Bhutan

Country Name: Kingdom of Bhutan

Capital City: Thimphu

Population: 2,327,849

Population Growth: 2.082% (2007)

Currency: ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Languages: Dzongkha (official)

Area: 47,000 sq km

Inflation Rate: 5.5% (2005 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 2.5% (2004)

Domain extension:

BHUTAN MAIN

Thimphu is Bhutan�s capital city. Thimphu is modern in age only: new buildings are still based on traditional designs with elaborately painted trefoil-shaped windows and nailless wooden frames. Among its sights are the Memorial Chorten and the Tashicho Dzong a 350-year-old structure built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and refurbished in 1961 to house government departments and ministries. Thimphu�s weekend market is the biggest in Bhutan and well worth a stop. Although many of the crafts items are manufactured imports from India and Nepal the extensive area of fresh grains and vegetables is worth at least an hour�s walk-through. The Thimphu Domche (festival) which lasts for five days is in late September. Photo: stuart