ABOUT TOWN

By Kinley Wangmo It was a golden evening in Thimphu, one of those quiet peaceful evenings, when the air was soft, the prayer flags were blowing idly, and the sun was starting to set behind the mountains. I was in the fifth grade, anxious about my midterm examinations. My mother …

By Brian. C Shaw Perceptions matter. Decades ago, on an overnight train from Bangkok to the Lao border, I fell to sharing beers with a Thai army officer. After discussions, he wisely observed: “Without our King, there would be no Thailand”. And without “our” King there would be no Bhutan. …

By Dasho Kunzang Wangdi 11th November 2025 is a very significant and auspicious day.  Buddhist leaders from all over the World are gathered here in Thimphu, Bhutan to participate in the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan, and well-wishers from across the world to …

Bhutan’s tourism policy, known internationally as the ‘High Value, Low Volume’ approach, traces its origins to the early 1970s under the guidance of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. When Bhutan first opened its doors to visitors, His Majesty was at the helm of a young …

Long before the world spoke about climate change or carbon neutrality, Bhutan quietly walked a path of balance between progress and nature, a path shaped by the deep foresight of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. His Majesty did not frame the environment as a matter of policy or political …

The flood that struck several parts of Bhutan on 5th October destroyed homes, washed away bridges, and disrupted infrastructure, leaving many residents in shock and confusion. In the days that followed, questions emerged over whether early warnings were communicated to the public before the disaster unfolded. The National Centre for …

While students of Laya Middle Secondary School face challenges, such as the high cost of goods and limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables, the school is not exempt from the government’s nutrition initiatives, according to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD). Responding to questions on why students …

In recognition of the tourism sector’s broader structural challenges, the government plans to establish a time-bound, Prime Minister-chaired Tourism Mission Board (TMB) according to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE). The Board will meet monthly from December 2025 through December 2026 to coordinate actions across government and address …

With increasing concerns over youth developing vaping-related illnesses, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said proactive steps are being taken to curb the growing threat posed by e-cigarettes in Bhutan. According to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), no new cases of vaping-related lung collapse have been recorded since …

Bhutan’s new Income Tax Act 2025 effective from 1st January 2026 brings major changes to make the tax system simpler, fairer, and easier for everyone. The Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) says the reforms are designed to modernize Bhutan’s taxation and align it with international standards. Under the new …