Bhutan at a Glance:
• Capital: Thimphu
• Population: Approximately 795,327 (2025 data)
• Total Area Coverage: 38,394 square kilometers
• Forest Cover: 70% of total land
• Official Religion: Vajrayana Buddhism
• Politics: Constitutional Monarchy since 2008
• National Language: Dzongkha
• National Dress: Gho for men and Kira for women
• National Sports: Archery
• National Animal: Takin (Budorcas taxicolor)
• National Bird: Raven (Corvus corex tibetanus)
• National Flower: Blue Poppy (Meconopsis gakyidiana)
• National Tree: Cypress (Cupressus corneyana)
• National Day: 17th December
• Bhutan Time: 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
• Currency: Ngultrum (same value as Indian Rupee); accepted currencies include Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Pound Sterling, Singapore Dollar, Swiss Franc, and US Dollar. Visa or MasterCard are accepted at hotels and handicraft stores.
• Dialling Code: +975
• Electricity: 220V/240V, with a frequency of 50Hz (plug types D, F & G)
Telecommunication:
• Radio Broadcasting: Began in 1973
• Television: Local television introduced in 1998, and international channels were launched in 1999.
• Internet: Bhutan Telecom launched mobile communication in 2003. Good internet connection with 4G and 5G available. Bhutanese SIM cards can be obtained from Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell. Wi-Fi is available in almost all tourist hotels.
Air Travel:
• Only two airlines, Druk Air (Government owned) and Bhutan Airlines (Private owned) operate flights in and out of Bhutan to destinations including Bangladesh, Dubai, India, Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand.
Festivals:
• Most popular festivals in Bhutan are: Winter months – Tashigang Tsechu, Trongsa Tsechu and Punakha Domche. Spring months – Punakha Tsechu, Paro Tsechu and Rhodrodrendon Festival in Tashigang and Thimphu. Autumn months – Jakar Tsechu, Jambay Lhakhang drup, Gangtey Tsechu, Royal Highland Festival, Thimphu Tsechu and Wangdiphodrang Tsechu.