is Closely Related To That Of Their Neighbour To The North, Tibet.

Because Of The Danger Of Their Distinct Culture Being Overwhelmed By Hindu Nepalese Immigrants, Some Of Whom Had Been In Bhutan For Generations, Many Were Expelled Or Fled As Stateless Persons To Refugee Camps In Nepal.

National symbols of Bhutan

The National Flag, National Emblem, National Anthem, National Animal, National Bird, National Butterfly, National Flower, National Tree, National Dress, National Game, National Day, National Language, National Dish…

Culture, Language and People of Bhutan

Bhutan has a rich culture that has remained intact because of its self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world until five decades ago. Dzongkha, meaning the language of the fort, is the national language of Bhutan. Small though it is, Bhutan has a rich variety of culture. The difficult topography of the country succeeded in keeping each ethnic group separate and vibrant…

Gross National Happiness

Bhutan measures prosperity by taking into consideration the citizens’ happiness levels and not the gross domestic product. We call this development philosophy the Gross National Happiness; a term coined by His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the fourth King of Bhutan, in 1972…

Plants and Animals

With 72 percent of Bhutan under forest cover Bhutan has a rich variety of plants and animals. Bhutan has three different zones, the alpine zone (4000m and above) above the tree line, temperate zone (2000 to 4000m) and subtropical zone (150m to 2000m)…

Weather and Climate

Bhutan has four seasons and the climate varies depending on the altitude. March to May is spring when the weather is pleasant and the flowering trees blossom. June to August is summer, also referred to as the monsoon season because we get plenty of rain…

Currency

Bhutanese Currency Is Ngultrum (Nu.) The Indian Rupee Is Also Accepted Throughout Bhutan, Except Rs 500 And Rs 2000 Currency Notes.

Religion

About 75% Of The Bhutanese Practice Buddhism And The Remaining 25% Practice Indian And Nepalese Influenced Hinduism. While The Law Provides For Religious Freedom, Drukpa Kagyup (A Form Of Mahayana Buddhism) Is The State Religion And The Law Prohibits Religious Conversions. The Ningmapa School Of Mahayana Buddhism Is Also Practiced, Primarily In The Eastern Regions. The Royal Family Practices A Combination Of Drukpa Kagyup And Ningmapa Buddhism. Most Ngalops Are Of The Drukpa Kagyup School And Also Hold A Majority Of Positions In The Government.

Festivals & Holidays

With The Exception Of National Day (December 17), The Festival And Holiday Dates In Bhutan Are Determined By The Lunar Calendar And The Exact Timings Differ Every Year. Here Are A Few Of The Celebrations And The Approximate Dates:

March: Chorten Kora

October: Dashain

March/April: Paro Tshechu

Locals

Bhutanese People Can Generally Be Categorized Into Three Main Ethnic Groups - Tshanglas, Ngalops, And Lhotshampas. Slavery Was Abolished By The Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck In The Early 1950s Through A Royal Edict And The Bhutanese Society Is Free Of Caste Or Class System. Although A Few Organizations Have Been Established To Empower Women, Bhutan Has Generally Been Gender-Sensitive. The Bhutanese Enjoy Archery (The National Sport), Dancing, Singing, And Social Gatherings