Bhutan is landlocked and sits in the eastern Himalayas of South Asia with Tibet in the North, Sikkim in the west, and Arunachal Pradesh in the east, and Assam in the west. The landscape in Bhutan is mostly steep and there comprise high mountains which are crossed by numerous swift rivers, which later drain into the deep valleys. The elevation rises from 200m to more than 7000m. Bhutan covers an area of 38394 sq. km. and about 71 % of the country is forested. The weather pattern in Bhutan consists of five seasons namely summer, winter, spring, monsoon, and winter with the northern parts experiencing snow all year round. The monsoon is heavy and the summer is pretty humid.
The largest city in Bhutan is the capital Thimpu, which comprises of people from all around the country. In contrast to its neighbors, the population of Bhutan is very low standing at only 753,553 people. The small topography and the busy lifestyle of the people can be deemed responsible for its dwindling population. The political system of Bhutan is the monarchy. The current king is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the prime minister is Lotay Tshering. Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan and the majority of people here follow either Buddhism or Hinduism. The lifestyle of the Bhutanese people is still pretty primitive and as of recent years only is it accepting the modern changes. Except in the remote areas, the basic utility is easily available and the local currency here is Bhutanese Ngultrum.
The Bhutanese pride themselves on being the only country that measures the Gross National Happiness Index and despite the desolate lifestyle, you’ll find people content with their life. To the outside world, Bhutan may seem like an ancient world but it is more than that. The country fiercely protects its Buddhist traditions which can be seen through its conservation of sites like Paro Taktsang, Rinpung Dzong, and Tashicho Dzong. Interact with the monks here to understand their culture and learn about Buddhism. As about 60% of the country is forested, there are awesome trekking and hiking trails and national parks. Explore the Jigme Dorji National park and Royal Manas national park to scout the exotic wilderness and vegetation. Incorporate some culture into your journey by witnessing numerous Tshechu (festival) and understand the unique stature of Bhutan.
Visas are issued on arrival in Bhutan and you must apply through a tour operator in advance. Travelers can either fill a form manually or fill an electronic form. You can fly to Bhutan through the air by taking the Druk air. The sole international airport of Bhutan is in Paro.
