30 Best Photos of Bhutan That Will Inspire You to Visit The Country

Country : Bhutan
Year : 2019
Places traveled : Phuentsholing, Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Haa
Duration of travel : 8 days

Image showing Taktsang Monastery from a view point — Paro Taktsang is popularly known as Tiger’s Nest Monastery sits on a narrow cliff approx 900 meters above Paro valley.

Image of Haa Valley — A view of beautiful Haa Valley bordered by Tibet in the northwest and Paro district in the northeast. The road from Paro valley to Haa valley goes through Chele La, the highest motorable pass in Bhutan.

Image of first courtyard inside Punakha Dzong. — A monk running in the courtyard of Punakha Dzong. Punakha Dzong, headquarter of Punakha district. Once, it used to be the capital of Bhutan till 1955, when the capital was shifted to Thimphu. Now Punakha Dzong is also the winter residence of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan.

Image of Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu — Rose Garden outside Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu. It is the main secretariat building which houses the offices of the King and the Throne Room.

An end on view of Punakha Suspension Bridge over Pho Chu. — Wonderful Suspension Bridge across Pho Chu, Punakha. This bridge connects Punakha Dzong to nearby villages. It is one of the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Image of a monk looking at monsoon sky inside Pangri Zampa Monastery — Monk inside Pangri Zampa Monastery looking at the Monsoon sky. Pangri Zampa Monastery is situated approx. This monastery is around 10 km from Thimphu. Built in the 16th century, this Lhakhang is also the National Institute of Astrology in Bhutan.

Image of a devotee chanting around a largeprayer wheel inside Khuruthang village monastery — A devotee chanting around a prayer wheel in the main Monastery in Khuruthang village, Punakha. Khuruthang is 5 km before reaching Punakha from Thimphu.

Image of Doorway to Palden Tashi Chholing Shedra, Phuentsholing — Doorway to Palden Tashi Chholing Shedra, Phuentsholing. Phuentsholing is the border town of Bhutan adjacent to Jaigaon of India. It is one of the official entry points to Bhutan by road. Some other tourist attractions of Phuentsholing are Zangto Pelri Lhakhang, Karbandi Monastery and Crocodile Breeding Centre.

Image of Paro valley from Rinpung Dzong during sunset — View of Paro Valley from Rinpung Dzong, Paro. Paro valley is a narrow valley in the eastern part of Bhutan. It is the only international airport in Bhutan. Paro Chu meanders through the valley originating from Jomolhari north to Chuzom in the south, where it meets with Thimphu Chu.

Image of two young monks looking through the window of a residential hall in Khuruthang Monastery, Punakha. — Young monks looking through the window of a residential hall in Khuruthang Monastery, Punakha.

Some Interesting Facts About Bhutan

Bhutan is the only carbon negative country in the world. That means it absorbs more carbon-di-oxide than it produces. Over 70% of the country is covered by forest. The constitution requires that at least 60% of the land remain forested for future generations.
Bhutan does not believe in GDP as an indicator of development. Rather Bhutan introduced Gross National Happiness (GNP) to measure the country’s growth. This index is used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of a population. The four pillars of GNH are – sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, environmental conservation, preservation and promotion of culture, and good governance.
Bhutan is called Druk Yul or Land of Thunder Dragon. Thunderstorms are quite common in Bhutan. And Bhutanese used to believe that thunderbolts are the red fire of a dragon. Druk is the thunder dragon of Bhutanese mythology, and it also appears on the national flag of Bhutan.
Bhutan banned the cultivation, harvesting and sale of tobacco and tobacco products in the country. The use of plastic is also banned in Bhutan.
There is no traffic light in Bhutan. Thimphu is one of the two capitals in Asia that does not have a single traffic light (the other being Pyongyang in North Korea)
Gangkhar Puensum, the highest mountain of Bhutan, is also the highest unclimbed mountain (24,840 ft) globally.
Paro is one of the most dangerous airports to land in the whole world. There are only eight qualified pilots as of now who are allowed to fly a plane to Paro.
It is illegal to kill animal or bird in Bhutan.
You will see plenty of houses in Bhutan where a phallus is painted on the wall. It is a symbol of good luck and fertility in Bhutan.
Bhutan is also known as the Last Shangri-La. This Himalayan country has only been open to the outside world since 1970.
Bhutan is the last country to introduce TV in 1999.
It is a custom in Bhutan to refuse food when offered the first time to show respect and gratitude. They cover their mouth with both hands and say “Meshu”.

Image of Buddha Dordenma — Great Buddha Doedenma, Thimphu. The Buddha Dordenma is located on a hilltop overlooking Thimphu valley. It is the largest sitting statue of the Buddha measuring 51.5 meters in height, and made of solid bronze. The statue itself houses another hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, all of them built of bronze and gilded in gold.

A landscape in Paro — An eldarly lady walking towards her village, Paro.

Image of group of monks inside Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu — Group of monks inside Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu. This Dzong is the summer residence of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan, led by Je Khenpo.

Image of National Memorial Chorten in Thimphu, Bhutan — National Memorial Chorten, Thimphu. This large chorten is one of the most visited landmarks in Thimphu, and for many Bhutanese, it is the focus of daily worship. The Tibetan-style stupa was built in 1974 as a memorial to the third king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Image of two young monks sitting on a wall beside Rinpung Dzong — Monks beside Rinpung Dzong, Paro. Rinchen Pung Dzong (Rinpung Dzong in short) means “Fortress on a Heap of Jewels”. Like other dzongs, it also houses the district monastic body and the administrative seat of the Paro district. This Dzong was originally built by Gyelchock, the descendant of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, the founder of the Drukpa Kagyupa School in Bhutan. Later he handed over the fort to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who expanded it to a superior structure. In the 17th and 18th century, this fort played an important role in saving the valley against Tibetan invasion from the north.

Image of memorial chortens in Dochu La — At Dochula Pass, Thimphu-Punakha Highway. The pass is located at an elevation of 3,100 meters amidst the Eastern Himalayan snow-covered mountains. There are 108 memorial chortens or stupas known as “Druk Wangyal Chortens” built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. Apart from the chortens, there is a monastery called the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple), built in honour of the fourth Druk Gyalpo (head of the state of Bhutan), Jigme Singye Wangchuck; the open grounds in its front yard is a venue for the annual Dochula Druk Wangyel Festival.

Image of Punakha Dzong from Bazam Bridge — Punakha Dzong looks majestic in summer, surrounded by full-bloomed Jacaranda trees. Punakha Dzong is one of the most picturesque fortresses in Bhutan. It is the second oldest and second-largest dzong of Bhutan, located at two rivers – Pho Chu and Mo Chu. After the confluence of these two rivers, the main river is Puna Tsang chu or Sankosh River, which eventually meets the Brahmaputra river in India. **Punakha Dzong** is the administrative centre of the Punakha District in Bhutan. It was constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in 1637–38.

Image of old iron bridge to Tachog Lhakhang — Old iron bridge to Tachog Monastery, Thimphu-Paro Highway. This was built in 1420 by Thangtong Gyalpo, an ingenious architect from Tibet who built the Chaksam Bridge in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, across the Yarlung River.

A landscape of rural Bhutan — Countryside of Bhutan, near Paro

Image of a street in Thimphu — Tourist in Street of Thimphu. Buddha Dordenma can be seen in background.

Bhutan at a Glance

Capital: Thimphu
Population: 750,000
Area: 38.364 sq. km
Official Language: Dzongkha
Official Religion: Buddhism
Currency: Ngultrum
National Animal: Takin
National Bird: Raven
National Sport: Archery
National Butterfly: Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail
National Flower: Blue Poppy
National Tree: Cypress (locally known as Tsenden)
National Dress: Gho (Men) and Kira (Women)
National Day: December 17
National Dish: Ema Datshi

Image of a prayer wall outside Pangri Zampa Monastery — Outside Pangri Zampa Monastery, Thimphu

Image of Clock Tower Square, Thimphu — Clock Tower, Thimphu
The clock tower square is located below *Norzin Lam* in the heart of the capital. The Clock-tower has a typical Bhutanese architectural outlook with rich Bhutanese carvings and paintings. It is surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafes, an ideal place to do some quick shopping and dine out plans.

Image of Ta Dzong which now the National Museum of Bhutan. — Ta Dzong, Paro
It is a seven storied watchtower built in 1649 by La Ngonpa Tenzin Drugdra, the first Paro Penlop *(Parob)* or Governor of Paro, who later became the second *Druk-Desi*. This was built to keep a watch over the valley and defend Rinpung Dzong from invaders.
The National Museum of Bhutan was opened here in 1965, initially hosting only a few personal guests of the Royal Family, dignitaries and government officials. In 1968, the National Museum of Bhutan was opened to the public.

A portrait of two young monks — Young Monks, Khuruthang, Punakha

Image of Thimphu Valley from a hill — Thimphu Valley

Image of young monks playing football — Monks playing Football, Paro

Image of Punakha Dzong at night — View of Punakha Dzong at night, Punakha
The dzong measures 180 metres (590 ft) in length with a width of 72 metres (236 ft) and has three *docheys* (courtyards). From the outside, it looks massive with inward sloping walls painted in white with few or no windows in lower sections of the wall and a broad red ochre band at the top. The roof is constructed with wood and bamboo, highly decorated at the edges, and constructed traditionally without the use of nails. Moreover, they are open at the edges to provide a ventilated storage area.

Image of a Bhutanese man walking past a closed shop in Thimphu, wearing traditional dress Gho — Man in traditional attire (Gho) passing by a closed shop, Thimphu
Gho is the national dress for men in Bhutan. It is a knee-length, robe-like cloth wrapped around their bodies and nicely secured with a belt. The national dress for women in Bhutan is called Kira.

Image of courtyard of White Temple in Haa, Bhutan — Courtyard of White Temple where Tshechu is celebrated every year, Haa
Tsechu is a Buddhist festival held in honour of Guru Rinpoche. This is a 5-day festival that begins on the 10th day of a month of the Tibetan calendar. In each Dzongkh or district, one Tsechu is held every year. The main attraction of Tsechu is Cham Dances which are costumed, masked dances based on incidents from the life of Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche.

Image of soldiers marching towards Flag Down Ceremony inside Tashichho Dzong — Soldiers marching for Flag Down Ceremony outside Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu

My Photography Gear

Camera: Canon 800D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
External Flash: Canon Speedlite 430 EX III-RT
Tripod: Vanguard MAK S

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Book your trip: Resources

Flight
Use Skyscanner or Google Flights to book your flight.
Accommodation
Tripadvisor and Agoda are perfect for booking your hotel. If you want to stay in a hostel, then Hostelworld would greatly help you find one at your convenience.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads is perfect for travel insurance. You can get comprehensive protection from them. Let them take care of unexpected situations while you concentrate on your trip.
Package Tour and Activities
You can book a package tour from G-Adventures and Viator. They are a reputed company arranging small group tours and customising them per your requirements. You can also use Get Your Guide to book your private transport, city tours, heritage walks, food walks and other experiences like a cooking lesson or a Yoga session.

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