odzer's blog

A few months back I posted a blog about Nepalese stamps and bank notes. Today I am posting a few Bhutanese stamps on this blog. I collect stamps and I have quite a few from a lot of countries. What is special about Bhuatnese stamps then? Well for one very few people know that Bhutan’s number one source of treasury funding in the 1960’s was selling stamps. Today according to this report they earn the tiny himalayan kingdom around $ 7 million every year. Everytime I have ever been to Bhutan I have always gone to the Post Office and spent a couple of thousand of rupees buying stamps. The central post office is just near the Bank of Bhutan I believe near the stadium. They have a special section for stamp enthusiasts and you can buy special stamps from there. The Bhutanese currency is Ngulturum and is at par in value with the Indian Rupee.

So here are some seven set of stamps from my collection. I have added the descriptions. I am looking forward to my next visit so that I can buy some new stamps!

Photos Courtesy : Alex Bunjes

The Bhutanese are a very proud nation. They have every right to be proud. They have survived inspite of Tibet, UK, China and India. Unlike their neighbour Tibet, which was gobbled up by China and Sikkim that was gobbled up by India. I have always had really magical experiences in the good old Druk Yul or Dragon Land. When I first had visited Bhutan way back in 2000, it was not on the itinerary’s of many Indian travelers. I had this idea that Bhutan was a country that was shut to the rest of the world and it was not that wrong. It was a very protected country and in 2000 they were just beginning to open their doors. Like other countries in South Asia, Bhutan faces some challenges as well. There were some ethnic issues with Nepali residents/subjects of the kingdom and many such people were forced to take refuge in Nepal. Other than that there was the matter of a closed border with Tibet due to the presence of China and Indian army was present in the kingdom and still is present to “defend” it.

However that being said and done I have found that perhaps the Bhutanese are the most friendly nation that India has among its neighbours. The reason may be partially that the Bhutanese are at peace with themselves and they do not really see Indians as any type of threat. Another reason may be the relative prosperity of Bhutan’s subjects when compared with Indians generally. I am not sure but perhaps Maldives may be in a similar position. Its just an idea that I have. In terms of infrastructure perhaps Bhutan lacks a lot but what strikes you is the shape in which you find private residences in both the cities and the countryside, not only is the Bhutanese architecture amazing the buildings are all neat and clean. The streets are neat and orderly. People seem to have some respect for law and order and most of all they tend to be open to new ideas. It is interesting to see what you can find in downtown Thimphu in terms of products everything from the best that India and South East Asia have to offer! I even remember eating Nori flavoured Lays there!

I had plans to be there this year but due to some reasons I could not make it, so I guess all I can do is to blog about Bhutan but I am hoping that I will be able to go to Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh soon. I am particularly now interested in the Tawang area of Arunachal. Lets see where the wind takes me next.