The land of the Thunder Dragon

Drukyul, as Bhutan is known here, is a land of arresting contrasts – and uncommon harmony. It’s a place where people can find peace and do business, experience living traditions and discover wilderness teeming with life.

 

Diversity &Unity

A rich tapestry of ethnicities, all proudly Bhutanese.

You’ll meet Tshanglas in the east, Ngalops in the west and Lhotshampas in the fertile foothills of the south, as well as Bumthaps and Khengpas, Brokpas and Bramis, Kurtoeps, Doyas and Monpas. Nineteen languages are spoken here, including English – the language used in the Bhutanese school system. Our peaceable Buddhist nation embodies deeply ingrained values: compassion, inclusivity and hospitality.

 

Heritage & Progress

Proud of our heritage and building a thriving future.

Our history is both ancient and recent, and weaves together folklore and fact. Perched high in the Himalayas, Drukyul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, existed almost undisturbed for centuries, allowing unique traditions and ways of life to flourish. Today, we are focused on the future, investing in education, technology and infrastructure that firmly establish Bhutan as a global force.

 

Monarchy & Democracy

Uniquely independent and determinedly democratic.

Although our land has been inhabited for thousands of years, our nationhood is relatively recent. We are always evolving: our country was unified four centuries ago, our monarchy is 100 years old and our democracy 14. We have always been proudly independent, committed to the development of our nation and our people, and a friend to the world.

 

Creativity & Tradition

From rural homes to restaurants, Bhutan is full of flavour.

Hospitality and food are inextricably linked here. Whether in the remotest valley or the chicest restaurant, many of the same ingredients are used to conjure astonishingly diverse creations: cheeses of yak or cow milk, red rice, butter, buckwheat and always, always chillies. Chillies of every possible type and permutation – red or green, dried, in pastes or sambals – are the nation’s favourite vegetable, making our warm welcome a literal one.

 

Adventure & Well-being

Soothe your spirit or test your mettle – or both.

Bhutan offers thrillingly contrasting experiences for body and soul, often simultaneously. Strenuous climbs or sound healing, white-water rafting or hot-stone bathing, mountain biking or meditation – the choices are as varied as the terrain, and as certain to salve spirits and promote relaxation.

 

Town & Country

Alongside culture-packed cities, rural life quietly unfolds.

The streets of Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing bustle with locals working and socialising, and guests exploring markets and museums. Meanwhile, in tranquil valleys and on vertiginous hillsides, people churn milk into butter, gather wild greens from the forest, and chat over suja, or butter tea. There’s a pace – and a place – for everyone.

 

Peaks & Plains

An unrivalled variety of landscapes and life.

Given Bhutan’s lowland valleys and snow-capped peaks that easily reach 7,000m above sea level, it’s possible to pass through several climates in a day. There are lush, subtropical dells, pine-forested hillsides and mountain glaciers – and at every elevation, the landscape teems with wildlife. With more than 70% of our territory swathed in pristine woodland, biodiversity thrives here. This is nature at its wildest.

 

Archers + Artists

Meet masters of contemporary culture and ancient art forms.

Over centuries of seclusion, we developed unique cultural pursuits that continue to evolve today – like archery or da, the national sport and the focus of regular, raucous (and highly competitive) tournaments. Thirteen protected arts and crafts – zorig chusum – from ceramics to blacksmithing, and sculpture to carpentry, have been passed down. This vibrant legacy has created a culture that’s tangible everywhere from the humblest home to the most important dzong. Young artists develop contemporary works at not-for-profit arts organisation Voluntary Artists Studio, Thimphu (VAST), while classically trained weavers collaborate with emerging designers.

 

Gross National Happiness
This ideology was the brain child of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who, having gained a modern education in India and the UK, realised that mere economic success did not necessarily translate into a content and happy society. Consequently, soon after his coronation in 1974, the young king began to float the idea of developing a new set of guidelines by which to govern the country. Slowly these ideas took shape, and in 1998 the GNH indicator was established. GNH stands for “Gross National Happiness” and is defined by the following four objectives: to increase economic growth and development, preserve and promote the cultural heritage, encourage sustainable use of the environment, and establish good governance. While the concept of GNH receives much international praise and is a major draw for tourists, potential visitors should be aware that the idea is very much in its incubation stage, and there is very little evidence of GNH in the country itself.
On 19 July 2011, 68 countries joined the Kingdom of Bhutan in co-sponsoring a resolution titled “Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development,” which was adopted by consensus by the 193-member UN General Assembly. In follow up to the resolution, the Royal Government of Bhutan convened a High Level Meeting on “Happiness and Well Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” on 2nd April 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This meeting initiated the next steps towards realising the vision of a new well being and sustainability based economic paradigm that effectively integrates economic, social, and environmental objectives. Following this resolution, Bhutan continues to be a champion of the resolution and actively promotes the concept internationally.

History
The first humans probably arrived sometime after the Ice Age, and little is known about Bhutan’s prehistory. Historical records began with the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century, when Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) visited Bhutan and established monasteries.
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India’s responsibilities in defense and foreign relations.
In December 2006, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck transferred power to his oldest son, the Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, bestowing upon him the title of the fifth Druk Gyalpo. The official coronation took place in November 2008. The Fifth King is Boston and Oxford educated and is held in high esteem throughout the country.

Guru Rinpoche
It is not possible to travel far in Bhutan without seeing images of a man wearing a tall elaborate hat and with eyes that are open wide and staring forward into space. This is the great 8th century sage of Vajrayana Buddhism, Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche as he often called. According to legend, Padmasambhava was reincarnated into a lotus blossom as an eight year old child, and from very young he possessed great wisdom and insight. Furthermore, he had mastery of the elements and so like a potter manipulating basic clay and turning it into beautiful pots, he was able to transform harmful action and substances into something positive and beneficial.
Guru Rinpoche’s special association with Bhutan began when he traveled to the town now known as Jakar at the invitation of a local king to subjugate negative forces. The mission was a success, and from this encounter Buddhism spread throughout the land. A body print of the great sage exists to this day at Kurjey Lhakhang in Jakar, and he is also associated with many other sacred sites in Bhutan, with perhaps the most notable being the cliff-hanging Taktshang Monastery in Paro.

Climate
Although geographically quite small, Bhutan’s weather varies from north to south and valley to valley, mainly depending upon the elevation. In the North of Bhutan on the borders with Tibet it is perennially covered with snow. In the western, central and eastern Bhutan (Ha, Paro, Thimphu, Wandue, Trongsa, Bumthang, Trashi Yangtse, Lhuntse) you will mostly experience European-like weather. Winter lasts here from November to March. Punakha is an exception as it is in a lower valley and summer is hot and winter is pleasant. Southern Bhutan bordering with India is hot and humid with a sub-tropical climate. While the monsoon affects northern Indian it does not command the same influence in Bhutan. Summer months tend to be wetter with isolated showers predominately in the evenings only. Winter is by far the driest period while spring and autumn tend to be pleasant.
There are four distinct seasons similar in their divisions to those of Western Europe. Temperatures in the far south range from 15°C in winter (December to February) to 30°C in summer (June to August). In Thimphu the range is from -2.5°C in January to 25°C in August and with a rainfall of 100mm. In the high mountain regions the average temperature is 0°C in winter and may reach 10°C in summer, with an average of 350mm of rain. Precipitation varies significantly with the elevation. The average rainfall varies from region to region.