Bhutan Best Gift: Best to take home
Bhutan offers a rich array of souvenirs that reflect its culture, tradition, and natural beauty.
When purchasing souvenirs in Bhutan, try to support local artisans and businesses to ensure that your money directly benefits the communities you’re visiting. Additionally, be mindful of any customs regulations regarding the export of certain items from Bhutan.
Here are some of the best souvenirs you can buy in Bhutan:
The national dress of Bhutan, the Gho for men and Kira for women, is a popular souvenir choice. These garments are beautifully handwoven and feature intricate designs and vibrant colors.
Bhutan is renowned for its exquisite handwoven textiles. You can find a variety of items such as scarves, shawls, tablecloths, and blankets, all made using traditional weaving techniques.
Thangkas are intricate paintings on silk or cotton depicting Buddhist deities, religious scenes, and mandalas. They make for stunning and culturally significant souvenirs.
Bhutanese artisans create exquisite wooden crafts, including masks, statues, and decorative items. These pieces often showcase traditional Bhutanese motifs and craftsmanship.
Believed to bring good luck and ward off evil, Dzi beads are highly valued in Bhutanese culture. These ancient beads, often made of agate, are believed to possess protective and healing properties.
Bhutanese art, including paintings, sculptures, and carvings, often reflects religious themes and cultural motifs. Look for pieces created by local artists to take home a unique piece of Bhutanese culture.
Bhutan is known for its traditional papermaking techniques using the bark of the daphne plant. Handmade paper products such as journals, notebooks, and greeting cards make for unique and eco-friendly souvenirs.
Bhutan produces high-quality tea, particularly green and black varieties. Packaged tea leaves or traditional Bhutanese tea sets make for excellent gifts for tea enthusiasts.
Incense is an integral part of Bhutanese culture and religious rituals. Bhutanese incense sticks, made from natural ingredients and infused with aromatic herbs, offer a fragrant reminder of your time in Bhutan.
Bhutanese cuisine features unique flavors and ingredients. Consider bringing back some Bhutanese spices, sauces, or traditional snacks like dried fruits or roasted nuts as edible souvenirs.
Like other countries in Asia, agriculture plays a significant role in Bhutan’s economy. One of the main crops in Bhutan is rice and especially red rice. It is medium-grain rice, which is grown in the fertile valleys and contains various types of nutrition such as vitamins and minerals. Once visiting the kingdom of the thunder dragon, why don’t you take the chance to enjoy and purchase this unique staple food of Bhutan for your acquaintances? It is sold widely in the local market of the country.
Ornaments and jewelry are essential parts of the traditional costumes of Bhutanese women. With various precious ingredients such as gold, silver, and bronze skillful experts make intricate accessories featuring Bhutan’s unique art. These beautiful ornaments are worth buying and using for special events. Thimphu and other major towns are the shopping hubs to buy these items.
Bhutan is an ideal destination for philatelists around the world. Since the first postage stamps were issued in 1962, so far, Bhutan postal stamps have been made with different shapes with unique designs, bright colors, and lively pictures making them become a great souvenir to buy in Bhutan. The Post Office is considered a favorite area to collect this unique item.
With over 70% area covered by vegetation, Bhutan’s pure honey is one of the treasures which is given by nature. It is widely known for its natural benefits as well as for containing antioxidant compounds. Hence, that would be a valuable thing to buy when visiting Bhutan.
Festivals play a vital role in the culture as well as the spirituality of Bhutanese people reflecting the deep inheritance of the Buddhist religion to the country. The dance festival is believed to have significance to people’s souls, by watching these dances, is thought to help to purify their minds and bring them good luck. It cannot be ignored that masks hold a crucial part in any festivals taking place throughout the country.
Canes and bamboos are widely used to make many items for the daily life of Bhutanese people. Since the Government opened their country to travelers around the world, items made of cane and bamboo are popular gifts to tourists. These items are small and valuable to buy such as baskets, wall-hangings, carpets, mats, and so on. With myriads of shops selling these items, Thimphu is an ideal place to buy cane and bamboo products.
Stylish and durable bags made from traditional Bhutanese textiles, featuring contemporary designs suitable for everyday use.
Small prayer wheels carved from wood or metal, containing sacred mantras and symbols, used for spiritual practice.
Soaps make for a thoughtful and meaningful souvenir, embodying the essence of Bhutan's culture, craftsmanship, and natural abundance. Bring home a piece of Bhutan and pamper yourself or your loved ones with the gift of pure indulgence.
Packaged with care and adorned with traditional Bhutanese motifs, Bhutanese Musical Instruments make for a meaningful and memorable souvenir.
Travel Advice for Bhutan: Thimphu is the Capital City of the Bhutan
The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means “Land of the Thunder Dragon” and it only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s. The Wangchuck hereditary monarchy has wielded power since 1907.
Thimphu, capital of Bhutan. The city, situated in the west-central part of the country, is in the Himalaya Mountains on the Raidak (also called Thimphu, or Wong) River at about 7,000 feet (2,000 metres) above sea level.
These are some travel advice when you planning to visit Bhutan.
Bhutan has a lot to offer, from ancient monasteries to picturesque valleys and mountainous landscapes. Plan your itinerary in advance to make the most of your time there. Some must-visit places include Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery), Punakha Dzong, and the capital city Thimphu.
Bhutan is deeply rooted in its culture and traditions. It's essential to respect local customs, such as dress codes when visiting religious sites (wearing modest clothing covering shoulders and knees), removing hats and shoes when entering temples, and refraining from taking photographs where prohibited.
Bhutan takes environmental conservation seriously, with policies aimed at preserving its pristine natural beauty. Practice responsible tourism by not littering, staying on designated trails during treks, and respecting wildlife habitats.
While major cities and towns in Bhutan have internet access and mobile phone coverage, remote areas may have limited connectivity. Consider purchasing a local SIM card if you need to stay connected during your trip.
Some cultural sites and religious ceremonies may have restrictions on photography or videography. Always ask for permission before taking photos, especially in places of worship or during religious festivals.