Bhutan is a tiny landlocked country in the southeastern part of Asia. Over the years, the government has attracted many tourists worldwide who first ask, Where is Bhutan? Bhutan is a neighboring country of Nepal, India, and China, with similar geography and topography.
Bhutan is a landlocked country that doesn’t have access to the ocean. However, it is rewarded by the majestic mountains and challenging treks. In this blog, we will discuss the location of Bhutan and what makes Bhutan so attractive to trekkers worldwide.
Bhutan is a unique kingdom located in the southeast of the world. In terms of longitude and latitude, it is located at 27.5142° N, and longitude is at 90.4336° E, which means the country is located in the northern hemisphere just above the equator and the southern hemisphere. On the world map, Bhutan is visible between two massive countries, India and Tibet. It has recently become one of the significant destinations for trekkers who prefer high-altitude Himalayan treks.
The history of Bhutan is still shrouded in mystery and unknown. The region was settled in 2000 BC. The kings and queens have ruled the country since the early days, which is why it is still regarded as the kingdom of Bhutan. Over a significant part of history, the Cooch-Behar king ruled the kingdom. He started ruling the country in the 7th century BC. The government has had different names in the past few days, like Lotus Garden of the Gods and The Southern Valley of Medicinal herbs.
Recently, Bhutan has been known as Druk Yui, meaning the Land of the Thunder Dragon. The name Bhutan may have come from the old Indian word “Bhotanta,” which meant the end of the land of the Bhots, where “Bhot” referred to Tibetans. Bhutan’s ancient history is a bit of a mystery because many books and documents were lost in fires and earthquakes that destroyed important Dzongs where historical records were kept.
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The most significant event in what little we know about Bhutanese history is the legendary escape of Guru Padmasambhava from Tibet in 747 AD. Guru Rimpoche, popularly known today, is considered the second Buddha. He arrived in Paro Valley at the Taktshang (Tiger’s nest), and there is now a monastery perched on the cliff’s face as a lasting memory of his visit. Guru Rimpoche introduced the tantric strain of Mahayana Buddhism practiced in Bhutan, which is worshipped and respected as the father of the Nyingmapa School of Religion.
Bhutan has recently become one of the biggest attractions for trekkers worldwide. There are many places where the trekkers arriving in Bhutan can explore and participate in different activities. There are numerous reasons to visit Bhutan, explore the life of the local Bhutanese, and learn about their culture and tradition. So, let’s look at some of the significant activities you can participate in Bhutan.
A Tscechu is one of Bhutan’s most popular national festivals and has gained a reputation over the years. It is the annual festival held in every district of Bhutan on the tenth day of the lunar calendar. Tshechus are religious festivals of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. This festival is celebrated three days in a row by the Bhutanese people. In this festival, the pilgrims perform these dances to impress the Goddess., Guru Tshengye, Shana/ Zhana Cham, Durdag Cham, Raksha Mangcham. There has been some negative promotion of this festival as children are often scared due to the masks of animals or demons portrayed by the monks dancing during the ritual.
Bhutan is very popular for using ancient medicinal herbs instead of modern medical technology. However, instead of using them to cure dangerous diseases, help the trekkers relax and rejuvenate after the long trek days. When you visit Bhutan, you will reach Thimpu, where you can see the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, which offers a free diagnosis and provides you with suggestions, or you can receive therapy, which will help you during your trek.
One of the top-rated attractions of trekking in Bhutan is reaching Taktshang Goemba. Taktshang Goemba is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan and South Asia. Another trendy name for the Goemba is Tiger Nest Monastery, which has been generating a massive reputation as a significant attraction in Bhutan. Tiger Nest Monastery is mainly famous for its history and mythic because it has been widely reported Guru Rinpoche meditated here for several months. The monastery is the symbol of spreading peace and love among the people of Bhutan.
The Trans Bhutan Trail is a newly rebuilt 403 km-long (250 miles) walking path that goes across Bhutan from east to west. For a long time, the trail has been used by traders, government officials, and courier services for different kinds of purposes of delivering letters, couriers, and also for the purpose of trade. The trail stays close to the forests, villages, and valleys of the middle hills instead of the high mountains. There are some great day hike sections to try out. One of the most scenic and easy-to-reach areas is the Paro Valley, where you can hike up the eastern slopes and enjoy amazing views of Paro Dzong.
One of the best trekking destinations in Bhutan is the Jhomolhari Base Camp Trek. On this trek, you will visit several fantastic destinations of Bhutan, such as Paro, Tiger Nest Monastery, Drugyel, Thangthanka, Jangothang, Lingshi, Shodu, Barshong, Domshisa. and the majestic city of Thimpu, where you can explore the ancient Tibetan culture of Buddhist and Bhutanese living there. One primary reason for engaging in this trek is the majestic views of one of the tallest peaks in Bhutan, Jhomolhari Peak, which is at 7314m.
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Dive Bar in Thimpu has recently gotten a reputation for becoming one of the major attractions in Bhutan. Drunken Yeti Bar is where you can get the taste of live music from rap, rock, and pop, where all the local Bhutanese will be seen enjoying the music song and dancing to their heart’s content. You can also explore the city areas and reach Mojo Park, and if you are a music lover, you can get live music. There are some other clubs in Thimpu, such as Space 34 where you can go clubbing as the club lasts for 24 hours.
The Great Himalayas are one of the most popular places in Bhutan, where trekkers can enjoy majestic views of the snow-capped mountains, snowy terrains, and glacial peaks, making the geography of the trek quite challenging. In this trekking destination, the trekkers will pass through the complex parts of Bhutan, which is also a major attraction for adventure lovers. The Himalayan mountain ranges spread across India, Nepal, and Tibet, making the region the greater Himalayas. The elevation portion of the Himalayas is located at an altitude of over 7000m. During the trek to Bhutan, the trekkers can explore the majestic Himalayan portion as they can see magnificent views of the mountains, sunrise, and sunset.
The Lesser Himalayas branch off from the Great Himalayas and run southward. They create the watersheds between Bhutan’s main rivers. The area’s vegetation type depends on the elevation and exposure to the moist southwest monsoon winds. The vegetation ranges from dense forests on the rainy slopes to alpine plants at higher elevations. In the Lesser Himalayas, there are several fertile valleys at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,700 meters. These valleys, including Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, and Ha, receive moderate rainfall (about 40 to 50 inches or about 1,000 to 1,270 mm per year). They are well-populated, and the entire. The region highly depends on agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade business.
The weather and temperature of Bhutan are similar to those of other South Asian countries. While preparing for your trek to Bhutan, consider the ideal weather and temperature you will travel. Trek in favorable seasons like Spring and Autumn to get the ideal trekking experience in Bhutan. During the Spring and Autumn seasons, the weather and temperature of Bhutan are reasonable, ranging from about 17 to 25 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the temperature decreases to about 10 to 15 degrees Celsius in winter.
In high altitudes like the Himalayas, the temperature reaches way below freezing point and sometimes even reaches -20 degrees Celsius. So, if you are planning to reach Bhutan in the winter season, then make sure you are packing adequate clothes for winter, and similarly, if you are planning to trek in summer, then be prepared for the rainy days.
Bhutan is one of the most challenging trekking destinations for people worldwide. Trekking for Bhutan must be prepared, and plenty of preparation before or during the trek must be considered. To make your trek more accessible and to enjoy it, you have to provide significant consideration to your packing list. While packing is essential for the Bhutan trek, you must also be wary of packing too much or too little. You don’t want to carry heavy bags all around Bhutan, and you also don’t want to leave all the essential items of clothing, gear, or equipment.
Hence, Bhutan is a unique place for trekkers looking for a particular mountainous area for adventure. Bhutan is located in South Eastern Asia and is between the two largest countries, China and India. So, if you are looking to travel to Bhutan, we have provided guides on how to visit Bhutan, the country’s trails, along with some of the locations and activities you can enjoy there.
