The land of the thunder dragon has shunned the rush towards modernity.
Bhutan, nestling in the heart of the great Himalaya, has for centuries remained aloof from the rest of the world. Since its doors were cautiously opened in 1974, visitors have been mesmerised: the environment is pristine, the scenery and architecture awesome and the people hospitable and charming.
Southern Bhutan has experienced a number of bomb attacks this year, and there is ongoing conflict between the police and Maoist groups. Most visitors to the country experience no problems, but extra vigilance is advised.
severity: Mid-level alert
Kingdom of Bhutan
672,425
Name: Ngultrum
Code: BTN
Symbol: Nu
230V 50Hz
Official: Dzongkha
GMT/UTC +6
+975
Metric
Download the free Getting Started chapter or buy individual chapters from our Bhutan guide, in our online Shop.
› Go to the Bhutan download page.
photofeature by Bradley Mayhew, June 2007
Yearning to catch a glimpse of this hidden kingdom? Come on in. Warning: snowlions and flying phalluses. Read the full article ›
Tags: Bhutan
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