BBSCL

A place of worship or a site of neglect? The newly built Hindu temple in Tsirang’s Tsirang Toed Gewog remains locked in the absence of relics and statues for worship. However, repeated break-ins have left the temple littered, with some even destroying electric bulbs and wiring, before it could serve its purpose. The main temple was constructed under the previous...

With nearly 80 per cent of the work completed, the reconstruction of Sangchen Choekhor monastery in Paro is progressing well. The project, which began in 2021, is led by the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development. Funded by the government of India with over Nu 400 M, it is on track for completion by 2027. Nearly 100 masons, carpenters and...

The Indonesian province of Bali, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, is considering adopting a tourism policy similar to Bhutan’s. They are planning to introduce a daily tourist fee to manage the growing number of visitors and its adverse impacts. As Bali considers implementing a daily tourism levy identical to Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), Bhutanese tourism officials...

Starting this year, areca nut growers in Sarpang can easily export their produce to Assam. Till date, areca nut exports were only permitted through Phuentshogling and Samtse. The export via Gelephu to Assam was officially approved in September last year. Recently, officials from the Regional Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives Office or RAMCO met with the exporters and importers. Officials briefed...