LOCATION OF BHUTAN

COUNTRY PROFILE

Land Area : 38,394 square kilometers
Altitude : Between 240meters and 7541meters above sea level
Inhabitants : 6,91,141
Language : Official language “Dzongkha”, English widely spoken
Religion : Vajrayana stream of Mahayana Buddhism (also known as Tantric Buddhism)
Forest area : 72.5%
Capital : Thimphu
Currency : Ngultrum (equivalent to Indian Rupee)
National Tree : Cypress
National Bird : Raven
National Flower : Blue Poppy
National Sport : Archery
National Animal : Takin
Life Expectancy : 66 years(men), 70 years(women)
Country Code : +975
Local time : Six hours ahead of GMT and half an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time

GEOGRAPHY

Bhutan’s isolation from the Western world can be explained in part by its geography. Located between India and the autonomous region of Tibet, China, between 88*45’and 92*10’ longitude east and between 26*40’ and 28*15’ latitude north, a small country with an area of 38394 square kilometers. Bhutan forms a gigantic staircase from a narrow strip of land in the south at an altitude of 240 meters (785feet) up to high Himalayan peaks in the north with an altitude of over 7541meters (24,500feet). Geographically, Bhutan is divided into three zones: the southern zone, which has low foothills that are covered with dense tropical forests; the central zone, which primarily consists of fertile valleys at altitudes that range from 3,500feet to 10,000 feet (1,060meter to 3,050 meters); and the northern zone, which has valleys at heights that range from 11,000feet to 24,500 feet (3,350meter to 7500 meters). It is this northern section that forms part of the Himalayas with its high peaks along the Tibetan borders.

CLIMATE

It is hard to generalize about Bhutan’s weather since the mountain climate varies enormously from one region to another. The country can be divided into three divergent climatic zones corresponding generally to the three major geographical divisions. In the south is tropical, hot and humid with dense forest. The east is warmer than the west. The central valleys enjoy a semi-tropical climate with very cool winters. Whereas the western part of the country have much harsher climate, including snowfalls in winter. The northern region has a severe alpine climate and is relentlessly under snow.

GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS (GNH): Development Philosophy of Bhutan

While the emphasis is placed on both, prosperity and happiness, the latter is considered to be more significant. The fourth Druk Gyalpo (King) emphasized that for Bhutan “Gross National Happiness,” is more important than “Gross National Product.” Gross National Happiness as a development paradigm has now made it possible for Bhutan to take its developmental policies into the remote corners of the kingdom and to meet the development needs of even its most isolated villagers.
Religion, tradition and ancestral customs constitute Bhutanese etiquette, the most visible elements of which are respect for all religious institutions and the wearing of national dress. This emphasis on traditional values is as much a deliberate policy of the government as is its concern with socio-economic development and environmental preservation. These form the base of the concept, GNH (‘Gross National Happiness’)
Furthermore, the concept of Gross National Happiness has greatly enabled the pursuit of development, while at the same time promoting the attainment of happiness as the core philosophy of life. For the government, it has facilitated the drive towards self-sufficiency and self-reliance, the ultimate reduction in the gap between the rich and the poor and ensuring good governance and empowerment of her people as one of its key directives.

PEOPLE

The Bhutanese are a humble, welcoming and sociable people. The physical nature of the country has led to the formation of three broad homogenous groups and a number of other subgroups. The three broad groups are Scharshops from the east, Ngalongs from the west, and the Lhotsampas from the south. A number of subgroups have been living in isolation in their own communities for decades thus keeping their tradition and culture alive. Some of these subgroups are: the semi nomads of Merak Sakten in the north east, Layaps in the North West and Doyas in south west Bhutan. The largest percentage of the population lives in the central zone. The federal capital of Thimphu is located along the river of the same name in this section of the country.

CULTURE

Bhutan might globally be a small country, yet it holds a very strong culture thus uniting the people. The rich cultural heritage is strongly promoted by the government. An eminence support is laid on the promotion and preservation of its unique culture. While, its cultural diversity and richness are profound. Masked dancers, folk music, and locals dressed in all their finery in even remote villages mark the festivals in Bhutan. From religious commemorations to prayers for good harvest to environment awareness they celebrate the country's history.

RELIGION

The official state religion of Bhutan belongs to the Drukpa sect of Kagyudpa, school of tantric Mahayana Buddhism, the Great Vehicle. It is similar to the Tibetan Buddhism, yet it has its own set of unique beliefs and practices. The religion in Bhutan is strongly supported by the all walks of life. Monks, nuns and gomchens (lay priest) play a very important role in the people’s daily lives. Bhutanese people are very pious and the importance of the Buddhism is evident in its every aspect of life in the Bhutanese people.

LANGUAGE

Bhutan’s official language is Dzongkha. It factually means ‘the language spoken in the dzongs (fortress) and administrative centers in all the districts of Bhutan. You will be able to converse with many in English as it’s the medium of instruction in schools and therefore widely spoken. There are also 19 diverse dialects and languages spoken throughout the country.

NATIONAL DRESS

Every individual citizens of Bhutan are required to observe the national dress code while in official gatherings. Men wear a knee length robe called a ‘gho’ tied with a belt called ‘kayra’, folded in such a way to form a pocket in front of the stomach. Women wear a colorful blouse over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth called a ‘kira’, thereby creating an ankle-length dress and a short silk jaket worn over the kira called ‘toego’. There are particular rules of protocol to follow when visiting Dzongs or temples, or when appearing before high-level official. Male commoners wear a white sash (kabney) from left shoulder to opposite hip. The king, government ministers, cabinet members, and Local and regional elected officials each wear their own colored kabney. Women wear a narrow embroidered cloth draped over the left shoulder, called ‘rachu’.

ACCOMODATIONS

We use what we consider to be the nicest accommodations in Bhutan (with the exception of the new resorts, which we can book). Hotels in western Bhutan have better standards than ones in the Central and Eastern part of the country. All accommodations are approved by the Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan. Each one is clean, comfortable, offering a warm welcome, friendly smile and restful haven that are much appreciated after a day of cultural exploration. All the hotels, lodges and guesthouses are equipped with telephones, fax machines and international dialing.

TRANSPORT

Japanese vehicles are regarded as the most appropriate for the Bhutanese conditions. To ensure comfort and safety for our guests we use vehicle of high quality. We use Toyota Coaster buses for larger groups and Toyota or Nissan/Hyundai cars for smaller groups. The vehicles are given an all-round mechanical checkup before the tours.

FOOD

The Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. Our selected chain of hotels; lodges and guesthouses offer delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese and Indian dishes. Even on treks, our trekking team is prepared to serve Continental, Chinese, Indian and Bhutanese dishes.

TIME

Bhutan Standard Time is half an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time and 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Bhutan GMT +6
Government Office Timing:
Summer ( March-November): 9AM – 5PM
Winter (December-February): 9AM – 4PM
ELECTRICITY & PLUG TYPE
Current is 220-240 Volts. The plug is round, 3 prong, British Type.

TIPPING & GIFT

Tipping is at each visitor’s discretion. Visitors are requested not to give candy, gum, pens, pencils, balloons, etc. to children, who soon learn to demand gifts; or not to hand out medicines to local people which may be inappropriate for their medical problems and delay their seeking professional help. If you want to give children pens, pencils, etc. it is better to give them to local schools. We will be happy to arrange a visit to a local school if you indicate at the time of booking. Instead of gifts, you can show them books and pictures of your country, your home, your children, etc. or teach them a song or a game.

SHOPPING

All visitors are welcome to visit the Handicraft Centre or all local shops, which contains a very wide range of traditional and modern items. Beautiful hand woven textiles, postage traditional handmade paper, colorful bamboo baskets, thankas (wall hanging), ceramics, musical instruments and masks are some of many favorite items for purchase from Bhutan. The textiles with intricate patterns that take months to weave are made of cotton, wool or raw silk. Ethnic silver jewelry can also be found.

PHOTOGRAPHY

All visitors should bring with them everything they need to take pictures. The photographic opportunities are immense on all trips. Also most important while visiting Dzongs, Monasteries and other religious monuments, please follow your tour guide’s instructions properly and carefully.

HEALTH INFORMATION

No vaccinations are currently required for traveling to Bhutan. However if you are arriving an area infected with yellow fever, you are required to have a yellow fever vaccination and it shall be administered at least 10 days before your arrival into Bhutan. Also if arriving from Cholera infected area, the vaccination is strongly recommended for all travelers who are visiting rural areas in the districts that border India.

CLOTHING

Because of the variety of climates you may encounter in one day, choose garments, which can be layered. This means that the majority of your clothing can be worn in layers, so that you can put on more clothing if it is cold or take off layers as it warms up. In general, from June to September cottons and a good sweater will be enough, but from October to May you will need warm clothes including long underwear or woolen tights to wear under trousers, and a down jacket or a warm coat. Also don’t forget to bring an umbrella or a rain jacket. Comfortable sports shoes are highly recommended and mountain boots are necessary if you come on a trek or plan to hike up to Taktsang (cliff hanger monastery). In Bhutan, you can get sun burnt quite quickly. Don’t forget to include a sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and barrier cream for your nose and lips in your packing list.

MONEY

The Bhutanese currency is the Ngultrum. The Ngultrum is at par with the Indian Rupee. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout the kingdom and traveler’s checks can be exchanged at the bank. Ngultrum will be required for smaller purchases of souvenirs beyond Thimphu. Credit cards are now accepted in some locations but checks are generally not accepted.

Bhutan Road Distances

FROM	TO	APPROX DISTANCE (KM)	APPROX DRIVING TIME
Paro	Thimphu	65 kms	01 hour
Paro	Haa	65 kms	1.5 - 02 hours
Thmphu	Haa	115 kms	03 - 04 hours
Thimphu	Phuentsholing	176 kms	07 - 08 hours
Thimphu	Wangduephodrang	70 kms	03 hours
Thimphu	Punakha	77 kms	03 hours
Thimphu	Phobjhika (Gangtey)	135 kms	5.5 - 06 hours
Punakha	Wangduephodrang	13 kms	45 minutes
Punakha	Gangtey (Phobjikha)	78 kms	03 hours
Punakha	Bumthang	212 kms	08 hours
Bumthang	Gangtey (Phobjikha)	188 kms	05 - 06 hours
Gangtey (Phobjikha)	Trongsa	120 kms	4.1/2 - 05 hours
Gangtey	Wangduephodrang	65 kms	2.5 - 03 hours
Trongsa	Wangduephodrang	129 kms	4.5 - 05 hours
Trongsa	Punakha	142 kms	06 hours
Trongsa	Bumthang	68 kms	02 hours
Bumthang	Mongar	198 kms	07 - 08 hours
Mongar	Lhuentse	76 kms	03 hours
Mongar	Trashigang	91 kms	03 - 04 hours
Trashigang	Chorten Kora	52 kms	02 hours
Trashigang	Samdrup Jongkhar	180 kms	07 hours
Trashigang	Trashiyangtshe	55 kms	02 hours
Samdrup Jongkhar	Guwahati (Assam, India)	110 kms	03 hours
Samdrup Jongkhar	Phuentsholing	400 kms	10 hours
Phuentsholing	Bagdogra (West Benal, India)	165 kms	4.1/2 hours
Phuentsholing	Siliguri (West Bengal, India)	155 kms	04 hours
Phuentsholing	Darjeeling (West Bengal, India)	200 kms	06 hours
Phuentsholing	Kalimpong (West Bangal, India)	185 kms	05 hours
Phuentsholing	Gangtok (Sikkim, India)	220 kms	07 hours

Bhutan Township altitudes

TOWNSHIP	ALTITUDE
Paro	2,250m / 7,382ft
Thimphu	2,350m / 7,710ft
Phuentsholing	300m / 985ft
Punakha	1,310m / 4,300ft
Wangduephodrang	1,310m / 4,300ft
Phobjhika (Gangtey)	2,900m / 9,510ft
Trongsa	2,200m / 7,215ft
Bumthang (Jakar)	2,800m / 9,185ft
Mongar	1,700m / 5,580ft
Trashigang	3,773m / 12,375ft
Trashiyangtshe	1,850m / 6,070ft