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Rinpung Dzong, the large Buddhist monastery and fortress in Paro district.
Image: Christopher Fynn

Location map of Bhutan

Flag of Bhutan

Adventure Bhutan, a virtual guide to the "land of the dragon", officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, a small, land-locked nation in Asia, located in the eastern Himalaya mountains south of China (Xizang - Tibet Autonomous Region), bordering the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, it is also bordered by Nepal and Bangladesh. The country controls several key Himalayan mountain passes.

Bhutan occupies an area of 38,394 km² making it somewhat smaller than Switzerland or about half the size of the US state of Indiana. Bhutan's landscape is mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna.

The country has a multiethnic population of 760,000 inhabitants (in 2015). There are three main ethnic groups in Bhutan, the Tshanglas (or Sharchop) are considered the aboriginal inhabitants of eastern Bhutan, the Ngalops, people of Tibetan origin who migrated to Bhutan, and the Lhotshampas, a group of Nepali language-speaking Bhutanese people. Official language is Dzongkha, a language closely related to Tibetan and Nepali. Capital and largest city is Thimphu.

Kingdom of Bhutan | Druk-yul

Country Profile

Background:
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a country with a strong ancient Buddhist culture and almost completely cut off for centuries to avoid foreign influences.

Bhutan began to open up very slowly to outsiders in the 1970s.
Tourism today is privatised by the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1991 but still restricted; travel is only possible as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour.

Official Name:
Druk-yul
or Druk Tsendhen, "land of the thunder dragon"
int'l long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
int'l short form: Bhutan

ISO Country Code: bt, BTN

Time:
Local Time = UTC +6h
Actual Time: Fri-June-2 10:39

Country Calling Code: +975

Capital City: Thimphu (approx. 55,000)

Other Cities:
Paro, Phoentsholing, Punakha, Bumthong.

Government:
Type: Democratic constitutional monarchy.
Previously, various laws and Buddhist values guided the relationship between the state and the people. Constitution enacted 18 July 2008.
National Day: 17 December

Geography:
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India.
Area: 38,394 km² (14,824 sq. mi.) slightly smaller than Switzerland.
Terrain: Mountainous, from the Himalayas to lower-lying foothills to plains with semi-tropical forest, savannah grassland and bamboo jungles.

Climate: Alpine to temperate to subtropical with monsoon season from June to September.

People:
Nationality: Bhutanese. Note: The Bhutanese refer to themselves as Drukpa people.
Population: 760,000 (2015)
GNI per capita PPP: $ 3 330 (year)
Ethnic groups: Bhutan has three main ethnic groups, Sharchops, Ngalongs (50%) and Lhotsampas, one of several Nepalese ethnic groups (35%), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%.
Religions: The tantric form of Mahayana Bhuddhism (Drukpa Kagyupa) is state religion, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%.
Languages: Dzongka (official language), English (medium of instruction), Tshanglakha, Lhotsamkha ( Nepali) and Khenkha, Sharchop.
Literacy: 54% (est.). Women's literacy (est.)--20%.

Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, timber, gypsum, calcium carbide.

Agriculture products: Rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs.

Industries: Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide.

Exports - commodities: electricity (to India), ferrosilicon, cement, calcium carbide, copper wire, manganese, vegetable oil

Exports partners: India 83.8%, Hong Kong 10.8% (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, passenger cars, machinery and parts, fabrics, rice

Imports partners: India 72.3%, South Korea 6% (2013 est.)

Currency: Ngultrum (BTN); Indian Rupee (INR)

Source: Government of Bhutan and others.

Bhutan in Figures
Bhutan key statistical data.

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Maps

Map of Bhutan
Administrative and Political map of Bhutan.

Google Earth Bhutan
Searchable map and satellite view of Bhutan.

Google Earth Thimphu
Searchable map and satellite view of Bhutan's capital city.

Map of Southeast Asia
Map of the Southeast Asia region.

Map of Asia
Political Map of Asia.

Tashichho Dzong, seat of the Bhutanese government in Thimphu

Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu, the Buddhist monastery and fortress is the seat of the Druk Desi, the head of Bhutan's civil government since 1952.
Image: Christopher J. Fynn


Bhutan News Bhutannewsonline Bhutan's first private online newsmagazine featuring web-based news, views, opinions and articles on Bhutan. Kuensel Bhutan's autonomous daily and only regular newspaper. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation National Radio & TV provides online news on Bhutan.	Bookmark/share this page

Thangka unfolded at the Gomphu Kora Tshechu Festival

The Thongdrel (a large Thangka) with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava - lit. "Lotus-Born") unfolded at the Gomphu Kora Tshechu Festival in Eastern Bhutan.
Image: Mario Biondi

Arts & Culture

Bhutan Archery
Comprehensive site about archery, the national sport of Bhutan.

National Library of Bhutan
One of Bhutan's Centers of Scriptual Heritage.

Temple with prayer wheel in Samdrup Jonkhar, Bhutan

Temple with prayer wheel in Samdrup Jonkhar, a town located at the south-eastern part of Bhutan, it borders the Indian state of Assam.
Image: Franzfoto


Business & Economy Ministry of Economic Affairs Official site of the ministry provides information on Bhutan's trade and industry. Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Official website of the chamber. Transportation Airline Druk Air Royal Bhutan Airlines.	Bumthang, Central Bhutan © triptoBhutan.com

Taktsang Palphug Monastery, the Tiger's Nest, the temple complex in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley is a famous Himalayan Buddhist sacred site in Bhutan.
Image: Douglas J. McLaughlin

Travel and Tour Consumer Information

Destination Bhutan - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover the "Land of the Thunder Dragon": Bumthang, Mongar, Paro, Phunetsholing, Trongsa, Thimphu, chortens, dzongs, gompas, thangkas, traditional medicine, wildlife sanctuaries.

Find accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, hiking, climbing, birding, adventure tours and much more.

Department of Tourism, Bhutan
Official Tourist Information for Bhutan.

Bhutannewsonline
Bhutan's first private online newsmagazine featuring web-based news, views, opinions and articles on Bhutan.

Tashi Delek
Another non-official Bhutan Home Page.

Bhutan Images
Phil's All Embracing Bhutan Slide Show.

Tour Operator
Bhutan Majestic Travel
Tour operator for cultural and trekking tours.
Bhutan Journeys
Your door to Bhutan for a memorable experience.
Bhutan Travel Bureau
Bhutan tour operator.
Enjoy Bhutan
Bhutan tourism and travel information including Bhutan visa requirements, festivals, treks, hotels and transport in the magical Kingdom of Bhutan.

Kingdom of Bhutan
The pioneer travel organization of Bhutan with visitor information, travel arrangements and more.
Jachung Travel
Offers cultural tours and trekking to Bhutan. Also contains travel tips and country information.
triptoBhutan.com
Aiming to promote healthy tourism in Bhutan.


Education The Centre for Bhutan Studies Autonomous research institute dedicated towards promoting research and scholarship on Bhutan; provides academic research papers on Bhutan. Royal Bhutan Institute of Technology Offers training in Civil and Electrical Engineering. Royal University of Bhutan The first university in Bhutan founded in 2003.	Thimphu Bhutan's capital © triptoBhutan.com