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Overview of Bhutan History, Culture and Geology
The Kingdom of Bhutan remains one of the most exclusive and unique places on Earth. Long isolated from the outside world, Bhutan developed its own sense of style, place and culture. The result is a kingdom with true Buddhist ideals, beautiful architecture, amazing biodiversity, progressive environmental policies and a harmonious mix of cultures.
Guru Rinpoche
Photo by Kelzang Rinchen |
We think you'll agree that there is nowhere else like Bhutan.
King: His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Land area: 38,394 sq. km,18,182 sq. miles
Altitude: 180m/590ft to 7,550m/24,764ft above sea level
Population: Just under 700,000
Local time: 6 hours ahead of GMT & 1/2 hour ahead of IST
National Symbols
Tree: Cyprus, (Cupresses Corneyana)
Flower: Blue Poppy, (Mecanopsis Grandis)
Animal: Takin, (Budorcas Taxicolor)
Bird: Raven, (Corvus Corax Tibetanus)
Sport: Archery & Darts (Khuru)
Religion
The Vajrayana stream of Mahayana Buddhism is practiced throughout Bhutan, as well as Hinduism in the southern regions. Smaller, older religions that predate Buddhism, like Bon and other forms of animism, are also practiced in various parts of the country.
Thrumshingla Pass (3780m) on the way to Eastern Bhutan.
Photo by Kelzang Rinchen |
Environment
Bhutan enjoys the most intact environment in the entire Himalayan region. This is due in part to the country's late development and difficult terrain. However, our late blooming allowed us to draw on the experience of other countries and develop very progressive environmental policies. As a result, 70% of Bhutan is still covered by old-growth forest and our biodiversity is intact. The rivers are clear and wild. The mountains tall.
Like all developing countries, we face the challenges that accompany modernization. One of these problems is trash in urban areas. Amitabha is working with others to find solutions to these challenges.
There are many protected areas throughout the country and they make up 26% of our country's total area. These protected areas are linked by protected biological corridors to protect the health of our plants and animals. National Parks and Protected Areas include: Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park, Royal Manas National Park, Thrumshingla National Park, Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary.
Biodiversity
Given Bhutan's pristine environment, and the range of habitats due to the incredible range in altitude, the country is considered one of the planet's 18 global biodiversity hotspots. In Bhutan, you'll find 5,500 species of plants and a staggering 770 bird species, including the black-necked crane and the white-bellied heron. These are two of the world's most rare bird species.
In addition, you may also see tigers, elephants, rhinos, bears, leopards, red pandas, deer, blue sheep and many more large species. If you've ever dreamed of what the Himalayan animal and plant kingdoms must have been like before humans came, Bhutan is the closest you'll ever get.
Geography
Just 300km/188miles long and 150km/99miles wide, as the crow flies, Bhutan is a very small country. However, the entire country is mountainous so, if you were to flatten it out, Bhutan would be a very big country. There is a lot of vertical terrain.
The Great Himalayan Range runs along the northern border of Bhutan with peaks up to 7,550m/24,764ft, including Gangkhar Puensum, the highest un-climbed peak in the world.
Below the big peaks is the Inner Himalayan Range from 1100m/3,608ft to 3500m/11,480ft altitude. While the Great Himalayan Range runs east-west across Bhutan, the Inner Himalaya peaks run north-south and funnel the big Bhutanese rivers south into India where they join the holy Brahmaputra River. The wild rivers have created wide river valleys with flat fertile areas, and this is where most people live.
In the very south of Bhutan is a thin strip of land that joins the plains of India. This flat belt is highly fertile and the site of much of Bhutan's agricultural production.
Culture & Population
Bhutan was originally a series of separate valleys, each with its own unique culture. This diversity remains today as many cultural groups peacefully coexist with each other. In the north, the two main groups are the Sharchops and Ngalops who make up around 65% of Bhutan's population. In the south are the Lhotsampa people made up of various Nepali-speaking ethnic groups. Smaller pockets of other cultures exist throughout Bhutan, including the Bumthap, Khyeng, Layaps, Brokpas and several more.
The 2005 Census puts the population of Bhutan at just under 700,000 people.
Languages
Nineteen languages are still spoken in Bhutan today, most being regional languages that developed in the remote valleys. Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan and is similar to Tibetan. Sharchop is an entirely different language spoken in the east, and Nepali is most common in the south. It's an incredible linguistic mix.
Don't worry - English is spoken widely throughout Bhutan and all of our guides speak very good English, as well as local languages.
Money
The currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum, commonly called the “Nu”. Visitors are advised to carry traveler’s cheques (Preferably American Express) with some cash (US Dollar/Euro). Payments by visa and American Express credit cards are accepted at hotels and shops in Thimphu only. Cash withdrawals facilities through card are not available in Bhutan.
Click here to use the Universal Currency Converter to see how your currency compares to Bhutan's Ngultrum:
www.xe.com/ucc/full.shtml
Food & Drink
The food offered to the visitors is carefully prepared to suit the western
taste, combining Bhutanese, Continental, Indian and Chinese cuisine
everywhere we travel in Bhutan. Amitabha can accommodate both vegetarian
and meat eaters. If there are more guests, the hotelier served the meals as
buffet style.
Bhutanese like hot food, and the national favorite is "ema dates" - chilies and cheese over rice. Dried meat is another staple, as is locally made rice wine called "ara".
Bhutan makes good spirits and they are available very inexpensively throughout the country. There is one microbrew in Bumthang that makes an excellent thick Red Panda beer. Wine is available primarily in hotels.
Non-alcoholic drinks include: purified water, juices, milk, soda water, black tea, herbal tea, masala tea (chai) and western sodas like Coca-Cola and Sprite.
For coffee purists, it's better to bring your own organic beans and a small French press. Coffee beans are very difficult to find and instant coffee served almost everywhere.
Electricity
Bhutan runs on 220 Volts. Please check your i-pods and hair dryers before you come. If your home runs on something other than 220V, you need to bring a transformer and adaptor plugs. The electrical systems fluctuate a bit and it's always good to bring a flashlight or headlamp with you.
Bhutanese Village
Photo by Kelzang Rinchen |
Email & Telephone
Email cafes are now common in most towns, as are telephones with international access. Some hotels have small business centers where you can check your email. Internet access also makes it possible to make internet phone calls using Skype or a similar program. If you intend to do this, it's better to set up the account at home and bring a headset & microphone with you.
Health
Located high in the mountains, the alpine environment makes Bhutan a very healthy place to visit. All the places we stay have western hygienic standards so you don't have to worry. Altitude is a problem for some people, and if this troubles you, we can create an itinerary allowing for more acclimatization time.
Vaccinations are not necessary for Bhutan, but it's prudent to get them anyway. Please consult your health care professional for recommendations.
We recommend that all our guests purchase travel insurance in addition to your normal health insurance. Your travel insurance should always include coverage for emergency air evacuation. Many programs are available and it's best to work with your insurance agent at home.
Bhutan has basic hospitals and qualified medical staff in every area that we visit.
Shopping
Everyone will want to take back a few souvenirs of Bhutan, whether it's a hand-carved wooden table that folds down for easy carrying, or just a few strings of colorful prayer flags. Handicraft shops are readily available in Thimphu and Paro and they sell a wide range of Bhutanese and Himalayan handicrafts.
Hand woven silk textiles are famous in Bhutan and come in many colors and styles. If you have a particular interest in textiles, we can arrange to show you the best quality items for sale in Bhutan.
Other high-quality items include painted thangkhas (religious paintings) and wooden masks.
Climate
The climate and weather in Bhutan changes radically, depending on the season and altitude. Since Bhutan is located so far south, on the same latitude as Florida and Egypt, winters are fairly mild and summers warm. Summer is June through August and sees frequent rain showers, following a typical monsoon pattern. Fall (September-October) features mostly clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Winter (November-February) offers the clearest weather, but also the coldest. You may run into a snowstorm or two, but they rarely last long. Spring (March-May) offers excellent weather, good temperatures and little rain.
Eastern Bhutan is warmer than western Bhutan. Northern Bhutan is alpine and southern Bhutan is tropical. The variety is incredible.
Contact Amitabha for more information.
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