Bhutan saw an increase of 10% in tourist arrivals in 2013 as compared to the previous year. Last year, there were 10, 810 tourists visiting the country while in 2012, there were 116,224 tourists. Of the total arrivals, 44,267 were international or dollar- paying tourists,, 63,426 were regional tourists while 8,531 visited the country under...Read More
The “Clean Bhutan” project will be launched on Feb.6 starting with Thimpchhu. The project will involve two rafts, 300 volunteers and 20 project staff. Starting from Lingkana, the cleaning programme will stretch till the sewerage in Babesa. The project website will also be launched on the same day. Meanwhile, the volunteers will be divided into...Read More
Druk Air will start flights to Mumbai starting May 1, making it the sixth Indian city in its list of flight destinations. The national air carrier will fly twice a week to the city and maybe routed through Kathmandu, Nepal. It is yet to be decided if the flight cost will be slightly higher than...Read More
Many Bhutanese monasteries and temples have “The Wheel of Life” adorning their entrances. It illustrates the following: It is held and turned by Yama, the Lord of Death and is a representation of the cycle of samsara. The inner circle depicts a cockerel (desire or attachment) biting a pig (ignorance or delusion) biting a...Read More
An umbrella (better if it’s compact) or a good raincoat- for any region or time of the year. Hat, sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses. Earplugs because Bhutanese dogs are a noisy lot. Trekking poles for steep hikes to temples and monasteries. Swimming costumes for hot stone baths. A flashlight for power cuts and to see...Read More
A visit to Bhutan will remain incomplete without sighting its rich heritage of arts and crafts such as the sacred murals, hand-woven, colorful textiles and other handicrafts. Include these places in your tour if you want to experience Bhutan’s rich culture of handicrafts: National Institute for Zorig Chusum: This institute teaches six of the 13...Read More
GNH day will be observed on November 11 coinciding with the Fourth King’s birthday, Children’s day and Constitution Day. The National Assembly decided on shifting it from March 20, the International Happiness Day, after the issue was discussed with some Opposition members saying that it would be a disgrace to change the day it was...Read More
Villagers from Relnang in Luari gewog, Samdrupjongkhar are trying to revive the art of a traditional mask dance, which began to die six years ago. Relnang is a village that is an hour’s walk from Jompa, Lauri’s gewog centre. The village’s annual tshechu started some time in 1980, after the completion of the Thekchog Ugyen...Read More
In a bid to emulate Bhutan’s governing philosophy of Gross National Happiness, Northern Ireland’s Carnegie UK Trust has released a report that focuses on the finding that development should be GNH-driven, and parties should be committed to putting wellbeing at the heart of Stormont. The pledge from DUP Finance Minister Simon Hamilton and Sinn Fein...Read More
A bypass to Samdrupjongkhar and Pasakha from India was one of the major issues discussed in yesterday’s bilateral talks with India. This decision was given paramount importance, as it would reduce transportation costs and ease traffic congestion in Phuentsholing and the neighbouring Indian town of Jaigoan. Clearing private land and forest in India would take...Read More
