Hidden for centuries, Bhutan or ‘Druk Yul’ in the Bhutanese language is located in the great Himalayas sandwiched by its two giant neighbours, India in the South and China in the North. With an area of 38,394 sq. km, Bhutan is roughly comparable to Switzerland both in its size and topography and around half the size of Indiana or roughly the size of West Virginia, USA.
A recent census conducted by the government estimates around 700,000 people make up a Bhutanese population. It is principally a devoutly Buddhist nation and is the only country in the world to have adopted Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric form as its official religion. The Buddhist faith has played and continues to play a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical and sociological development of the country and its people. The striking feature about Bhutan is that it remains independent throughout its history – never been governed or colonised by any outsider.
The people of Bhutan are composed of many ethnic groups: The Ngalops in the west are the descendant of Tibetan origin, the Sharecrops in the east is believed to be the original inhabitants of the country and the Lhotsampas in the south are from Nepalese origin settled in the country toward the end of the nineteenth century. People are simple, be from rural or urban, has got a very precious simple smile for every visitor.
Seasons
The climate varies from place to place, which is suitable for everyone from the hot sub-tropical climate in the south, to the moderate heights of 2000 – 2500 meters in the centre and east and too cold alpine slopes or peaks in the north.
SPRING (March to May) – the season for a botanist delight for rhododendrons, magnolias, wild azaleas and abundant of other wildflowers and chirping birds, (warm and visible sky). Spring is also the time of the magnificent Paro tshechu (festival).
Autumn (September to November) – the peak tourists’ season having a crisp blue sky, sights for the high mountain peaks with a clear blue sky and merry pink & white cosmos, rice fields ripen to golden brown and drying of chillies on the roofs of houses. Autumn is also the time of the popular Thimphu tshechu.
SUMMER (June to August) – the monsoon season (sometimes misty weather) but with lush green valleys, weeping willows, glistening pine cones and wild orchids.
WINTER (December to February) – the season for majestic winter landscapes of the mountains and the valleys with snow in the higher regions and occasional snow in Thimphu; full of sunshine during the day while evening and night can turn quite chilly.
Facts and Figures
- Land Area: 38,394 sq. km
- Forest Area: 5%
- Altitude: Between 240 meters to 7,541 meters above sea level
- Dzongkhags (Districts): 20
- Population: 683,407
- Capital and Largest City: Thimphu (without traffic lights)
- National Language: Dzongkha (official), English widely is spoken
- Major religions: Buddhism (official), Hinduism
- Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 66 years (women)
- Monetary unit/Currency: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum (at par with the Indian rupee)
- Main exports: Electricity, timber, cement, agricultural products, handicrafts
- Local time: Six hours of GMT
- National tree: Cypress
- National bird: Blue Poppy
- National Sport: Archery
- National Animal: Takin
- Internet domain: .bt
- International dialling code: +975