Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [89]
There a numerous handicraft shops selling thangkas, masks, brassware and jewellery, including the following.
Handicrafts Emporium (Map; 322810; Norzin Lam; 9am-1pm & 2-5pm Mon-Sun) This is a large government-run emporium with fixed prices.
Druktrin Rural Handicrafts (Map; 324500; Clocktower Sq) At the rear of the Wangchuk Hotel (enter from Clocktower Sq), this shop offers a great variety and has a small museum with antique jewellery and textiles.
Druk Handicraft (Map; 322258; Yarkay Complex, Norzin Lam) Good range of ‘antiques’, handicrafts and earrings.
Choki Handicrafts (Map; 324728; fax 323731; Pedzoe Lam) Near the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, this establishment manufactures and sells masks, thangkas, paintings and painted lama tables called choektse.
Zangmo Handicrafts (Map; Wogzin Lam) Sells work from the National Institute for Zorig Chusum and sometimes has students practising there.
Music
CDs and tapes of Bhutanese and Hindi songs are available for Nu 200 to 400 in numerous shops, including Norling Audio (Map; Norling Centre, Norzin Lam).
Postage Stamps
Bhutan Post occupies the northern half of a large building on Dremton Lam, a back road north of the cinema. The Philatelic Bureau (Map; 322296; Dremton Lam) here has a counter that sells stamps and souvenir sheets of Bhutanese stamps. There is also a tiny shop on the ground floor of Hotel Tandin, which has a small selection of postcards and unusual stamps.
Trekking Equipment
If you are missing a piece of gear for your trek, try Sachak Enterprise (Map; 333880; Centre Mall, Norzin Lam) for good Nepalese copies of brand-name gear. Namgyel Tyres (Map; 325311; Gatoen Lam) stocks hiking boots and is your best bet for larger sizes. There are also a few shops around town that sell Bangladeshi-made fleece jackets, hats and pants at bargain prices – look for the shops full of cardboard boxes stacked with clothes.
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
The journey to/from Phuentsholing took up to 10 days before the road was completed in 1962. It now takes six hours. Click here for details of the drive.
Bus
The long-distance bus station is below the east end of the bridge (zampa) at the southern end of town. Here you can find numerous crowded buses (vomit comets) to Paro (Nu 35), Phuentsholing (Nu 110; Coaster Nu 170) and other destinations throughout the country (Click here for more details).
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GETTING AROUND
If you are on a normal tourist visa, you will have a car/minibus, driver and guide available throughout your stay in Bhutan, and you’ll have little trouble getting around. Most shops and points of interest are within easy walking distance of Thimphu’s major hotels; it’s easy to pop out for a drink or a round of shopping on foot.
To/From the Airport
You can book a taxi at the tea stall outside Paro airport at a fixed rate of Nu 800 to Thimphu. It is 53km from the airport to Thimphu; the journey takes less than two hours.
If your tour operator has not arranged transport for your departing flight, the most reliable way is to have your hotel arrange a vehicle. Arrange your transport well in advance. If you have an early-morning flight from Paro (and most are), you’re recommended to spend the night in Paro. Druk Air closes the counter an hour before flight time and won’t reopen it if you’re late.
Bus
A public bus service operates throughout Thimphu between 7.30am and 7.30pm from a starting point at the parking area on Chang Lam. Fares are Nu 1 to 9 depending on the distance travelled. In addition to several city routes, the buses also operate to Dechenchoeling in the north and Simtokha and Babesa to the south. Routes, fares and timetables are available at www.bhutanpost.com.bt.
Taxi
Most of the taxis are tiny Maruti minivans with meters that the drivers rarely use. The taxi stand is on Chang Lam, although you can flag down