About Bhutan - BIEBS Tours and Travels

ABOUT BHUTAN

BHUTAN

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked country located in the southern foothills of the Himalayan Mountain range, sandwiched between China in north and India in the south.

It is a sovereign nation, with a total land area of 38,394 km² and a total population of 735,553 (2017).

PEOPLE

People of Bhutan are known as Bhutanese and generally categorized into three main ethnic groups. The Tshanglas, Ngalops and the Lhotshampas.

Tshanglas:

The Tshanglas or the Sharchops as they are commonly known as, are considered the aboriginal inhabitants of eastern Bhutan.

Ngalops

The Ngalops who have settled mostly in the six regions of western Bhutan are of Tibetan origin. People speak Dzongkha which is also a national language.

Lhotshampas:

The Lhotshampas have settled in the southern foothills of the country. They speak Lhotshamkha (Nepali) and practice Hinduism.

Others:

Other minority groups are the Bumthaps and the Khengpas located in central part of Bhutan.

SOCIETY

Bhutanese society is free of class or a caste system. Slavery was abolished by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in the early 1950s through a royal edict. Though, a few organizations to empower women were established in the past, Bhutanese society has always maintained relativegender equality. In general our nation is an open and a good-spirited society.

RELIGION

The Bhutanese constitution guarantees freedom of religion and citizens and visitors are free to practice any form of worship so long as it does not impinge on the rights of others. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are also present in the country.

Buddhism

Bhutan is a Buddhis country and people often refer to it as the last stronghold of Vajrayana Buddhism. Buddhism was first introduced by the Indian Tantric master Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century. Until then the people practiced Bonism, a religion that worshiped all forms of nature, remnants of which are still evident in some remote villages in the country.

Animism

Though Bhutan is often referred to as the last Vajrayana Buddhist country, you can still come across animistic traditions and beliefs being practiced by the people.

The form of Buddhism practiced in Bhutan has absorbed many of the features of Bonism such as nature worship, worship of a host of deities, invoking and propitiating them. According to Bonism, these deities were the rightful owners of different elements of nature. Each different facet of nature was associated with its own specific type of spirit.

GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY

The kingdom of Bhutan lies deep in the eastern Himalayas. It is surrounded by the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China to the north, and the Indian territories of Assam and West Bengal to the south, Arunachal Pradesh to the east and Sikkim to the west. The tiny landlocked kingdom has a total area of 38,394 km² and spreads between meridians 89°E and 93°E, and latitudes 27°N and 29°N.

The Altitude Zones Of Bhutan

The Greater Himalayas

The towering Himalayan mountains of Bhutan dominate the north of the country, where peaks can easily reach 7,000 meters (22,966 ft) above the sea level.

The Inner Himalayas

Lower foothills height of about 4000 meters and continuously rising the valleys of different heights and topography makes the country an ideal place for both native people and tourists within the mainland of Bhutan. The valleys of Bhutan are traversed by the country’s five major river systems and their tributaries which ultimately drain to the Brahmaputra River in India. The valleys are linked by a series of passes, the highest pass crossed by a Bhutanese highway is Chele La (3,780 metres (12,402 ft) between Paro and Haa.

The vegetation in this zone is a mixture of broad-leaved and coniferous forest.

The Sub-Himalayan Foothills

Stretched along the southern border of the country, the Duar Plain drops sharply away

from the Himalayas into the large tracts of sub-tropical forest, grasslands and bamboo jungle. The altitude of the southern foothills ranges from about 200 meters at the lowest point to 2000 meters. This zone is rich in dense and sub-tropical vegetation.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS

NATIONAL FLAG

The National flag is divided diagonally into two equal halves.

The upper yellow half signifies the secular power and authority of the king while the lower saffron-orange symbolizes the practice of religion and the power of Buddhism, manifested in the tradition of Drukpa Kagyu.

The dragon signifies the name and the purity of the country while the jewels in its jeweled claws stand for the wealth and perfection of the country.

NATIONAL SPORT

The national sport is the Archery (Dha). The bow and arrow play a significant role in many Bhutanese myths and legends; images of the gods holding a bow and arrows are considered especially favorable.

Archery was declared the national sport in 1971 when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations. Bhutan also maintains an Olympic archery team. Archery tournaments and competitions are held throughout the country. Archery is played during religious and secular public holidays in Bhutan, local festivals (tsechu), between public ministries

and departments, and between the dzongkhag and the regional teams.

NATIONAL BIRD

The national bird is the raven. It adorns the royal crown. The raven represents the deity Gonpo Jarodongchen (raven headed Mahakala), one of the chief guardian deities of Bhutan.

NATIONAL ANIMAL

The national animal is the Takin (Burdorcastaxicolor) that is associated with religious history and mythology. It is a very rare mammal with a thick neck and short muscular

legs. It lives in groups and is found above 4000 meters on the north- western and far north eastern parts of the country. They feed on bamboo. The adult Takin can weigh over 200 kgs.

NATIONAL FLOWER

The national flower is the Blue Poppy (Meconopsis Grandis). It is a delicate blue or purple tinged blossom with a white filament. It grows to a height of 1 meter, and is found above the tree line (3500-4500 meters) on rocky mountain terrain. It was discovered in 1933 by a British Botanist, George Sherriff in a remote part of Sakteng in eastern Bhutan.

Weather & Temperature

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Our Guides

At BIEBS Tours & Travels, our guides are the heart of your Bhutanese experience. Knowledgeable, professional, and passionate, they bring Bhutan’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty to life, ensuring your journey is as enriching as it is enjoyable.

Why Travel with Our Guides?

Certified Experts
All our guides are professionally trained and certified by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Their deep understanding of Bhutan’s traditions, history, and geography guarantees an authentic and well-informed experience.
Multilingual Skills
Whether you speak English, Hindi, or another language, our multilingual guides ensure seamless communication and a comfortable travel experience.
Local Insights
Being locals, our guides share stories and insights that go beyond guidebooks—offering you a genuine connection to Bhutanese life and culture.
Personalized Care
Our guides cater to your interests and pace, ensuring your journey is tailored to your preferences. Whether it’s trekking, cultural exploration, or wildlife spotting, they make your trip truly unforgettable.
Safety First
Trained in first aid and safety protocols, our guides prioritize your well-being at every step, especially during treks and adventurous activities.

Meet Bhutan Through Their Eyes

From leading you through the mystical corridors of ancient dzongs to sharing the legends of Bhutanese folklore, our guides are your companions in discovering the hidden treasures of Bhutan.

Explore Bhutan with the Best—Because Every Great Journey Needs a Great Guide.