Bhutan Standard Time is six hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). One time zone is followed by the whole country. Bhutan is 30-minutes ahead of India, 1-hour behind Thailand, and 15-minutes ahead of Nepal.

Bhutan is a rice consuming nation and the people depend on large quantities of the grain. Rice is not only the staple food but also constitutes the major economic activity and a key source of income for the rural population. People are generally consumed with a side dish of vegetables such as spinach, chili, potato and meat such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish, among others. There is more local cuisine that the visitors must try.

Besides, people also consume a good amount of dairy products such as cheese. It is usually added to vegetables to make a side dish, green salad of fresh chili, onion and tomato, and cucumber with chili powder.

Bhutan is also popularly known as a chili-eating nation. Chili is added to every meal. Ema-Datshi, which means chili and cheese is the most famous dish that tourists traveling to Bhutan should try. It is known to lead to secretions starting from the scalp, nostrils, and pores on the face.

Hotels and restaurants prepare a much milder version of the dish for first-time try-outs. Healthy foods are easily available across the country. It provides a welcoming environment to eat smart and enjoy the food.

Another common and popular food is Momo (steamed dumplings). The stuffing comes in beef, pork, and chicken with flour. The vegetarian Momo is stuffed with cheese mixed onion and cabbage. It is also served with a steaming bowl of bone marrow soup that is on the boil throughout the day.

Bhutan also has a unique salted butter tea called “Suja”. Some visitors have described it as a hot soup. At the same time, the local alcohol brew called “ara” helps to loosen and fire up the senses.

Besides, there is more local cuisine that the visitors must try. Hoentay originates from the Haa valley. It is made from the Bhutanese buckwheat and is steamed or fried with different stuffing of green leafy vegetables, cheese, and meat. The central regions also offer buckwheat delicacies such as “puta” (noodles) and “khu-lay” (pancakes), among others. These are served with the Bhutanese chili sauce eazy

Hotels and restaurants also serve a variety of Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes. In recent years, several restaurants have opened up in the capital. These restaurants serve Thai, Korean, Indian and traditional Bhutanese meals, among others.

As a landlocked country, seafood is generally not common. But tourist hotels and restaurants keep imported stocks that feature on their menu.

For treks and camping tours, seasoned and trained cooks usually come up with delicious meals using packaged and locally available food items.

Bhutan has 19 spoken languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. Dzongkha – the national language is the mother tongue of the Ngalops who inhabit the western region. Dzongkha means the language of the fort. It is the language that has a written script derived from Choeked – Classical Tibetan script.

Besides Dzongkha, there are three other dominant languages, Tsanglakha – spoken in the eastern region, Lhotsamkha – spoken in the southern region and Bumthangkha – spoken in the central region.

However, English is widely spoken in the country. Many people, particularly young stars, are more inclined to English. It is used as the medium of instruction in schools and for official communication. Most Bhutanese also speak a smattering of Hindustani. This is because of the exposure to Bollywood movies from India for the past half a century.

All major towns in Bhutan are equipped with basic communication facilities such as Internet cafes, telephone, fax, telegraph and postal services. Hotels also provide free internet and Wi-Fi facilities within the hotel premises. Cable television is also available in most urban towns.

Bhutan has two cellular service operators with network coverage in most parts of the country. The international roaming mobile coverage should check with their coverage provider if Bhutan is included. Otherwise, this should be identified before arrival. SIM card and recharge card (Voucher) is available in most towns.

For trekking tours, most operators are equipped with satellite phones that allow connectivity from any point in Bhutan.

The Bhutanese currency is the Ngultrum (Nu). It is pegged at parity with the Indian Rupee (INR), which the Bhutanese coins have maintained.

The US Dollar and the Indian Rupee is widely accepted in Bhutan. The exchange rates of the USD to the Ngultrum are published in local newspapers by the Central Bank of Bhutan.

Tourist hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops accept visa and master credit cards for payments. Travellers’ cheques can be cashed at banks.

The other currencies accepted as a foreign exchange by five commercial banks in the country are the Bhutan National Bank Limited (BNB) – www.bnb.bt, the Bank of Bhutan Limited (BOBL) – www.bob.bt, Druk PNB Bank LTD. (DPNBL) – www.drukpnbbank.bt, T Bank LTD. – www.tbankltd.com and Bhutan Development Bank Limited – www.bdb.bt.

The banks also accept other currencies as foreign exchange, including US Dollar, Pound Sterling, Euro, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc, Hong Kong Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Singapore Dollar, Danish Kroner, Swedish Kroner, and Norwegian Kroner.

In Bhutan, the visitors could shop for Himalayan antiques from Tibet, Nepal, and northern India. The Bhutanese crafts such as weaving products made from silk, cotton, yak hair, and wool, wood bowls, cups, masks and carvings, religious paintings called thangkas, jewellery and paper making – desho (coming from the word “de” referring to the Daphne plant) are available in the markets.

Bhutanese products worth a buy include Tsheringma herbal tea, honey, apple products, among others. Shops on the street will accept Ngultrum, the Indian Rupee, and the US Dollar.

There are ATM machines available for international transactions.

It is illegal to export Bhutanese antiques from Bhutan. If uncertain, certificates are available from the Department of Antiquities to determine if the item is an antique and its origins. An antique is defined as religious items that are 70-years old and more.

The cultural advisor and tour guides are seasoned professionals certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The professionals are well versed in Bhutan’s history and culture, government rules, and regulations and trekking routes. The guides use English as a tool for communication. But there are also specialist language guides for French, Japanese, Chinese and German, among others.

Bhutan is one of a true world gem with something in store for all its visitors. It is known for many sacred pilgrim sites scattered across the country. The country makes a fascinating photographer spot with a unique location, architectural expressions, ancient customs, and traditions.

Everything about Bhutan inspires photography. Generally, photography is not restricted, but photographing people would be advisable to ask permission. In monasteries, temples, and Dzongs, photography inside the structures is not permitted.

All major urban centers and interior district towns are well connected with blacktopped roads that wind over mountain passes and deep valleys. The people living in remote pockets of the country are accessed to the road with the blacktopped farm roads. Steep ascents and descents with endless hairpin bends are characteristic of road travel in Bhutan. This makes travel much longer than it might be elsewhere.

The permissible driving speed in 50-km an hour is primarily because high speed driving on winding mountain roads is risky. Driving is one of the best ways to see the beauty of the country as it passes through traditional village settings, lush forests and High Mountain passes.

The electricity supply in Bhutan has become more stable in recent decades. This is a result of an increase in its hydropower generation. About 99.9 percent of the country is connected with electricity. Each rural household has been provided 100 units of free power per month. Some isolated rural pockets have been provided with home solar systems.

The voltage supply system used in Bhutan is 220/240 volts with two-pin and three-pin round-hole power outlets. Tourists are advised to bring flat to round pin converters. Such converters are available in urban centers. Most tourist hotels have multi-plug facilities. Trekking tours also see locations that have electric supply.

Hotel and lodge facilities have improved dramatically in recent years with the growth in the local travel industry. Tourism regulations require hotels and lodges catering to tourists to provide facilities of a minimum three-star (local) rating. This ensures a comfortable, clean and safe environment to stay for the night halt in the interior townships.

For a more authentic experience, tourists can go for ‘farmhouse and homestay’ where accommodation is provided within a traditional village house setting. Facilities are basic but clean up to the expectations. This also provides a welcoming and safe accommodation for visitors. It also provides friendship as well as a safe and stable living experience.

More luxurious accommodation can be arranged at the high-end establishments such as the Amankora, Uma, Taj Tashi, Zhiwaling and Le Meridian. Tourists will be required to pay for the high-end services beyond the daily tourist tariff.

For treks and camping tours, accommodation is provided in tents and horses are used for carrying trekking gears. An advance team sets up camp for the night halt. The seasoned cooks prepare nutritious and delicious meals using locally available organic food items.

Bhutan experiences all four seasons. Spring and autumn are pleasant with daytime temperatures around 20-degrees centigrade in temperate regions where most people live.

Summers is hot, stuffy and humid particularly in the lower valleys of Punakha and Wangduephodrang and in the southern foothills that its borders skirt the boundaries of the Indian plains.

Winter is cold, dry and dusty with the temperature dropping to zero and below at night. The valleys in the temperate zone of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Bumthang, and Haa will experience this weather.

It is advisable to bring both light and warm wear depending on the season. The temperature changes drastically because of the altitude variation. Bhutan’s altitude range is from 300-metres at the southern borders to more than 7,000-metres at its northern frontiers.

The visitors are advised to refrain from wearing skimpy and tight-fitting clothes to keep. This trend is for the sensitivities of a reserved traditional culture that is gently opening up to the modern world.

Dress modestly and respectfully while visiting monasteries, dzongs, and other religious institutions. Refrain from smoking while on the premises to these sacred sites. Besides, hats and caps should be removed before entering the premises and shoes at the door.

Pack clothes as per the seasons and include sunglasses with spare, pair of casual shoes, knife, hat, umbrella, insect repellent, hand cream, small sewing kit, and safety pins and torch or flashlight with spare batteries. It is also necessary to carry a mirror, scissors, sun cream, lip salve, soluble aspirin, antiseptic cream, and antihistamine cream. It is also important to carry anti-diarrhoea pills, a preparation for the relief of sunburn, and any regular medication or might need to take for a periodically.

The government of Bhutan does not check for vaccinations at the entry. Visitors are therefore advised to be up-to-date with the standard vaccinations when visiting Asia.

Travellers to Bhutan should visit their doctor or a travel medical clinic at least two months before their departure. If going for a trek, travellers should seek advice for vaccinations and medications to prevent and treat altitude sickness. This is also expected to treat other related infections such as diarrhoea and vomiting.

The Constitution of Bhutan charges the government with providing "free access to basic public health services in both modern and traditional medicines". Health in Bhutan is one of the government’s highest priorities for development and modernization. Hospitals and health centers across the country provide basic medical care. In case of severe cases, the patients will be evacuated to India or Thailand by air.

The BAFRA (Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority) enforces strict hygiene standards for food that is commercially sold in the market. Visitors still need to be cautious of what they consume for water-borne diseases.

All travellers must get comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical and evacuation expenses. The visitors must inform of any pre-existing medical condition.

The temperature drops below zero at night even during the ideal trekking seasons. The layering of clothing is the best way for trekkers to allow for these temperature fluctuations. It is recommended to include underwear, base layer clothing – a long-sleeved thermal vest and leggings. It is also advisable to take middle layer clothing – short and long-sleeved t-shirts or blouses and sleeping bags.

Ideally, the base and middle layers should be made of wool for their warmth, breathability, non-odour, quick-drying and low bulk and weight. Trekkers are advised to take top layer clothing – jumper or zip-through jacket +/- sleeveless zip-through vest, waterproof jacket, and trousers, hiking trousers, shorts or skirts, socks (wool or polypropylene to reduce risk of blisters), properly broken-in trekking boots and sun hat.

If trekking above 4000-m or outside the ideal trekking season, the trekkers must be prepared for sub-zero temperatures or snow. Therefore, it is recommended to include additional items such as alpine jacket, insulated trousers, woollen hat or balaclava, scarf, gloves, liner socks, and gaiters.

It is also recommended to take a backpack or soft duffel bag with some stuff bags and assorted sizes of zip-lock plastic bags. Some requirements include a down-filled sleeping bag suitable for high-altitude treks, day backpack, metal water bottle, head torch or small hand-held torch with extra batteries and bulb, general toiletries plus pre-moistened towelettes and hand sanitizer.

It is also recommended to include body chamois or fast-drying towel, SPF 30+ sunscreen for body and lips, insect repellent, first-aid kit, adequate supply of regular medications, plus some spares and sunglasses. Besides, laundry soap for longer treks, trekking pole or walking stick, binoculars, sewing kit (optional), reference books, pen and notebook, photography equipment with extra memory cards and a spare battery and extra duffel bag or suitcase to leave town clothes with tour operator while trekking is some important requirement.

Trekking in the Bhutan Himalaya is a unique and rewarding travel experience. If well prepared with gears suitable for Bhutan’s variable weather, there is no space to worry about comfort. The trekkers rather focus on the impressive Himalayan views, cultural and unique flora and fauna found in Bhutan.