Bhutan

Souvenirs from Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a luxury destination, which caters to the upper class tourist. As a result, you may spend more than anticipated on memorabilia, but the quality and design are well worth it. Buddhist art, created from precious metals and woods, are lovely Bhutanese souvenirs, and can be an exciting and unexpected addition to your home. Elegant clothing, scarves, pillows, table and bed linens, and purses made from locally produced silks are beautiful ways to share the Bhutan lifestyle with friends and family. Intricately designed necklaces, bracelets and earrings, made from gold and studded with gems, are often replicas of ancient designs and widely available. Reproductions of antiques are big business, and can be an excellent option for those wishing to enhance their decor without sacrificing their budget. These can be created from ceramics or metals, and are often indistinguishable from the genuine article. Finally, the best souvenirs from the Bhutan maybe the key chains, lighters, magnets and post cards you bring back to enjoy every day.

Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan, often referred to as the last Shangri-La, only recently opened its doors to the world in the 1960's and seeks to maintain its cultural heritage through closely enforced standards and regulations. Visitors to the country must be registered with officically licensed tour operators and pay a fee of $200 USD every day they stay. Tourists from India and Bangladesh are free from this obligation. However, the Bhutanese are free to travel abroad, without governmental interference. The law does require that citizens wear traditional dress when they are out in public or attending formal events. Men wear the gho, a short robe with a cloth belt called the kera. Women wear a long dress, or kira, with a long sleeved shirt underneath, referred to as toego. Color, texture and embellishment are all indicative of the wearer's status. Acessories, such as shawls, scarves and jewelry, are worn to indicate the family's class in the Bhutan feudal system.