Kingdom of Bhutan | Druk-yul

Country Profile

Flag of Bhutan

Background: The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, land-locked mountainous nation in Asia, located in the eastern Himalaya Mountains north of India and south of China. It is a country with a strong ancient Buddhist culture and almost completely cut off for centuries to avoid foreign influences. Bhutan began to open up very slowly to outsiders in the 1970s. Tourism today is privatised by the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1991 but still restricted; travel is only possible as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour.

Official Name: Druk-yul or Druk Tsendhen, "land of the thunder dragon" int'l long form: Kingdom of Bhutan int'l short form: Bhutan ISO Country Code: bt Time: Local Time = UTC +6h Actual Time: Tue-Jan-3 22:08 Country Calling Code: +975 Capital City: Thimphu (pop. approx. 55 000) Other Cities: Paro, Phoentsholing, Punakha, Bumthong.

border countries: China (Xizang - Tibet Autonomous Region), India related countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, United Kingdom

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Official Sites of Bhutan Bhutan Government The Government's Official Web Portal. National Assembly of Bhutan Official website of Bhutan's National Assembly. Ministry of Trade and Industry Official site of the ministry provides information on Bhutan's trade and industry. Department of Tourism, Bhutan Official Tourist Information for Bhutan.

Government: Type: Democratic constitutional monarchy. Previously, various laws and Buddhist values guided the relationship between the sta enacted 18 July 2008. National Day: 17 December

Geography: Location: Southern Asia, between China and India. Area: about 40 000 sq. km., roughly the size of Switzerland. Terrain: Mountainous, from the Himalayas to lower-lying foothills to plains with semi-t and bamboo jungles.

Climate: Alpine to temperate to subtropical with monsoon season from June to Septe

Dzongkhags Bhutan is divided into twenty administrative Districts called Dzongkhags:

People: Nationality: Bhutanese. Note: The Bhutanese refer to themselves as Drukpa people. Population. 1 000 000 note: the Bhutanese government agencies project a current po GNI per capita PPP: $ 3 330 (year) Ethnic groups: Bhutan has three main ethnic groups, Sharchops, Ngalongs (50%) and Nepalese ethnic groups (35%), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%. Religions: The tantric form of Mahayana Bhuddhism (Drukpa Kagyupa) is state religio Hinduism 25%. Languages: Dzongka (official language), English (medium of instruction), Tshanglakh Khenkha, Sharchop. Literacy: 54% (est.). Women's literacy (est.)--20%.

Offcial Dzongkhag sites: Bumthang Bumthang Dzongkhag Chukha Chukha Dzongkhag Dagana Dagana Dzongkhag Gasa Gasa Dzongkhag Haa Haa Dzongkhag Lhuentse Lhuentse Dzongkhag Mongar Mongar Dzongkhag Paro Paro Dzongkhag Pema Gatshel Pema Gatshel Dzongkhag Punakha Punakha Dzongkhag Samdrup Jongkhar Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag Samtse Samtse Dzongkhag Sarpang Sarpang Dzongkhag Thimphu Thimphu Dzongkhag Trashi Gang Trashi Gang Dzongkhag Trashi Yangtse Trasi Yangtse Dzongkhag Trongsa Trongsa Dzongkhag Tsirang Tsirang Dzongkhag Wangdue Phodrang Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag Zhemgang Zhemgang Dzongkhag Maps Map of Bhutan Administrative and Political map of Bhutan. Google Earth Bhutan Zoomable satellite view of Bhutan. Google Earth Thimphu Zoomable satellite view of Bhutan's capital city. Map of Southeast Asia Map of the Southeast Asia region. Map of Asia Political Map of Asia.

Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, timber, gypsum, calcium carbide.

Agriculture products: Rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Industries: Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium c Exports partners: Bangladesh 60.5%, USA11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)

Imports partners: Japan 36.6%, Austria14.2%, Sweden 8.3%, China 7.5%, Thailand 6%,Ban (2003) Currency: Ngultrum (BTN); Indian Rupee (INR)
Source: Government of Bhutan and others.

Bhutan in Figures Bhutan key statistical data.

A Mani Wheel, part of Buddhist belief. triptoBhutan.com

Bhutan News Bhutannewsonline Bhutan's first private online newsmagazine featuring web-based news, views, opinions and articles on Bhutan. Kuensel Bhutan's autonomous daily and only regular newspaper. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation National Radio & TV provides online news on Bhutan.

Arts & Culture Bhutan Archery Comprehensive site about archery, the national sport of Bhutan. National Library of Bhutan One of Bhutan's Centers of Scriptual Heritage.

Business & Economy

Ministry of Trade and Industry Official site of the ministry provides information on Bhutan's trade and industry.

Transportation Airline Druk Air Royal Bhutan Airlines.

Bumthang

Destination Bhutan - Travel and Tour Guides Travel and Tour Consumer Information Discover the "Land of the Thunder Dragon": Bumthang, Mongar, Paro, Phunetsholing, Trongsa, Thimphu, chortens, dzongs, gompas, thangkas, traditional medicine, wildlife sanctuaries. Accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, biking, hiking, climbing, birding, adventure tours and much more. Department of Tourism, Bhutan Official Tourist Information for Bhutan. Bhutan More Information on Bhutan by bootan.com. Bhutannewsonline Bhutan's first private online newsmagazine featuring web-based news, views, opinions and articles on Bhutan. Tashi Delek Another non-official Bhutan Home Page. Bhutan Images Phil's All Embracing Bhutan Slide Show. Hotels NEW Hotels in Bhutan Find a Hotel in Bhutan. Tour Operator Bhutan Majestic Travel Tour operator for cultural and trekking tours. Bhutan Journeys Your door to Bhutan for a memorable experience. Bhutan Travel Bureau Bhutan tour operator. Kingdom of Bhutan The pioneer travel organization of Bhutan with visitor information, travel arrangements and more. Jachung Travel Offers cultural tours and trekking to Bhutan. Also contains travel tips and country information. triptoBhutan.com Aiming to promote healthy tourism in Bhutan.

Education The Centre for Bhutan Studies Autonomous research institute dedicated towards promoting research and scholarship on Bhutan; provides academic research papers on Bhutan. Royal Bhutan Institute of Technology Offers training in Civil and Electrical Engineering. Royal University of Bhutan The first university in Bhutan founded in 2003.

Thimphu B

Environment WWF Bhutan Program WWF conservation work in Bhutan.

History Brief History of Bhutan Overview of Druk Yul's history. History of Bhutan