Top 10 Most Fascinating Things You Didn't Know About Bhutan

Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia, nestled between India and China. Despite being classified as one of the world's lowest-income economies, even with poverty and illiteracy still prevalent, the people here lead the happiest lives in the world. This Himalayan nation is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, where traditional culture still thrives in every individual. Alongside the pristine and breathtaking nature, the fresh air is also considered a factor that turns Bhutan into a happy kingdom. A survey revealed that the stunning scenery combined with national pride and consciousness has made the people here always feel happy and comfortable living here. During holidays, Bhutanese people feel much luckier than people in other countries who have to squeeze into crowded urban areas.

The people of Bhutan have a very high environmental awareness, with half of the country's land area protected in national parks. They themselves also feel very happy to live in a good environment. Bhutanese people do not care about TV and the internet; it was not until 1999 that Bhutanese people were exposed to television. However, in this country, people are not very concerned about the media. They believe that excessive exposure to the internet, seeing the rich, driving cars, and having lots of money will arouse envy and dissatisfaction with their lives. In fact, Bhutanese people don't worry or feel sad that they don't have the latest iPhone because simply being alive is already satisfying for them. The majority of Bhutan's population follows Buddhism and is vegetarian; they always believe in karma so they live very compassionately, benevolently, and do good deeds for others. This makes the lives of Bhutanese people even more peaceful. In fact, there is no crime in Bhutan. The gap between social classes is not too distinct. Bhutanese people are very friendly; even a prince can play ball with children without any discrimination. This makes the Bhutanese people more content with life.

Bhutan is a rather remote country, nestled deep amidst the Himalayas. This nation has only one international airport named Paro, located about 35 km from the capital Thimphu. The airport has only one runway, but it's constructed in the traditional palace style of Bhutan. To travel by road, you'll have to enter Bhutan from India through 3 main routes: Daranga Road, Bhutan Route 152, and the most popular, the Phuentsholing - Thimphu highway. Bhutan is one of the most secluded countries in the world hidden amidst the Himalayas. To preserve its cultural identity, Bhutan focuses on two issues: environmental conservation and religious beliefs. With this principle, Bhutan doesn't aggressively develop the tourism industry.

Each year, only a limited number of tourists are allowed to enter. It's a place where happiness is considered wealth, where plastic bags and cigarettes are banned, and everyone dresses in traditional attire. Some may mistakenly think they can independently travel to Bhutan, but that's not possible. Bhutan doesn't issue visas to independent travelers. Therefore, to obtain a visa, tourists must apply for a Bhutan visa through registering for a tour with a local travel company, and this company will be responsible for applying and processing the visa for tourists. Without a travel company applying for the visa, obtaining a visa is impossible, but if registered through a tour, almost 100% will obtain a visa.

Bhutan's national flag consists of two colors intersecting each other, with a white dragon in the middle. The yellow symbolizes tradition and is the emblem of the monarchy, while the orange represents Buddhism - the country's official religion. The dragon in the center of the flag, named 'Druk' - a legendary dragon in Bhutanese mythology. The dragon positioned between two colors reflects equality in both tradition and religion. 'Druk' in white signifies purity of soul and bears four gemstones on its claws representing prosperity, strength, and protection of the nation. The dragon is an important symbol in many Asian countries, but Bhutan is among the few countries with the national flag featuring this mythical creature. The dragon on Bhutan's flag is a thunder dragon legend with four claws clutching four precious gems. The white dragon symbolizes purity and loyalty. The gemstones represent prosperity, security, and safeguarding the people of Bhutan.

This tradition dates back to 1189, when the founder of the Drukpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje, witnessed the Namgyiphu Valley in Phoankar, Western Tibet, illuminated by rainbows and light. He regarded it as an auspicious sign, so he entered the valley to select a site to build a monastery, and then he heard three thunderclaps - a sound believed to be made by the druk dragon according to the common belief of the Bhutanese people. The monastery Tsangpa Gyare built that year was named Druk Sewa Jangchubling, and his teaching lineage was called Druk. The Druk lineage was later divided into three branches. Tsangpa Gyare's grandson and spiritual heir established one of the three branches called Drukpa, which was then spread throughout Bhutan. The country itself was later referred to as Druk. This legend provides an explanation of how the dragon symbol became the basis of the Bhutanese national flag.

4. Archery is a Traditional Sport in Bhutan

The most popular sport in Bhutan is archery. If there's one thing Bhutanese people love more than their king, it's archery. Across Bhutan, there's almost always an archery competition happening. Their style of play is quite unique. Two opposing teams face off, shooting arrows at each other, while the opponents try to distract the shooter. Players must wear traditional Bhutanese attire. Because archery is so prevalent here, tourists visiting Bhutan also enjoy this sport.

Bhutanese people are so fond of this sport that almost every season of the year, there's some archery competition taking place in small villages. The Changlimithang Stadium in the capital Thimphu hosts archery tournaments where participants must wear the traditional Gho attire to compete. Despite villagers having to trek nearly two days through the mountains to reach the competition venue, they enthusiastically participate. Whenever an archer hits the target, both teams will dance and sing in celebration, reminiscent of ancient Bhutanese warriors. This is a social event that garners the most attention. Each time an archery festival is held, people prepare plenty of food and drinks, gathering to cheer on the archers. When you come here, you'll learn how to shoot arrows from basic to advanced!

5. Visiting Bhutan Requires a Fee

Ecotourism in Bhutan is a unique experience but not for everyone. In an effort to preserve the environment and the indigenous culture of Bhutan, the government has imposed a minimum fee of 200 USD per person per day for tourists visiting Bhutan – making Bhutan one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world. Tourists visiting Bhutan will have to pay a fee of 250 USD per day. This fee will include accommodation and meals in hotels as well as local tour guides. Importantly, a significant portion of the daily minimum fee (the cost to visit Bhutan) goes towards government programs providing free education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation – so, overall, the money is well spent, and the Bhutanese government is very clever in how they open up tourism but at the highest value possible to ensure the country earns a steady income from tourism without actually having to deal with tens of thousands of tourists. Essentially, when you travel to Bhutan, you are directly contributing to the education of the people here.

This 250 USD fee does not apply to citizens of Bhutan's three neighboring countries: India, Bangladesh, and Maldives. Ecotourism in Bhutan is truly a fantastic experience, it's a country with a population of under a million people, a place where time stands still, where legend is history, and where towering mountains reign supreme. Don't let the cost of going to Bhutan discourage you, you'll get more than your money's worth. It's a country truly unlike any other in the world. Bhutan is a unique country, a kingdom in the Himalayas secluded, where you can find a bit of relaxation, connect with nature, and enjoy wonderful hospitality.

6. Bhutan Always Prioritizes the Environment

Bhutan currently stands as the only country in the world that absorbs more CO2 than it emits. Its constitution mandates that at least 60% of the country's land must be covered by natural forests, a target that Bhutan has surpassed with its current 70% forest coverage. If someone cuts down a tree to build a house, they are required to plant enough new trees to replace it. Most of the energy used in Bhutan comes from clean sources, such as wind turbines or hydroelectric dams. 40% of Bhutan's exports come from hydroelectric power. The country also stands as the only one to ban plastic bags and tobacco. Known as the happiest country in the world, Bhutan has long been renowned on the global tourism map as a place of 'purity' both in terms of nature and people. Here, the government and its people prioritize the development of the happiness index over economic growth. As a result, they lead simple lives, harmonizing with nature and finding happiness in simplicity. You won't find any laws or regulations regarding environmental protection in Bhutan because, simply put, preserving the environment is the way of life for its people. This is one of the key factors placed at the forefront in this country. And this is also the reason why Bhutan ranks at the top of the list of the happiest countries in the world.

The government of this country declared not long ago that 60% of the country's land area would never be subject to any destruction. Not only is half of its land area a national park, but all forests, animals, and even the air are strictly protected. Like Switzerland, Bhutan is exceptionally beautiful with towering mountain ranges reflecting on clear and romantic rivers. Therefore, Bhutan is also known as the Switzerland of Asia. For a long time, the people of Bhutan have refrained from using artificial substances in cultivating crops and raising livestock. Food here is entirely organically grown, which is why you won't find fruits and vegetables looking uniformly shiny and perfect when visiting local markets.

7. Bhutan Vigorously Preserves Traditional Cultural Values

Visiting Bhutan feels like stepping back into many years of the past. Television was banned here until 1999, when the then King Jigme Singye Wangchuk felt the need to repeal this law to advance the country. Streets and houses in Bhutan are rigorously preserved and can be hundreds of years old, including many castles, or 'dzongs' in Bhutanese. All roads winding through Bhutan traverse the Himalayan ranges. Losar Festival: Bhutan's New Year celebration, akin to Tibet, is held with great enthusiasm and liveliness. During the festival, Bhutanese perform traditional rituals, locals dress beautifully adorned robes, and participate in vibrant performances such as singing, dancing, etc. They enact scenes of battles between good and evil or performances related to spiritual life.

This is one of the most important festivals in Bhutan. Tsechu Festival: The highlight of the Tsechu festival is the Cham dance - a lively traditional dance performed only by men. Through their dance, the performers express stories of ethics and life with profound significance to them. This is also viewed by the people as a special form of meditation. Jampa Lhakhang Drup Festival: As the clock strikes midnight, a group of male dancers will emerge from a gate and dance to the rhythm of traditional drums. They wear masks and costumes, believed by the locals to distract evil spirits. This unique and sacred dance is considered the most significant to the spiritual life of the Bhutanese people. And the Jampa Lhakhang Drup festival is one of the most anticipated festivals in Bhutan.

8. Dzongkha: Bhutan's Official Language

Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan, similar to the language of Tibetans. However, English is also taught in schools and can be quite commonly used here. This also aids in the development of Bhutan's tourism industry as it welcomes international tourists. Additionally, the Buddhist nation boasts over 19 dialects with 4 major language groups in the East, West, South, and North. However, only Dzongkha is considered the mother tongue and the official language. The term “Dzongkha” means the language (kha) spoken at dzongs – the fortresses built in dzong architecture across Bhutan until the country was unified by Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in the 17th century.

Dzongkha is used in government administration, in teaching at schools, and all official events in Bhutan. Therefore, learning Dzongkha is mandatory in all schools nationwide. By 2013, there were over 170,000 native Dzongkha speakers. Apart from Dzongkha, Bhutan hosts a variety of diverse languages, each with a certain number of users, reflecting the regional cultures. While Dzongkha is used as the official language in major events, each citizen still emphasizes the preservation of regional languages, so despite the minority user base over the years, these languages have not disappeared.

9. Bhutan Boasts a Rich Fauna and Flora System

Bhutan is renowned for its rich and rare fauna and flora in the Himalayas: Bengal tigers, snow leopards, bears, mountain goats, and notably, the elusive snow leopard. Killing wild animals is severely punished in Bhutan. For instance, killing a black-necked crane could result in a life sentence. Thanks to these strict laws, tourists visiting Bhutan have the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature. If lucky, you might catch a glimpse of these rare species. Upon arrival in Bhutan, you'll be captivated by its majestic and pristine natural landscapes, coupled with the rich cultural heritage of its people. There are also picturesque small villages that seem straight out of fairy tales. Many tourists come to Bhutan just to soak in the rare and enchanting beauty of this country. Tourists can combine this with activities like mountain climbing, trekking, attending festivals, and visiting monasteries.

Encompassing over 70% of its land area with virgin forests, including more than 26% protected areas comprising four national parks, Bhutan is a hotspot for one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots with a rich ecosystem boasting over 165 mammal species, 612 bird species, and 5000 other species of flora and 600 species of orchids and 50 species of rhododendrons. It is perhaps a paradise for nature enthusiasts worldwide. This remarkable geographical diversity, combined with diverse climatic conditions, highlights the extraordinary biodiversity and ecosystems of Bhutan.

10. Bhutan's Royal Couple: A Fairytale Love Story

The current ruler of Bhutan is King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. His marriage to Queen Jetsun Pema was once praised by international media for the beauty of both royal spouses. At that time, Queen Jetsun Pema was the world's youngest queen consort at the age of 21. Particularly, after the birth of their first prince, they portrayed a genuinely happy family image. The King of Bhutan also declared he would not marry anyone else besides the Queen, even though Bhutanese law permits polygamy.

Throughout the history of royal dynasties worldwide, few kings have been as faithful to one wife. Therefore, this royal couple has become an emblem of love and fidelity in the hearts of the people. The world media even dubbed them the Will and Kate of the Himalayas. The beginning of their real-life fairytale love story dates back to a chance encounter during a family outing. Back then, Jetsun Pema was only 7 years old, immediately captivated by the handsome appearance and radiant demeanor of the 17-year-old prince. She ran up to him, embraced him tightly, boldly declaring her affection and desire to marry him.