Mountainous
Geography
The Kingdom of Bhutan of Druk Yul (the land of the Thunder Dragon) is a country nestled in the Eastern Himalayas. The high Himalayas to the north separate the Kingdom from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, while the rugged eastern region borders the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Sikkim. About the size of Switzerland with a population of only 7,00,000, it was declared one of the ten global hotspots for environmental conservation. A land of Dzongs (Fortified Monasteries), snow peaked mountains, and the last bastion of Mahayana Buddhism which influences every aspect of life here. Bhutan with its unique culture and the intriguing festivals offer breathtaking moments that will linger forever in a visitor’s lifetime.
Geography
Bhutan
Bhutan covers 39,000 square kilometers, stretching 150 km north to south and 300 km east to west. The country is divided into three regions: high Himalayas in the north, hills and valleys in the center, and foothills and plains in the south. Forests cover 72.5% of the land, while cultivated areas make up 7.8%. The altitude ranges from 100m in the south to 7,500m in the north. Bhutan's climate varies with its geography: hot and humid in the south, cool temperate in the center, and severe alpine in the north, with rainfall variations due to rain shadows.