GENERAL
Official name of the state
Kingdom of Bhutan.
Capital
Thimphu (Thimbu).
Geography
As a country located in Asia according to top-mba-universities, Bhutan is located on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas, borders China in the north and India in the south, east and west. The plains in the south are at an altitude of 500 m and rise in the north to the 7500 m high Himalayan plateau. The temperatures in the foothills of the mountains are tropical. Here you can find deer, lions, leopards, the rare golden monkeys, lush vegetation and numerous species of orchids. The extensive deciduous forests are habitats for wild boars and bears. Few people live in the high region of the Himalayas.
Government
Constitutional monarchy since 1969. Sovereign state, since 1971. Constitution of 2005. Bicameral parliament: Tshogdu (state parliament) – 105 of the 150 members are directly elected every 3 years (1 vote per family), the remaining seats are held by 33 government officials (z. appointed by the king) and occupied 12 representatives of Buddhist monasteries. Lodoi Tsokde (Royal Council) – 9 members. There are no parties. Independence from India since 1949.
Head of state
Druk-Gyalpo (“Dragon King”) Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, since December 2006.
Head of government
Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley, since March 2008.
Electricity
220 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Bhutan Time: CET +7
TRAVEL WARNING
Overview Bhutan
Country-specific safety instructions
There is currently no country-specific safety notice for Bhutan.
MONEY
Currency
1 ngultrum = 100 chertum. Currency abbreviation: NU, BTN (ISO code). The ngultrum is linked to the Indian rupee (the rupee is also valid currency). Banknotes are in circulation with the values 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 1 NU. Coins in denominations of 1 NU as well as 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 Chhertum.
Credit cards
Accepted to a very limited extent (partly by large hotels, but time-consuming and expensive). Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
EC / Maestro card / Sparcard
Few ATMs accept foreign cards; these must have the Maestro or Cirrus symbol. It can happen that ATMs do not work or are empty, so you should ensure that there is an adequate supply of cash.
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank customer card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the options for using their card from their bank prior to departure.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-1 p.m. In Thimphu, some of the banks for currency exchange are also open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Foreign exchange regulations
Unlimited import of local and foreign currencies, mandatory declaration. Unlimited export of foreign currencies, export of local currency only up to 5,000 NU.
Currency Exchange
Well-known foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport, at the Bhutan National Bank and the Bank of Bhutan, but travelers checks offer a cheaper exchange rate. Larger hotels in Thimpu, Paro and Puntsholing also exchange foreign currencies.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Dzongkha. Due to the remoteness of many villages, the most diverse dialects have been preserved. Sharchop Kha, the northern dialect, is the most common. Nepali is also spoken. English has been taught in schools since 1964 and is therefore widely used.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Annotation
All Buddhist holidays and the Hindu festival Dussera are also celebrated. Buddhist and Hindu holidays are based on the lunar calendar and local astrological observations.
Annotation
All Buddhist holidays and the Hindu festival Dussera are also celebrated. Buddhist and Hindu holidays are based on the lunar calendar and local astrological observations.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Bhutan duty-free:
Items for personal use;
professional equipment;
electronic devices for personal use;
200 cigarettes (upon payment of the import duty of 200%);
1 liter of spirits.
A customs declaration must be filled out upon entry, which must be kept until departure. All private items brought in, including plants and soil, must be noted on this form.
Prohibited imports
Animal products, narcotics, weapons and ammunition.
Prohibited exports
Antiques, animal products, narcotics, weapons and ammunition.
Export regulations
Old, used items may only be exported with a certificate that certifies that they are not antiques.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Very few foreign business people come to Bhutan – prior appointments are required in any case. Tropical suits are appropriate. October and November are the most affordable for business travel.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Economy
Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PO Box 147, Doebum Lam, Thimphu
Tel: (02) 32 27 42.
Internet: www.bcci.org.bt
Business contacts
Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PO Box 147, Doebum Lam, Thimphu
Tel: (02) 32 27 42.
Internet: www.bcci.org.bt
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing limited to the larger cities. All other calls must be registered with the remote office. The national telephone company is called Bhutan Telecom (Internet: www.telecom.net.bt/).
Internet
The only Internet provider is currently DrukNet (Internet: www.druknet.bt). Bhutan Telecom plans to become an internet provider as well. There are four internet cafés in Thimpu.
Post Office
Airmail shipments to Bhutan take up to two weeks on the way. Shipments to Europe take 7-10 days. However, the stamps have a high collector’s value and are not infrequently removed from the envelope, which can significantly delay delivery.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
On Sundays you can visit markets selling local clothing, jewelry and groceries. The Handicraft Emporium in the capital, Thimphu, is on the city’s main street. It is open every day except Sundays and sells hand-woven and other handicrafts. A gift shop recently opened at Hotel Motithang in Thimphu. The gold and silversmiths in the Thimphu Valley make handcrafted items to order. Shop opening times: Almost all shops are open every day except Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
CULTURE
Religion
Mahayana Buddhism (75%), mostly Drukpe school of the Kagyupa sect, is the state religion. Nepalese immigrants, who make up a large part of the population (in the south of Bhutan), are mostly followers of Hinduism (25%), a Muslim minority.
Social rules of conduct
The many Buddhist shrines and prayer wheels are a sign of the all-encompassing influence of religion on everyday life. The majority of the population lives in rural communities. Kadrintsche means “thank you” in Dzongkha. Smoking: Smoking in public is prohibited in Bhutan. Since then, tobacco products can no longer be bought anywhere in the country. Photographing: Photographing is permitted during Buddhist festivals. If in doubt, ask for permission beforehand. Tips are not common. 5-10% can be given at your own discretion.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Tropical in the south, to the north and increasingly colder with increasing altitude. Monsoons between early June and September. During the day it is mostly sunny and clear; Especially in winter it can get very cold at night. October, November and April to mid-June are the best vacation months with little rainfall and pleasant temperatures. In the southern foothills of the Himalayas, it is not particularly cold in winter either.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +975 Area (sqkm) 38364 Population 741919 Population density (per sqkm) 19 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 112
