Introducing Bhutan
Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is no ordinary place. This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red and where chillies aren’t just a seasoning but the entire dish. It’s also a deeply Buddhist land, where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on the walls of most houses, and where Gross National Happiness is deemed more important than Gross National Product. Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you don’t have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary. What you won’t find in Bhutan is backpacker-style independent travel. This is Nepal for the jet set.
Advertisement
First off there are the early Buddhist sites in the cultural heartland of Bumthang Dzongkhag and the undisturbed traditional Tibetan-style culture that sets Bhutan aside as the last remaining great Himalayan kingdom. Then there are the textiles, outrageous trekking as well as the stunning flora and fauna of Phobjika Valley. Trashigang is an interesting town and also useful for launching into a trip in Eastern Bhutan.
It is also a country of surprises. This is not just a nation of saintly, other-worldly hermits. Bhutan is straddling the ancient and modern world and these days you’ll find monks transcribing ancient Buddhist texts into computers as traditionally dressed noblemen chat on their mobile phones.
If you do visit Bhutan, you will become one of the few who have experienced the charm and magic of one of the world’s most enigmatic countries – the ‘last Shangri La’ – and you’ll be playing your part in this medieval kingdom’s efforts to join the modern world, while steadfastly maintaining its distinct and amazing cultural identity. So why spend all your money to come here? Because most of all, Bhutan offers an opportunity to glimpse another way of living, an alternative vision of what is truly important in life.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
Tips & articles
-
Top 10 sustainable travel experiences
26 July 2010
Ditch modern civilisation and go wild! (Just be responsible about.) In this excerpt from Lonely Planet’s...
-
Travel literature review: Beyond the Sky and Earth
28 June 2010
This is part of series of posts where travel literature is reviewed by Lonely Planet staff and Thorn...
-
World’s 10 happiest places
10 May 2010
Smile and the world smiles with you. That’s the theory: test it out in these mirth-maxed destinations,...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
Suggestions for int'l destinations from India within 25k airfare budget
by ami_adrift 2 replies, last post 01 August 2010
Hi, Okay, this post isn't about travelling to India, more like travelling +from+ India. My friends and I don't have too much money to…
-
Altitude training centre
by misscoogee 10 replies, last post 07 July 2010
Hi, Can anyone help me out, I am looking for an altitude / elevation training centre in Sydney. I am travelling / cycling in Nepal and…
-
Visa requirements for India
by giannienne 2 replies, last post 29 June 2010
Hi together another question I came across after preparing our trip to Buthan and Nepal with transfer stops in Delhi We fly into Delhi…
Bhutan
Our Top Picks For Bhutan
-
1 Taktshang Goemba
Hike to the spectacular ‘tiger’s nest’ monastery, precariously perched on a sheer rock face
-
2 Jhomolhari Trek
Trek to distant villages and capture spectacular views of Bhutan’s most sacred mountain
-
3 Gasa
Spot blue sheep and soak in a hot spring - just some of the delights of Gasa
-
4 Snowman Trek
Take Bhutan’s premier challenge - a 25-day, high altitude trek to remote Lunana
-
5 Bumthang
Visit Bhutan’s most precious and earliest Buddhist sites in its cultural heartland
Fast Facts about Bhutan
- The export of
The export of hydroelectricity to India provides 32% of government revenue
- Number of tourists visiting Bhutan in 2005
13, 600
- Human Development Index ranking
134 out of 177 countries
- Percentage of population involved in agriculture
69%
- Tourism
is the third largest provider of foreign exchange in Bhutan, earning it US$18.5 million in 2005
- Area
38, 392 sq km – similar size to Switzerland
- Population
634, 982 (2005 Census)
- Life expectancy
63
- Percentage of Bhutan’s land used for agriculture
7.8%
- Forest cover
72.5%
Related Groups
Our favourite Bhutan Blogs (beta)
-
Curiosities in Bhutan
Blog: GreenAroundTheGlobe - 22 April 2010
During our nine days in Bhutan, Amy and I were often presented with the striking architecture of ancient Dzongs, the jaw dropping Himalayan vistas and the tremendous warmth of the Bhutanese people. There were some surprises though. I have listed out my top 4 below.
-
Hiking the Tiger’s Nest
Blog: GreenAroundTheGlobe - 19 April 2010
It is our first full day in Bhutan and the mountain looms ominously in the clear blue sky. The air is cool, crisp and thin as my whitewashed challenger awaits my arrival 900 meters above. I haven’t come all this way just to stand in the shadow of the Tiger’s Nest, so I will get [...] Related posts:Curiosities in Bhutan
-
Odds and Ends from Haa Valley in Bhutan
Blog: Budget Trouble - 3 March 2010
Don't get me wrong, I love Japan. But because there's more than just Japan in the world (though I do know people who would try to argue with me on this one), today we'll revisit Bhutan. I miss Bhutan, I really do. I want to go there again, but since my name is Budget Trouble, a trip to Bhutan won't be happening anytime soon. Unless I find me a cash-tossing corporate sponsor. The only other alternative is to sell myself into sexual slavery, but since it's me we're talking about here, I doubt there would be any takers, I'd make a lousy slave. Anyway, where were we? Ah yes, Bhutan.
