Religion and culture
Chortens (Stupas) are most common throughout the
kingdom and they ward off evil spirits and protect
from imminent danger. They represent the mind of
Buddha symbolically and reminds people of the possibility
of and the path of enlightenment. Even more common
are the prayer flags on mountain slopes, bridges
and high passes. Transmitting prayers to the Gods
and keeping up a constant communication with the
heavens, prayer flags fluttering in the wind are
a simple reminder of the clarity of the Buddhist
faith.
Clothing
Cottons and light woolens in Summer (June-Sep).
Heavy woolens and jackets the rest of the year.
Rain gear for the monsoons and comfortable shoes.
Electricity
220 Volts, 50 cycles A.C. current is available.
And electricity in Bhutan is reasonably reliable,
but we advise you to bring a small surge protector
for delicate electronic equipment. In many parts
of Bhutan electricity is generated through hydro
electricity, either from larger projects, such as
Chukha dam, or mini hydro plants.
Currency & Credit Card
The national currency is the Ngultrum (Nu). 100
Chetrum = 1 Nu. Exchange rate is approximately US$
1 = Nu. 45. Indian Rupees circulate at par. We have
several banking facilities and our Banks accepts
some foreign currencies i.e. Dollars and Pounds.
Travelers Cheque are accepted almost in all places.Visa
and American Express credit cards are excepted in
a few shops, but their use is limited. Travelers
cheque are accepted in most places.
Time Difference
Bhutan time is GMT/UTC plus 06 hours; there is only
one time zone throughout the country. The time in
Bhutan is 30 minutes later than India, 15 minutes
later than Nepal and one hour earlier than Thailand.
When it is noon in Bhutan, standard time is 06:00
am in London, 04:00 p.m. in Sydney, 01:00 am in
New York and 10:00 p.m. the previous day in San
Francisco.
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Tourists.
All government approved hotels are reasonably modern
with running hot and cold water in Thimphu and Paro
but less often further east in the remote areas.
All hotels are equipped with telephone; fax machines
with international dialing facilities.
Cuisine
Tourist hotels have a choice of Bhutanese, Indian,
Chinese, Japanese and Continental food.
Communication & Facilities
Reliable telephone and fax services are available
in all towns in Bhutan. International connections
are excellent. Now internet and e-mail facilities
are also available in most of the places.
Photography
Carry plenty of films and batteries. Photo shops
in Bhutan do not sell equipment or accessories of
quality. Only few things are available in some places.
Language
Dzongkha, the language of the western region, is
the national language. English is the medium of
instruction and is spoken by all government officials
and businessmen. Nepali is prevalent in the south
while Bumthangkha, Khyengkha and Sharchopkha are
common dialects. Our guides and few staff are trained
to speak Japanese, French and little Spanish.
Insurance
To protect against unforeseen accidents and mishaps,
we advise you to have Travel insurance policy from
your country. It should adequately cover helicopter
evacuation and medical assistance. We regret the
unavailability of such policies in Bhutan.
Safety
The crime rate in Bhutan is very low; the country
lives up to its nickname of the Land of Peaceful
Dragon. Even so there are Police Stations in almost
all regions.
Shopping
Traditional handicrafts, textiles, jewelleries,
baskets, masks. Paintings and woodcarving make good
buys.
