Bhutan Map
There is a collection of physical, political, population, transportation, satellite, and tourist trekking maps of Bhutan. It is located north of India, south of West Bengal, west of Sikkim, and east of Assam. The total geographical area of Bhutan is approximately 38,394 km2, with a population of 750,125 at most. Dzongkhags are divisions of twenty administrative districts in Bhutan. The main modes of transportation in Bhutan are air and roadways. However, there is availability of ropeways and waterways in a few places. But to visit Bhutan, road and airways are the only two routes available. Bhutan aims to maintain sixty percent forest coverage at all times, which is why Bhutan is densely covered with forests. Agriculture is the backbone of Bhutan, as the main occupation of more than 60% of Bhutanese is agriculture. There are many Buddhist monasteries and temples, with a few Hindu temples.
Bhutan Capital
Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan. Thimphu is situated in the western part of Bhutan. It became the capital in the year 1961. Thimphu city is the only city in the world without traffic lights and is not a dense city. Like any other city, you can avail of facilities such as hotels, nightclubs, shopping malls, and banking facilities. Moreover, you will get to see unique features of religion, customs, monasteries, national dress, music, dance, literature, and media. Most of the offices of the government, private, and joint ventures are located in the capital city. Even though buildings and houses are built in Western styles, they are painted in traditional art. Rooftops are also built in the traditional style, which shows that culture and tradition are preserved. In Thimphu, you will see forest coverage around the city. Thimphu has both tastes of urban as well as rural lifestyles.
Bhutan Flag
The logo of a dragon in the center divides the national flag of Bhutan diagonally into two equal parts. The upper part of the flag is yellow in colour, and the lower is orange. It has a significant meaning in which yellow symbolizes the authority of the king, while orange colour symbolizes Buddhist monasteries. Bhutan was once known as the 'Land of Thunder Dragon. The dragon is the country's emblem for it. It also symbolizes the unity of the country. There is no discrimination against anyone. Under one rule, everyone is treated equally. Mayum Choying Wangmo Dorji, dating back to 1947, designed the flag, and it was officially adopted in 1965. In front of the flag, one must wear the national dress. It is considered disrespectful if one stands near the flag without formal dress. The symbol cannot be used as a design of pants. However, people use it for designing shirts.
Bhutan Language
People around the country of Bhutan speak over nineteen different dialects in total. It is because the mountains kept people isolated. Thus different regions developed their own native language. Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan. Almost everyone in Bhutan speaks a Sino-Tibetan language called Dzongkha. Dzongkha is the native language of the people of western Bhutan. The term 'Dzongkha' means the language spoken in Dzongs, massive fortresses that serve as administrative centres. Tshanglakha (developed in eastern Bhutan) and Lhotshamkha, spoken in Southern Bhutan, are two other widely spoken languages. Despite Bhutanese languages, the people of Bhutan are also fluent in speaking English. It is because the government encourages the English language as it is an international language. Everything, including government documents and road signs, are written in both Dzongkha and English. The majority of Bhutanese refugees speak Nepali (a dialect of the south) because the majority of them are bilingual.
Bhutan Religion
Bhutanese people practice two types of religions. The official religion of Bhutan is Buddhism. Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan in the 2nd century. The credit for introducing Buddhism goes to Guru Rinpoche, the great Tibetan master who visited during the 8th century. Until the arrival of Guru Rinpoche, Bhutanese people practised Bonism, a religion that includes worshipping all forms of nature. 75% of the inhabitants practice Buddhism as their main religion in Bhutan. In the cultural, ethical, and sociological development of Bhutan and its people, Buddhism plays an important role. In the past, one son from each family had to join a monastic school. Detachment, ephemeral, and change are the broad compositions of Buddhism followers. Closely related to Buddhism is Bhutan's second religion, Hinduism. 25% of the inhabitants residing in Southern Bhutan practice Hinduism as their main religion. There are also fewer inhabitants who follow Christianity as their main religion.
Bhutan King
In Bhutan, the king is the head of state, and the prime minister is the head of the government. The country has been ruled over by the Wangchuk dynasty since the year 1907. Starting from the first king and today, the country is under its fifth monarch. The monarchy was the form of government in Bhutan until the introduction of Democracy in 2008 by the fourth king. The current ruler of Bhutan is HM Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk. The official crown of the kings of Bhutan is the Raven Crown. The crown was designed by Lam Jangchub, who lived during Jigme Namgyel's time. Jigme Namgyel is the father of the first king. He was not a king but a very popular and powerful leader. The royal family of Bhutan resides in Dechencholing Palace, located in Thimphu. The people of Bhutan are blessed to be born under a benevolent, humble, and compassionate leader.
Bhutan Queen
The Queens of Bhutan are not only beautiful but also kind-hearted and work for the benefit of people. Jetsun Pema, the current queen of Bhutan, married His Majesty at the age of twenty-one. Bhutan was filled with joy and happiness when His Majesty, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, announced that he was getting married. It was a moment for the people of Bhutan to rejoice and celebrate the Royal wedding. People were so curious to see and know the story about their future queen and how the king met the queen. People were amazed after hearing the story from the king. It is absolutely like a fairytale story where an ordinary girl next door becomes the queen of Bhutan. Destiny brought them together since childhood. After years of waiting, they happily got married. The queen remained down-to-earth and accompanied the king in every event, and shared her duties with the king.
Bhutan Currency
The currency in Bhutan is the ngultrum. A single ngultrum is equal to 100 Chetrum. All paper denominations include Nu.1, Nu.5, Nu.10, Nu.20, Nu.50, Nu.100, Nu.500, and Nu.1000. The Bhutanese currency ngultrum is pegged to the Indian currency rupee. In the notes, you will find pictures of the kings of Bhutan at the front and dzongs at the back. The exchange rate of the Bhutan currency works the same as that of the Indian currency. Its currency value is floating, not fixed. It depends on factors such as the demand and supply of the Bhutan currency. Currencies of other nations can be exchanged with Bhutanese currency at the Paro International Airport's foreign exchange desk. Apart from the airport, currency exchange can also be done at Bank of Bhutan branches. Few hotels also provide foreign exchange services at the reception. Ngultrum is not accepted worldwide. Thus, it is advisable to get it exchanged at the airport before leaving or entering Bhutan.
Bhutan Airport
If you are planning a trip to Bhutan, it has a few airports. Paro International Airport is the only international airport among the four airports in Bhutan. The airport is located in Paro, which is not far from the capital. It was established in 1968. Bhutan's international airport is comparatively smaller than any other nation, with one runway and terminal. There are four domestic airports that will take you to places within Bhutan. Gelephu Airport is located in the southern region. It was constructed in the year 2008. The airline flies to Paro and Jakar and also from Paro and Jakar. You can use this airport as a boarding and landing point. Bathpalathang Airport is one of the newest airports in Bhutan, and the airline flies to Paro and Gelephu. Yongpula Airport is located near one of the renowned colleges of Bhutan, constructed in 2010. The airline mainly flies to Paro and Jakar.
Bhutan Flight
Currently, Bhutan has two airline carriers, Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines. All flight operations take place in and out of Paro Airport. Druk Air operates with three Airbus 319 in different international sectors and uses ATR 42-500 for domestic flights. Airbus 319 has a seating capacity of 114 seats, with 20 seats for business class and 94 for economy. Druk Air operates daily flights both ways from Bangkok and other sectors two or three times a week. On 19th December 2011, Druk Air began to operate domestic routes from Paro to Bumthang, Yongpula, and Gelephu. Bhutan Airline and Tashi Air Pvt. Ltd are private airlines. The airlines resumed their service on 10th October 2013, beginning with the first international flight to India and Bangkok. They also provide full-service flights to Kolkata and Paro. Druk Air's website includes all details of current flight schedules and airfares.
Bhutan Weather
Bhutan experiences four varied seasons: summer, winter, spring, and autumn. With the varied seasons, Bhutan experiences different climates. In the southern part of Bhutan, it is hot and humid. The temperature varies from 15-30 degrees Celsius. In central Bhutan, the climate is more seasonal, with warm summers and cool, dry winters. In the northern parts of Bhutan, it is much colder during winter, with heavy snowfalls. The Indian summer Monsoon begins from late June through July till late September. The dry spring starts in early March and lasts till Mid-April. Summer begins from mid-April till late June with heavier summer rains. Autumn starts from late September to late November with heavy rainfall. Winter starts from November till March, with frost throughout the country. The best weather to visit Bhutan would be during spring, with a moderate climate. It is neither too hot nor too cold.
Best Time to Visit Bhutan
Due to the Indian monsoon, Bhutan experiences varied seasons, which bring heavy rainfall. The summer monsoon season in Bhutan starts from June to September with high humidity. Autumn starts from October to November, which is usually sunny with some snow. Late November and early March are the dry seasons with monsoons. The best time to visit Bhutan would be during spring when the climate is moderate. The flowers start to blossom, and the Himalayan peaks are most visible with clear skies. Most of the events in Bhutan take place during this season. The low season is the time of year when there is heavy rainfall. During this season, trekking becomes difficult with roadblocks. However, if you want to reduce your expenditure, then you should visit during the low season when tariff rates are cheaper. Peak seasons are crowded with people, so if you prefer peace, this season is not for you.
Bhutan to Visit
Bhutan is one of the best tourist destinations. It is a very safe and sound place to visit. However, it would be best to consult with a travel agent and arrange for visits because access is not very easy. You will not only see pristine environments and unique cultures and traditions but also experience many adventures. A few popular places to visit are Tiger's Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong, Zuri Dzong, Gangtey Valley, Phobjikha Valley, and many more. If you love taking risks, there are activities like hiking, kayaking, rafting, and cycling. For nature and wildlife lovers, there are abundant wildlife parks and botanical parks. If you want to have a real taste of rural Bhutan, you can even stay as a homestay tourist. You need not worry about the people because Bhutanese people are very kind and hospitable by nature. It is a very safe country to visit.
Bhutan Tour from Nepal
You can visit Bhutan via Kathmandu to Paro by flight. Nepal Outfitters offers group tours or private tours to Bhutan from Nepal. Exploring the birthplace of Buddha and taking a trip to the land of the thunder dragon, there are no better trips than combining trips to Nepal and Bhutan. They are the two last remaining countries in the Himalayas, where the king still rules over its people. The trip will give you an amazing experience to know the true Nepalese lifestyle and how it varies from the Bhutanese way of life. The eight-day classic Nepal tour takes you to visit the beautiful city of Kathmandu, the holy valley of Paro and other prestigious places in Bhutan. Though travelling to Bhutan after travelling to Nepal might seem expensive, you should know what is included in US$250 dollars. The tour cost includes accommodation, meals, driver, guide, private vehicle, etc., so it's worth paying for the travel.