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| Home > Destination Bhutan > General Inoformation |
| General Information on Kingdom of Bhutan |
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General Information on Kingdom of Bhutan |
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| Full Official Name: Kingdom of Bhutan |
| Area: 46,620 sq km (18,182 sq mi) |
| Population: 700,000 |
| Capital City: Thimpu |
| Language: Dzongkha, English, Sharchopha, Nepali etc. |
| Religion: 705 Busshist, 25% Hindu, 5% Others |
| Government: Monarchy |
| King: Jigmey Singey Wangchuck |
| Prime Minister: Rotates every year among the cabinet ministers. |
| Time: GMT+6 |
| Money Matters: The unit of currency is the ngultrum (Nu), (Today's Exchange Rates) which is equivalent to one Indian Rupee. The Indian rupee is also legal tender. Major convertible currencies and travelers' Cheques can be exchanged at banks in all major towns. Certain credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, & American Express) are accepted at a few large hotels and some shops. |
| Food: Bhutanese eat simple and are renowned for the plentiful use of chilies; among the most popular dish is an "Ema Datshi' made entirely out of chilies and cheese. However Tourist hotels and lodges offer buffet style meals with choice of continental, Bhutanese and Indian Cuisine. On Treks and camping, you will be pleasantly surprised by what our cooks can prepare. |
| Drinks: It is safer to drink bottled, boiled and filtered water. A reasonable variety of both hard and soft drinks are available in hotels, restaurants and shops in most towns. Many Bhutanese enjoy drinking traditional homemade alcoholic brews made from wheat, millet or rice. |
| Electricity: All towns in western Bhutan have a reliable power supply. Elsewhere, access is less consistent, and electricity is not available in many outlying areas of the country. The voltage supply is 220/240, the same as India. If you do bring electrical appliances, take along an international converter kit complete with a set of adapter plugs. The sockets are round. |
| Health: The main health risks are similar to other South Asian countries, namely diarrhea, respiratory infection or more unusual tropical infection. It is wise to have health insurance, and although vaccinations are not mandatory they are recommended. When trekking, there are also risks associated with altitude sickness and accident. In the event of health problems there are basic hospital facilities in each district headquarters. |
| Safety: The crime rate is currently extremely low, making Bhutan one of the safer places in the world. It is rare to feel insecure within the country. |
| Communications Facility: All major towns have basic communication facilities, including post, telephone, fax and telegraph. Television and internet were introduced in 1999, and can be accessed from most towns and cities. |
| Shopping: The most popular tourist purchases are traditional Bhutanese arts and handicrafts. Produced by skilled artisans, these are generally of a high quality, and include Buddhist paintings and statues, textiles, jewelry and wooden bowls and carvings. Bhutan is not a consumer society, and the variety of everyday goods available is not particularly large. Bhutan is also popular for its exquisite postage stamps. |
Weather/Climate: The central valleys of Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Mongar, Trashigang and Lhunsthi enjoy a semi tropical climate with very cool winters, while Thimphu, Paro, Tongsa and Bumthang have pleasant summer, cold winters, with monsoon rains mainly from June-August.
At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly arrives, and is a magnificent season for trekking until November.
Winter in Bhutan is from starts from the end of November until Febuary, and at this time of the year the climate is dry, with daytime temperatures sometimes falling below zero Celsius.
The southern part of Bhutan is tropical, and in general the east of Bhutan is warmer than the west of the country. |
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