Bhutan

Overview of Bhutan

History

Not much is known about the history of Bhutan before the 8th century, however, archaeologists have been able to ascertain that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BC due to stone tools, weapons and structures that have been discovered. The first notable event of the 8th century in Bhutan was the arrival of the Indian saint Guru Padmasambhava in 746 AD. He was able to convert King Sendha, the ruler of the Bumthang Valley to Buddhism and gradually, the rest of the country followed. This alignment with Buddhism is still prevalent in Bhutanese social, political and cultural practices today.

Geography

Bhutan is a small, landlocked country located in southern Asia between Tibet and India. The topography of the country can be divided into different regions from north to south based on altitude: the Great Himalaya, the Inner Himalayans and the Southern Foothills.

The Great Himalayas are a mountain range that stretches from Mt. Chomolhari (7,314m) in the west to Kulha Gangri (7,554m) near the centre of the northern border between Tibet and Bhutan. Due to the elevation of the highest summits, 20% of the area is covered perpetually by snow. The Inner Himalayans are the largest geographical region in Bhutan. They are characterised by broad valleys and forested hillsides and the majority of major towns in Bhutan including Paro, Thimphu and Punakha are located here. The Southern Foothills (also known as the Himalayan Foothills) are located in the southern part of the country. The average rainfall here is quite high reaching up to 200 inches. As a result of this rain, the Southern Foothills are known for lush vegetation and tropical forests. These forests are full of diverse wildlife and days here can get very hot. Rivers are also very important to Bhutan’s geography because they are a source of hydroelectric power. Due to the monsoon season that the country experiences, rivers and valleys here are wider than in Nepal and India.

"Bhutan
Quick-facts ’’

Area: 38,394 sq km

Capital: Thimpu

Population: 742,737

Population Density:

Time: UTC+6

Country Phone Code: +975

Credit Cards: American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted in a few shops. Travellers Cheques are generally accepted.

Currency: Ngultrum (NU)

Departure Tax: Departure tax is included within the cost of an international airfare leaving Bhutan

Drives on the: Left

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India.

Official Language: Dzongkha

Religion: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Getting a Visa for Bhutan

Despite popular mythology, you don’t need special ‘pull’ to get a visa, neither is there a limit on the number of tourists allowed to visit. However, to minimize the perceived threat to Bhutan’s unique culture, the government has established a stringent set of rules, which means you must travel on a pre-arranged itinerary. all costs included. Apart from that, the process is relatively straightforward. All visa applications must be channelled through the Department of Tourism (DOT) from a selected tour operator. With notification of approval, visas are issued when you arrive in the country. It is actually an extremely efficient system.