| General Information about Bhutan : |
| Location |
: |
Between China and India |
| Area |
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46,620 sq km (18,182 sq mi) |
| Longitude |
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27° 30’North and 90°30’ East. |
| Capital |
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Thimpu |
| Population |
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700,000 (approax. 1 million) |
| Political System |
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Monarchy |
| Religion |
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70% Buddhist, 25% Hindu, 5% others |
| National Animal |
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Takin (Burdorcas taxicolor), |
| National Bird |
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Raven (Corvus corax) |
| National Flower |
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Blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis) |
| National Sport |
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Dha (archery) |
| Language |
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Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan. Other widely spoken languages are Nepali, Bumthap, Sharchop and Hindi. English is understood and spoken by majority of people in major towns and medium of education in schools. |
| Time |
: |
Bhutan time is 6 hours ahead of GMT, 30 minutes ahead of India, 1 hour behind Thailand and 15 minutes ahead of Nepal. There is only one time zone throughout the country.  . |
| Drinks |
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It is safer to drink bottled, boiled and filtered water. A reasonable variety of both hard and soft drinks are available in hotels, restaurants and shops in most towns. Many Bhutanese enjoy drinking traditional homemade alcoholic brews made from wheat, millet or rice |
| Shopping |
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The most popular tourist purchases are traditional Bhutanese arts and handicrafts. Produced by skilled artisans, these are generally of a high quality, and include Buddhist paintings and statues, textiles, jewelry and wooden bowls and carvings. |
| Seasons |
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Autumn (September-November). Winter (December-February), Summer (March-May), Monsoon (Jun- August), |
| Water |
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In major cities boiled and filtered water as well as mineral water is available in most of the hotels and restaurants. Elsewhere, it is advisable to use water sterilization tablets or stick to tea and soft drinks. |
| Working Hours |
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Government offices open from 09to 17:00 hrs in summer and till 16:00 hrs. in winter. |
| Official Holiday |
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Government and most other offices work five days a week. Saturday and Sunday is the official weekly holiday when most of the shops are closed. |
| Electricity |
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All towns in western Bhutan have a reliable power supply. Elsewhere, access is less consistent, and electricity is not available in many outlying areas of the country. The voltage supply is 220/240, the same as in Nepal and India. |
| Road Transport |
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Road transport is the dominant mode of transportation for passengers and freight within the country and to the neighboring states of India. |
| Other Transport Arrangements |
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There are taxis with fare meters in Bhutan. |
