BHUTAN INFORMATION
ABOUT BHUTAN
Bhutan could be an alternative reality in the world driven by materialism. A tiny Himalayan nation, wedged between the two global powers, China and India, still bestowed with resplendent natural beauty and ecological heritage of the high Himalayas. Add to this the fact that happiness comes before money, even for public economic pursuits.
As the towering Himalayan range descends toward the central and then the southern region, rich diversity of landscape, floral and faunal lives, and cultural and other aspects of people’s life unfold. Today, 72% of Bhutan’s total land area is covered by natural forests. Its rich and diverse biodiversity, spread across different forests, is a bonanza both to scientists who seek to study wildlife and biodiversity and visitors who want to appreciate the richness of life on the planet. The pristine river system, fed by some of the world’s highest unclimbed mountains, are the nation’s wealth, the source of hydroelectric power which is the chief export of the country.
Bhutan’s cultural and architectural richness is equally dazzling. Dotting the hills and valleys are the ancient monasteries and forts, known as Dzongs, which have arrested traveler’s imagination and fascination for centuries. Located at precarious and picturesque settings – such as the cliff edges and hill tops, these are wonders of the human genius. At the time they were built, they served as strategic forts and watch towers; today rich legends and histories, as well as deep spiritual significance, hinge about these majestic creations.
Bhutan cultural heritage, which is often justly identified as a strong determinant of the nation’s sovereignty, has remained vibrant, untainted by assaults of time and influence from other cultures. The national dress worn by the men, gho, is a knee-length wraparound and the kira, worn by the women, is an ankle-length wraparound skirt. Office goers wear the national dress to their work.
In 2008, Bhutan became the world’s youngest democracy. The peaceful transition from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy, with a written constitution, was a result of the Royal Command of His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who upon taking up the reins of kingship at the tender age of 16 in 1972 had started the work to steer his country and the people toward democracy. Hundred years after the Wangchuck Dynasty was established in Bhutan, with Sir Ugyen Wangchuck of the Trongsa region being unanimously declared through historic agreement between the leader and the people as the first King of Bhutan, the fourth King returned to the people the power to lead which the people had offered to his great grandfather, the first king. The government is elected through democratic suffrage.
Bhutan famously maintained an isolation till the second half of the 20th Century. When it looked outside its own happy dens, a lot of things had already happened in the world: The world had fought major wars, international communities were formed and they had failed in their mandate, and of all, India had won independence from the English colonial powers.
It was about time Bhutan too made its inroads internationally. So it did.
In 1960s, it made calculated steps into modernization. First came the road development and the planned five year plan. In about 60 years since opening doors to modernization, Bhutan has made significant progress in the socio-economic fronts. But even as the nation was making progress, the Fourth King, still in his 20s, realized the need for a unique way to steer his country forward. He promulgated the concept of Gross National Happiness, a development philosophy that seeks to establish a harmonious balance among the economic, socio-political, and ecological aspects. The concept of GNH – defined by the Fifth King of Bhutan as “development with values”—is today widely known to the world. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan enshrines the idea that spiritual wellbeing is as important as economic progress.
Bhutan’s rich natural environmental heritage, its cultural heritage, and the way the nation is navigated in the rather boisterous geopolitical waters of the 21st century make for an interesting travel destination, a destination many visitors to Bhutan regard as one of the most fulfilling of all destinations. It is perhaps not without reasons that a lot of travelers forge lifelong friendship with Bhutan.
Bhutanese Culture
Bhutanese is culture influenced by Buddhism. The cultural heritage is characterized by a mosaic of traditional arts, architecture, festivals and religious ceremonies. Bhutan has placed a high premium on the preservation of cultural heritage of the country, and it remains intact and vibrant, even as the country is rapidly embracing modernization in various fronts.
Tshechu (festivals of mask dances) is one of the most popular festivals in Bhutan. It is spiritually significant while it also offers much glitz and glamor as well as social cohesion. Tshechus can offer a lot to the understanding of the Bhutanese culture by visitors. Indeed, Tshechus attract thousands of foreign visitors yearly.
Bhutanese arts, paintings, and architecture are inspired by the Himalayan landscape as well as the Buddhist teachings. Mountains and valleys are featured in Bhutanese paintings and art forms. Traditional songs often invoke the majesty of the geography. They also allude to the prohibitive powers of the geographic features. In fact, Bhutanese history is significantly shaped by the geographical features.
Driglam Namzha, the set of traditional etiquettes, is an important component of Bhutanese lifestyle. The tenets of these codes cover various aspects of life, including the dining manners, dressing, speaking with elders, etc.
Gross National Happiness, the developmental principle, seeks to strike a harmonious balance between economy, ecology, and culture of the country. The government is mandated by the constitution to create this balance which in turn will enable conditions for Gross National Happiness.
Bhutanese Attire
The traditional dress worn by Bhutanese men today called gho was reproduced from the dress worn by the Guru himself. And the women’s kira, according to some oral literature, is supposed to have been evolved from the dress of Guru’s consorts.
In ancient times and even today, people carried daggers secured on the belt. Officials with rank and power wear a long sword called the patang. This sword, which can be used both as a tool and a weapon, is symbolic of men defending the country as well as building it.
Both Bhutanese men and women wear a scarf while on important occasion and entering a dzong or a monastery. As a symbol of respect, the scarf is lowered in front of those with honorable position, including the king.
The color of the scarves denote the position of authority and responsibility. Ordinary Bhutanese wear white scarves. The red scarf is awarded to Bhutanese who have outstanding contribution to the nation in various fields by His Majesty the King. The awardees are referred to as Dasho, the excellent one. The parliamentarians wear blue scarf. The yellow scarf is worn by His Majesty the King and the Je Khenpo.
A woman’s equivalent of the scarf is called the Rachu. Rachus worn by ordinary women are hung over the shoulder and is woven in colorful embroidery.
The western-style casual dresses are becoming increasingly popular among the Bhutanese out of the office hours.
Gross National Happiness
Pursuit of happiness is central to life. So the Bhutanese have believed for long. Realizing a harmonious balance among economy, ecology, and culture, which are moored on a good governance system, as vital to creating a contented and happy national life, the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck declared in 1970s that gross national happiness should be the focus of the national development rather than mere economic progress.
The constitution recognizes one of the mandates of the state is to create conditions that maximize Gross National Happiness. Any policy must be screened by the GNH screening tools before it reaches consideration for endorsement. In that way, through GNH screening of the public policies, the state is able to realize the ideals of GNH in the nation’s development.
Although GNH has been variously defined by scholars and others alike, it has a straightforward vision and goal, which is adequately captured in the definition for GNH the Fifth King of Bhutan provided in one of his foreign lecture – “Development with Values”.
GNH as a scholarly concept has four pillars: Sustainable and Equitable Socio-economic Development, Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage, Preservation and Conservation of Environment, and Good Governance. Variously categorized under these pillars are the nine domains and other sub-level indicators.
20th March is today declared as the International Happiness Day, thanks to Bhutan government’s effort in the United Nations calling for the day’s recognition as such.
Flora and Fauna
Bhutan’s floral diversity is rich and diverse. More than 70% of Bhutan’s land area is forested and it hosts a wide range of faunal habitat. Bhutan is home to the endangered White-bellied heron and the black necked crane, and many other exotic species of animals and birds.
The Takin, which has a goat’s head and a cow’s body, is the national animal of Bhutan. There are legends surrounding this exotic animal. One legends has it that, Lam Drukpa Kuenley, famously known as the divine madman, created the animal by fixing a goat’s head to a cow’s carcass in a feast, where he was tasted of his magical powers.
Bhutan is equally rich in floral diversity. It is a floral paradise, as botanists say. The country falls within the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, and is home to many breathtaking glory of the Himalayan floral diversity.
Bhutan is also known as The Land of Medicinal Plants for its richness of medicinal herbs. In the past, traditional doctors and physicians came over to Bhutan from neighboring countries, most commonly Tibet, in search of medicinal herbs.
Bhutan’s serene and virgin forests are home to over 6000 vascular plants (flowering plants) including 369 orchids, 46 rhodendrons and 111 ferns. The country also has over 100 endemic plants.
Besides enjoying the splendor of culture and traditions, visitors are also enthralled by the rich and diverse floral and faunal beauty of the country.
Bhutan has bagged many international awards for its conservation efforts.
Bhutan Buddhist Heritage
Generally, Bhutanese are religious a lot. For centuries, the basic Buddhist principle of compassion and interdependence has guided Bhutanese livelihood.
The great Tantric Buddhist Master Guru Padmasambhava brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th Century AD. There are hundreds of legends about this Great Master who subdued demons and evil spirits and helped the spread of Buddhism. Many locations in Bhutan, chiefly the Taktsang (Tiger’s nest), are spiritually and socially famous as the places where the Guru visited and meditated.
Buddhism in Bhutan today is the state religion, recognized as such by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Je Khenpo, the chief abbot, is the head of the monastic body in Bhutan.
Following the visit of Guru in the 8th century came many other religious masters who contributed significantly to the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. The most famous among them are the Saint Drukpa Kuenley and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Drukpa Kuenley, who is famously known as the Divine Madman, taught Buddhism in a frank, colloquial, and often humorous way. The phallic symbol, hung on the doors and painted on the walls of houses, is supposed to have its root in his teachings. Chhimi Lhakhang in Punakha, the famous temple built by the Saint, is visited by people seeking for spiritual blessing for a child. Many couples who couldn’t have a child have reported to have been successful in having one after they visited Chimi Lhakhang.
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, came to Bhutan in 1616 from Tibet. He unified the country under one administrative system called the Choesid system – the dual governance system consisting the secular and spiritual folds of statecraft.
Most of the famous fortresses, called dzongs, were built by the Zhabdrung. Simtokha Dzong in Thimphu, Punakha Dzong in Punakha, Drukgyal and Rinpung Dzong in Paro, Trongsa Dzong, among others, were built by the Zhabdrug. The dzongs are seats of cultural and spiritual blossoming.
Bhutan Information in Summery
Area : 38,394 sq.km
Population : 817054
Capital : Thimphu
Local time : GMT+6
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
National tree : Cypress(Cupresses Corneyana)
National flower : Blue poppy (Meconopsis gakyidinan)
National animal : Takin(Budorcas taxicolor)
National bird : Raven(Corvus Corax tibetanus)
National Sport : Archery
National day : 17th December
National Language : Dzongkha
Currency : Ngultrum (Nu. Or BTN) is at par with Indian Rupees (INR)
Credit Cards : Most hotels and shops catering to tourists accept Traveler's cheques, American Express and VISA credit cards
Electricity : 220-240 volts. 50 cycles AC, the current is variable.
Organized Tours
All tours in Bhutan are in a form of “all inclusive package tour”. Independent travel is not permitted and tours need to be booked with a tour operator in the country. The inclusive tour package includes accommodation in tourist-standard hotels, meals, transportation charges, and fees liable to be paid in certain area the tourists visit. Once booked through a tour operator, there is no restriction on the number of travelers visiting Bhutan.
Travel Routes to Bhutan
1. Land Route
There are three entry points to Bhutan via land route: Phuntsholing and Gelephu in the south and Samdrup Jongkhar in the southeast. The nearest airport from Phuntsholing is Bagdogra, an Indian town in the West Bengal state of India. Bagdogra is ideally located; Phuntsholing is just about five hours drive and other Indian hills and towns of tourist interest in West Bengal and Sikkim are also at a convenient distance from Bagdogra airport.
2. Air route
The Paro International Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan. DrukAir, the national airline service, operates regular flights from New Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Bagdogra, Kolkata, Bodgaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Singapore, and Bangkok. Bhutan Airlines, another airline service in Bhutan, operates from New Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, and Bangkok. Local flights for Gelephu, Tashigang, and Bumthang are also available from Paro International Airport.
Bhutan VISA
Visitors require visa to enter and travel in Bhutan. Any visitor must send a colored scan copy of the original passport, with a validity of minimum six months, to the tour operator so that it can apply for the visa and inland travel route permit with the concerned government agency on behalf of the visitor. However, the citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives do not require visa. The citizens of these three countries can enter and travel in Bhutan with a valid passports issued by their governments. Indian citizens can also visit Bhutan with a valid voter’s card. Once the traveler confirms the tour payment, the visa is approved and a visa clearance number us issued by the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs of Bhutan. A copy of the visa clearance is sent to the entry points and air station concerned. The visa clearance number is mandatory for a tourist to board a plane to Bhutan and enter the country. Tour operator concerned and the tour guides are also provided a copy of the document for their reference. Visitors are recommended to carry a copy of an approved visa. The document is required during checks at airline counters and at immigration checkpoints at the Paro International Airport and other entry points. Currency Ngultrum (Nu. Or BTN) is the currency of Bhutan. It is pegged with the Indian Rupee 1:1. Indian Rupees notes are also accepted, except for 1000 and 2000 denomination currency notes. American Express Card, Maestro and Visa cards are also accepted in Bhutan. This however is available in only a few business establishment. It is recommended that visitors carry sufficient cash or travel cheques for shopping and other personal expenses.
Favorable time to visit Bhutan
Bhutan is ideal for travel year round. The best months though are March, April, May, September, October, and November. These months are filled with celebrations and glitz. Many exciting festivals fall in these months. The Bhutan winter falls mid-November through mid-March. Winters are dry and sunny, with blinding blue sky, bent like dome along the curve of the mountains, and occasional snowfall in the higher altitude. Temperature during the day is about 15 degree Celsius and at night below freezing point in higher altitudes. Thee monsoons, with mild rainfall usually in afternoons and evenings, arrive mid-June.
Clothing and Accessories
Comfortable clothing and shoes are handy for traveling in Bhutan. For winter months, warm clothing is essential. Down jackets and woolen sweaters would be useful. In summer, light clothing, including heavy cottons and lightweight woolens, are fine. However, tourists must make note of the wide altitudinal difference among different regions of the country which account for different range of temperature. You may pack you baggage accordingly.
Food and Drinks
Bhutanese food can be altogether unique experience to the visitors. Generally, common Bhutanese meal is heavily seasoned with chilies and can be spicy. For visitors, the meals can be on the bland side. However, there is enough opportunity to be an adventurous foodie. You have the Bhutanese national dish, ema datshi, a chees-and-chili curry. This can be spicy and fiery, ideal for the cold winter months. Mostly meals are served buffet-style. These are usually continental, Indian, Chinese, and Bhutanese dishes. All tourist standard hotels also have good collection of international and Bhutanese beverages.
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