Bhutan Currency

Design: Obverse

	The Government crest in the center with two mythical bird ( Bja Tshering), the bird of long life at both right and left sides.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Paro Rinpung Dzong.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

Design: Obverse

	The Governmen crest on the left.
	Dungkar (conch) one of the eight lucky signs in the center.
	Portrait of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck on the right.
	Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Paro Rinpung Dzong.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

Design: Obverse

	The Governmen crest on the left.
	Khorlo ( Wheel of Dharma , one of the eight auspicious signs) in the center.
	Portrait of third King His Majesty Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck on the right.
	Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Punakha Dzong.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

Design: Obverse

	The Governmen crest on the left.
	Khorlo ( Wheel of Dharma , one of the eight auspicious signs) in the center.
	Portrait of third King His Majesty Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck on the right.
	Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Trongsa Dzong with two mythical bird Bja Tshering ( bird of long life ) at both ends.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

Design: Obverse

	Crossed Dorji (Dorji jardrum) watermark on the left.
	Norbu Rimpochhe, one of the seven auspicious gems in the center.
	Portrait of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck on the right.
	Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Tashichho Dzong with two dragons at top ends.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

Design: Obverse

	Crossed Dorji (Dorji jardrum) watermark on the left.
	Norbu Rimpochhe incircled by two Dragons, one of the seven auspicious gems in the center.
	Portrait of His Majesty Ugyen Wangchuck on the right.
	Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in Dzongkha at the top face.

Design: Reverse

	Punakha Dzong.
	The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan in English at the top face

The Ngultrum (BTN) (Nu.) is the currency of Bhutan, subdivided into 100 Chetrums (Ch.).

Bhutan first began to produce coins in silver towards the end of the 18th century, mainly for use in trade with the plains. These were followed by coins struck in alloyed silver, copper or brass, which were used for minor local purchases. These pieces, known as “Ma-trum” or “Chhe-trum” were struck by several local chieftains, rather than by the central government. Coin production continued into the 20th century under the reign of the first King, Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck (1907-26), who gradually improved the quality of striking. In 1928/29, during the reign of the second King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck (1926-52), fine machine struck silver and copper coins were introduced into circulation, marking the beginning of modern coinage in Bhutan. However, throughout this period the use of coins remained limited, and barter remained the predominant means of carrying out transactions, and even government officials were paid in kind, rather than in cash. In the mid 1950’s, during the reign of the third King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952-72), the economy gradually started to become more widely monetised, with further issues of “silver” coins, using the dies of his father, but of a nickel alloy. In 1968, the Bank of Bhutan was established as a further step towards full monetisation. By this time most salaries were paid in cash, rather than in kind.

India was key in assisting the Bhutanese government as it developed its economy in the early sixties. When the Ngultrum was introduced in 1974 the Bhutanese pegged it to the Indian Rupee. It does not exchange independently with other nations but is exchanged interchangeably with the Indian Rupee.

Commerce in Bhutan was traditionally carried out through a system of barter in rice, butter, cheese, meat, wool, hand-woven cloth and other local produce. Bhutan first began to produce coins in silver towards the end of the 18th century, mainly for use in trade with the plains. These were followed by coins struck in alloyed silver, copper or brass, which were used for minor local purchases. These pieces, known as “Ma-trum” or “Chhe-trum” were struck by several local chieftains, rather than by the central government. Coin production continued into the 20th century under the reign of the first King, Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck (1907-26), who gradually improved the quality of striking. In 1928/29, during the reign of the second King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck (1926-52), fine machine struck silver and copper coins were introduced into circulation, marking the beginning of modern coinage in Bhutan. However, throughout this period the use of coins remained limited, and barter remained the predominant means of carrying out transactions, and even government officials were paid in kind, rather than in cash. In the mid 1950’s, during the reign of the third King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952-72), the economy gradually started to become more widely monetised, with further issues of “silver” coins, using the dies of his father, but of a nickel alloy. In 1968, the Bank of Bhutan was established as a further step towards full monetisation. By this time most salaries were paid in cash, rather than in kind.

Monetary reform commenced in 1974, during the reign of the present King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, with the issue by the Ministry of Finance of the first bank notes in 1974 coinciding with His Majesty’s Coronation. The unit of currency was accordingly standardised with 100 Chhetrum being equal to 1 Ngultrum. In 1982 the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA) was established to act as the central bank of Bhutan. The RMA commenced its operations in 1983, when it assumed liability for all notes and coins previously issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Denomination of Banknotes and Coins in Bhutan
At present, notes in Bhutan are issued in the denominations of Nu.5, Nu.10, Nu.20, Nu.50, Nu.100 and Nu.500. The printing of notes in the denominations of Nu.1 and Nu.2 have been discontinued, and the Nu.1 denomination has been coinised. However, such notes issued earlier which are still in circulation and are still legal tender.

Coins are available in denominations of Ch.5, Ch10, Ch.25, Ch.50 and Nu.1.

Currency Management

The various denominations of banknotes and coins are decided by the RMA’s Board of Directors on the advice of the RMA. The designs and security features of the banknotes and coins are also proposed by the RMA and subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The RMA estimates the quantities of notes and coins of different denominations that are likely to be needed, and after obtaining the approval of the Board, invites tenders from renowned international security printing companies and mints. The notes and coins received from the printers are stored in the vaults and issued to the banks and the public on request. Notes and coins returned from circulation by the banks and the public are examined and only notes and coins which are fit for circulation are reissued. “Soiled and mutilated” notes are destroyed by shredding so as to maintain the quality of the notes in circulation.

Refund of soiled and mutilated notes

Soiled notes are those which have become dirty and limp due to use, and mutilated notes are those which are torn, disfigured, burnt etc. Such notes can be exchanged at the RMA. Full value is payable against soiled notes. Payment of value against mutilated notes is made in accordance with the Note Refund Rules which have been framed by the Board of Directors under Section 21 (9) of the RMA Act.General features of bank notes
The first series of banknotes issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Bhutan were all of the same size, irrespective of the denomination. However, this sometimes made it difficult for the largely rural population to differentiate between the denominations.

Coins in circulation

5 Chertrum (discontinued)
10 Chertrum (discontinued)
20 Chertrum
25 Chertrum
50 Chertrum
1 Ngultrum

Banknotes in circulation

1 Ngultrum
5 Ngultrum
10 Ngultrum
20 Ngultrum
50 Ngultrum
100 Ngultrum
500 Ngultrum

Banknotes in Bhutan are issued in the denominations of Nu.1, Nu.5, Nu.10, Nu.20, Nu.50, Nu.100 and Nu.500. The printing of notes in the denominations of Nu.1 and Nu.2 have been discontinued, and the Nu.1 denomination has been coined. However, such notes issued earlier which are still in circulation and are still legal tender.

[Source: RMA, Bhutan]

Bhutan Geography

The northern region of Bhutan consists of an arc of glaciated mountain peaks with an extremely cold climate at the highest elevations. Most peaks in the north are over 7,000 m above sea level; the highest point is the Kula Kangri, at 7,553 m, and Gangkhar Puensum, at 7,541 m, has the distinction of being the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Watered by snow-fed rivers, alpine valleys in this region provide pasture for livestock, tended by a sparse population of migratory shepherds. The Black Mountains in central Bhutan form a watershed between two major river systems: the Puna Tshang Chhu and the Drangme Chhu. Peaks in the Black Mountains range between 1,500 m and 2,700 m above sea level, and fast-flowing rivers have carved out deep gorges in the lower mountain areas. Woodlands of the central region provide most of Bhutan’s forest production. The Kuri Chu, Mangdi Chu, Drangme Chu, Puna Tsang Chu and Amo Chu are the main rivers of Bhutan, flowing through this region. Most of the population lives in the central highlands.

In the south, the Southern foot Hills are covered with dense, deciduous forests, alluvial lowland river valleys, and mountains up to around 1,500 m above sea level. The foothills descend into the subtropical Duars plain. Most of the Duars is located in India, although a 10–15 km wide strip extends into Bhutan. The Bhutan Duars is divided into two parts: the northern and the southern Duars. The northern Duars, which abuts the Himalayan foothills, has rugged, sloping terrain and dry, porous soil with dense vegetation and abundant wildlife. The southern Duars has moderately fertile soil, heavy savannah grass, dense, mixed jungle, and freshwater springs. Mountain rivers, fed by either the melting snow or the monsoon rains, empty into the Brahmaputra river in India. Over 70% of Bhutan is forested. The climate in Bhutan varies with altitude, from subtropical in the south to temperate in the highlands and polar-type climate, with year-round snow, in the north. Bhutan experiences five distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. Western Bhutan has the heavier monsoon rains; southern Bhutan has hot humid summers and cool winters; central and eastern Bhutan is temperate and drier than the west with warm summers and cool winters.

Mountain Peaks

Jhomolhari ( 7,314 metre's)

Jhomolhari (Jumolhari): 7,314 metres,
Mountain Chomolhari of the Himalaya has the border between Tibet and the Paro district of Bhutan. The name means Mountain of the Goddess in Bhutanese.

Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 metres)

Gangkhar Puensum:7,570 metres,
Gangkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Gangkhar Peunsum or Gankar Punzum means “White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers”.

Climate
Bhutan’s climate is as varied as its altitudes and, like most of Asia, is affected by monsoons. Western Bhutan is particularly affected by monsoons that bring between 60 and 90 percent of the region’s rainfall. The climate is humid and subtropical in the southern plains and foothills, temperate in the inner Himalayan valleys of the southern and central regions, and cold in the north, with year-round snow on the main Himalayan summits.
Temperatures vary according to elevation. Temperatures in Thimphu, located at 2,200 meters above sea level in west-central Bhutan, range from approximately 15° C to 26° C during the monsoon season of June through September but drop to between about -4° C and 16° C in January. Most of the central portion of the country experiences a cool, temperate climate year-round . In the south, a hot, humid climate helps maintain a fairly even temperature range of between 15° C and 30° C year-round, although temperatures sometimes reach 40° C in the valleys during the summer.

Annual precipitation ranges widely in various parts of the country. In the severe climate of the north, there is only about forty millimeters of annual precipitation–primarily snow. In the temperate central regions, a yearly average of around 1,000 millimeters is more common, and 7,800 millimeters per year has been registered at some locations in the humid, subtropical south, ensuring the thick tropical forest, or savanna. Thimphu experiences dry winter months (December through February) and almost no precipitation until March, when rainfall averages 20 millimeters a month and increases steadily thereafter to a high of 220 millimeters in August for a total annual rainfall of nearly 650 millimeters.

Bhutan’s generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues through the pre-monsoon rains of late June. The summer monsoon lasts from late June through late September with heavy rains from the southwest. The monsoon weather, blocked from its northward progress by the Himalayas, brings heavy rains, high humidity, flash floods and landslides, and numerous misty, overcast days. Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations. From late November until March, winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 meters. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds down through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan its name– Drukyul, which in the Dzongkha language mean Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Dzongkhag (Districts)

Bhutan is divided in 20 Dzongkhags (districts)
1. Bumthang
2. Chukha (old spelling Chhukha)
3. Dagana
4. Gasa
5. Haa
6. Lhuntse (old spelling Lhuntshi)
7. Mongar
8. Paro
9. Pemagatshel (old spelling Pemagatsel)
10. Punakha
11. Samdrup Jongkhar
12. Samtse (old spelling Samchi)
13. Sarpang
14. Thimphu
15. Trashigang (old spelling Tashigang)
16. Trashiyangste
17. Trongsa (old spelling Tongsa)
18. Tsirang (old spelling Chirang)
19. Wangdue Phodrang (old spelling Wangdi Phodrang)
20. Zhemgang (old spelling Shemgang)

Bhutan's His Majesty's Kasho

His Majesty the King has issued a Kasho to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council to convene an Extraordinary Sitting of Parliament.

His Majesty's Kasho

“The Speaker has sought an Extraordinary Sitting for the deliberation of the Civil Service Bill 2009 and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill. These Bills could not be passed during Joint Sitting of the 3rd Session of Parliament.

The Constitution has a clear process for Passing of Bills under Article 13 and under Article 34.2(a). It would therefore not be correct or desirable to view Extraordinary Sittings as a normal extension of the process for Passing of Bills. It would distort the Constitutional process.

A Joint sitting on a Bill, as stipulated in the Constitution, serves to bring together different views, different political parties and the Houses of Parliament when there are disputes on a Bill. Under such a setting, keeping national interest above all else, it is assumed that as much consensus as possible will be formed on a Bill allowing for it to have the best chance to be passed during the final vote. If a Bill cannot be passed in a Joint Sitting, it signifies that there are serious differences that must be addressed through means other than another Joint Sitting.

Therefore, while the Speaker and the Chairman shall convene an Extraordinary Sitting of one day, it must be reiterated that it cannot be construed as a second Joint Sitting on the two Disputed Bills.

First, it is far more important to look beyond the two Bills in order to ascertain the causes of such deadlock and how in the future they might be prevented or minimized. This Parliament has the responsibility of setting the right precedents, laying a strong foundation and promoting the best practices of democracy, in the interest of our People and Country.

Second, the failure to pass the Local Government (Amendment) Act has not only delayed greatly the election of local government officials, but has seriously hampered the efficient implementation of the 10th plan. Therefore, given that disputes on the Bill are only a few specific clauses, the Joint Committee of the two Houses should seek to find a consensus position on the disputed clauses acceptable to their respective Houses, to enable the Extraordinary Sitting to vote on the Bill in such consensus form.

Third, the disagreements on the Civil Service Bill are not on individual clauses but on principle, and are not confined within Parliament. Therefore, its urgent passage during this Extraordinary Sitting will not guarantee that its implementation will be smooth, effective and above all beneficial to our People and Country. The Bill will benefit from further consultations among stakeholders. The draft based on these consultations may then be tabled in future through Parliamentary process, as mandated by the Constitution and relevant laws in force.

In elaboration upon all these issues, I send attached to this Kasho, a Message to both Houses of Parliament as per the Prerogatives provided for in the Constitution.”


Source: BBS

Bhutan Six Symbols of Longevity

The image of the Six Symbols of Longevity are of Chinese origin but appears often in Bhutanese secular art. The old man of long life is Shou-lao, the ancient Chinese God of Longevity. As Buddhism became prominent – the old man came to represent the contemplative sage who manifests the qualities of Amitayus –Vajrayana Buddhism’s deity of Longevity. The sage holds a crystal rosary symbolizing continuity and purity.

The tree of longevity under which the old man sits is the divine peach tree imbued with many medicinal qualities.

The conch-shell-shaped immutable rock of longevity has beneficial geomantic properties.

The stream of longevity springs forth from the rock. It’s pure water is the Nectar of Immortality which is contained in the vase held by Amitayus.

The cranes, believed to live long lives, are ancient Chinese longevity symbols. A pair of cranes symbolize happiness and fidelity.

It is said that deer are the only creatures capable of locating the plant of immortality. In this drawing the sage feeds a piece of the plant of immortality to the deer at his feet.

The image symbolizes the natural harmony of the recluse, who, untroubled by the cares of the world, lives a long life of contentment, peace and natural wealth.

Blue Poppy - National Flower of Bhutan

Blue poppy - National Flower of Bhutan

Blue poppies, the national flower, that once grew in abundance at the Chelela pass in Paro has been severely depleted in recent years according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature. “We spotted only three flowering and two seedlings at Chelela this June and July,” said the society’s ecologist and ornithologist, Rebecca Pradhan. According to the society there were about 150 blue poppies in the 1990s. In 2000, the number had dwindled to 20 and to 11 in 2002.

The society feels that the depletion is because of plundering by people from neighboring districts with particular interest in gardening. With the highway going through the pass it is easy for people to go and dig up the flowers which are about 5 to 10 minutes walk away from the road,” said Rebecca Pradhan.

Small holes left in the flowering area indicated that people had been digging up these plants according to the society. The society fears that this species might be wiped out totally from Chelela. However, no research has been done and the society does not know the implications it might have on the ecosystem.

Of the four types of blue poppies found in the area, the “Meconopsis napaulensis” is rare and a total wipe out of the species could lead to its extinction from that area too. “People do not recognize the different types of species. Based on their judgment of the colour they recognize it as blue poppies,” said Rebecca Pradhan. To the professional the different kinds can be differentiated by the characteristics of the plants like the shape of the leaves, the seed pod or the filament.

“People like the idea of having the blue poppies in their garden since it’s Bhutan’s national flower as well as a rare plant but they should keep in mind the social responsibility to protect and preserve what is in the country.” “Blue poppies, not even the general garden poppies can grow if they are transplanted,” said Rebecca Pradhan. “The best case would be to sow the seed.”
The blue poppy is found in the alpine region across the country and Bhutan has 13 types of Blue poppy of which one is endemic to Bhutan.

The meconopsis superba is found in Halakyula, Haa and the flowers are white in colour. This poppy is said to be one and a half metres tall and a plant has an average of about 30 flowers according to the society. The plant is monocarpic and it dies after flowering.

The society has put up a proposal to the government for monitoring the Chelela area according to the society.