Most of the population (about 75%) of the country professes Lamaist Buddhism (Drukpa-Kagyupa), which is also the state religion of the country. The southern part of Bhutan is dominated by Hindus, they account for about 25% of the population. Less than 1% of Bhutanese follow the Bon religion and Islam.
Transport in Bhutan
Only the national air carrier Druk-Air is allowed to operate flights to Bhutan. Paro International Airport is connected by flights to Kolkata, Gaya and Delhi (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Bangkok (Thailand). From Russia, it is best to travel by plane with transfers in Delhi or Bangkok. It is worth remembering that issuing a plane ticket Druk Air is possible only with a visa permit, an application for which must be sent 2.5 months before traveling to the country through an accredited travel agency. You can also enter Bhutan by land through the border town of Puentsholing, located on the border with India in the state of West Bengal.
Tourists are allowed to travel within the country only on specialized tourist buses, the fare for which is paid in advance when making a tour to Bhutan, accompanied by a local guide. The road network covers cities like Paro, Thimpu, Punakha, Wangdi, Tongsa, Jakar, Mangar and Tashigang. The northern dzongs, located high in the mountains, do not have roads.
Plant and Animal World in in Bhutan
About 70% of Bhutan’s territory is covered with forests. At altitudes of more than 2000 m, coniferous forests consisting of pine, cedar and spruce, subalpine and alpine meadows stretch. Mountain goats, rams, taras, wild yaks, snow leopards, the black Himalayan bear and many birds of prey live here. Mountain slopes at altitudes from 1000 to 2000 m are covered with deciduous forests dominated by oaks, maples, chestnuts and magnolias. In the southern part of the country, in the foothills and on the “duar” plains, there are vast subtropical forests inhabited by tigers, leopards, elephants, monkeys, snakes and numerous insects.
Approximately 10% of the country’s territory is covered with glaciers.
Minerals in Bhutan
The country has deposits of talc, tungsten ores, lead, copper, coal, gypsum and mica.
Banks in Bhutan
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.
Money in Bhutan
The official currency of Bhutan is the Ngultrum. 1 ngultrum equals 100 chetra. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 ngultrum, as well as coins in denominations of 1 ngultrum and 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 four. Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee at a ratio of 1:1. It is worth noting that the Indian rupee is legal tender in Bhutan. US dollars are also often accepted as payment.
Currency and traveler’s checks can be exchanged at banks, airports and most hotels. It is easiest to exchange US dollars, Australian and Canadian dollars and euros, the same goes for traveler’s checks. All checks confirming the completed exchange transactions should be kept, as they may be required when exchanging ngultrums for foreign currency when leaving the country. Credit cards are accepted only in major hotels and shops in the capital. ATMs only accept credit cards issued by the Bank of Bhutan. In the province, non-cash payment for services is not developed.
Rate: 100 Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) = 1.39 USD
Political State in in Bhutan
According to politicsezine, Bhutan is a democratic monarchy. The head of state is the king. The chief clergyman – jackempo – is the second person in the state after the king. Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the Royal Advisory Council and the Cabinet. The legislature is the unicameral National Assembly.
Administratively, the country is divided into 20 districts (“dzongkhag”), which are combined into 4 districts.
Population in Bhutan
About 50% of the population belong to the Bhotiya people (a Mongoloid ethnic group of Tibetan origin). Among them are “Naglong” (they live in the western regions of the country) and “Sharchop” (they live in the east of the country). In the southern regions of Bhutan, the Nepalese “Lhotshampa” live.
Language:
The official language of Bhutan is Dzongkha (one of the 53 languages of the Tibetan language family), it is most widely spoken in the western part of the country. There are about 13 dialects of this language in Bhutan. The Sharchops living in the east of Bhutan speak the Bumthang dialect, while the Nepalese people living in the south of Bhutan speak Nepali dialects. City dwellers can communicate in English.
Cuisine in in Bhutan
Traditional Bhutanese dishes are distinguished by their spiciness, because red and green chili peppers are added to them. The most popular dishes are “ema-datsu” (hot peppers stewed in oil and spices in a cheese sauce), “kewa-datsu” (a mixture of potatoes, cheese and chili peppers) and “shamu-datsu” (baked with cheese and chili peppers). mushrooms). Local red rice dishes are also very popular. From meat dishes, you should try dumplings “momos”, pork “fing” with beans and peppers, braised pork with spices and radish “phaksha-pa”, beef stewed with mushrooms and rice “tshoem”, spicy pork with potatoes “kewa-phagsha”, jasha-maru poultry meat fried with vegetables and boiled pork legs with kangchu-maru greens.
From non-alcoholic drinks, Bhutanese drink local tea with “susa” oil, and sometimes salt and pepper are added to it. Alcoholic drinks are represented by traditional moonshine “ara” and wheat beer “chang”.
