For a country that has long prioritised a balanced lifestyle and good governance over economic gain, Bhutan is doing something it has never done before: embrace more independent, cost-conscious travellers in an urgent bid to revive its faltering economy.

Sorry for the false start. This is my first proper TR, so I needed some time to get my head around how to post the images properly as it's not as straight-forward as I thought. Image: *Background* This trip report is a tiny snapshot of an...

An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide in India and the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Bhutan

Thanks to @Rock_Avalanches and @Planet, the location of the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Lhuentse, Bhutan has now been identified.

Bhutani Group acquired Logix City Center for nearly Rs 1,000 crore. The deal includes 1.2 million sq ft of retail, office and hospitality space. Bhutani Group also secured land with potential for a 600,000 sq ft residential project. The company recently won a bid to develop Film City near Noida's upcoming airport.

Bhutan chuẩn bị xây dựng một "thành phố chánh niệm" và đã bắt đầu gây quỹ để khởi động dự án đầy tham vọng này.

China’s high-stakes incursion in the heights of Bhutan The World Today mhiggins.drupal 28 September 2022

Why is Beijing establishing settlements over the Bhutanese border? To undermine India’s strategic security, say John Pollock and Damien Symon.

A confrontation is fomenting on the roof of the world in a country that rarely warrants international attention.

In the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan, China is building villages in isolated, mountainous regions, upping the pressure on the capital Thimphu to yield contested areas to Beijing. In doing so, China risks a collision with South Asia’s largest state and Bhutan’s principal security guarantor, India.

Sitting on top of fragile geopolitical fault lines in the Himalayas, China’s Central Military Commission has seemingly authorized a series of incursions into the Bhutanese regions of Doklam, Jakarlung, and Pasamlung. Beijing has also announced fresh claims in the east towards Sakteng. Taken together, these amount to 12 per cent of Bhutan’s total territory according to Nathan Ruser, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

India is wary of Beijing’s increased assertiveness in the Himalayas following a large-scale incursion by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into Ladakh two years ago when dozens of Indian and Chinese soldiers were killed in a stand-off.

The appearance of Chinese roads, villages and a host of other infrastructure projects within largely uninhabited areas of Bhutan close to Tibet, have, for sections of India’s national security establishment, confirmed their worst fears – Beijing is altering the status quo across the Himalayas in a bid to undermine India’s strategic security through territorial alterations.

As a country of only 780,000 people, Bhutan is greatly influenced by New Delhi when it comes to its foreign affairs. In exchange, India guarantees the defence of the kingdom and trains the Royal Bhutanese Army. The appearance of Chinese villages on its territory risks Bhutan becoming a victim of the wider regional tensions.

The trauma of China-Bhutan border relations

Bhutan is no stranger to the territorial aspirations of its northern neighbour. Thousands of refugees fled into the country after China annexed Tibet, damaging longstanding cultural and religious links between the Tibetan and Bhutanese people – a trauma still being felt today.

Now, Beijing is laying claim to three areas within Bhutan, including Doklam in the west. This plateau is close to the Siliguri Corridor which connects to the ‘Seven Sister’ states in northeast India. Indeed, such is India’s concern over any Chinese presence near Doklam that in 2017 local Indian commanders sent troops into Bhutan to prevent PLA engineers building a road near the Doka La pass, resulting in a 72-day stand-off on Bhutanese soil between India and China, an experience Thimphu is unwilling to repeat.

Once again, China is looking to force the border issue unilaterally, altering the status quo and building villages and outposts on Bhutanese soil. On the available evidence, it has been doing so for at least three years.

The presence of Chinese villages in uninhabited areas of Bhutan serves a strategic purpose. They appear to be intended to pressure Bhutan into accepting an earlier version of a border deal that concedes Doklam to the Chinese.

Bhutan’s increasing concern is that China now views the Sino-Bhutanese border dispute as a way of unravelling India’s strategic position by stealth. Here we see a growing pattern of behaviour across the Himalayas. China is testing the boundaries in isolated and contested areas of India to attain local advantages that ensure New Delhi’s gaze remains fixed on the Himalayas.

The costly choice facing Bhutan

Bhutan for its part has very deliberately opted to remain silent, despite clear violations of its border deal with Beijing. Thimphu has made no public comment on any of the Chinese incursions.

The choice now facing Bhutan is a costly one. To concede Doklam would devastate relations with India, its closest partner. But to ignore China’s ambitions would be to risk further violations of its sovereign territory.

Bhutan may yet agree in principle to a land swap but then delay its implementation in the hope China limits any further advances. Thus Bhutan, India and China stand at a crossroads, with an impending confrontation that has not yet arrived and one that through Thimphu’s delicate diplomacy, Bhutan hopes never does.

China’s incursions into Bhutan

1. Pangda

The most high-profile incursion is in the disputed areas in Doklam. Running adjacent to the previous Doka La stand-off site, a series of Chinese projects are visible, following the Amo Chu River that runs from the Chumbi Valley in Tibet into Bhutan.

The most well-known of these xiaokang – meaning peaceful and prosperous – border projects is Pangda, a village of 124 people that sits roughly two kilometres within Bhutan from the border. First spotted by open-source intelligence analysts in October-November 2020, Chinese state media says that 27 households were moved from the Shangdui village to Pangda in September of that year and that the village is located in Yadong County, Tibet. Pangda, however, lies on territory internationally recognized as belonging to Bhutan.

Since Pangda was first identified, two more villages and an additional excavation site have been noted through satellite photographs taken in March this year, steadily following the river further into Bhutanese territory. In recent reporting by journalist Vishnu Som, a connecting road is also visible that runs 9km into Bhutan.

Given the geopolitical sensitivities of the area vis-a-vis India, speculation points to Chinese attempts to increase pressure on the Jampheri ridge overlooking the 2017 stand-off site, which according to journalist Tenzing Lamsang, is currently occupied by a small Royal Bhutanese Army detachment. As ever in the Himalayas, small tactical alterations have strategic implications. Chinese control of the Jampheri ridge would command views towards Sikkim, increase the scope of China’s surveillance operations near the border and place India’s Eastern Theatre Command at a terrain disadvantage were it to intervene as it did at Doka La.

2. Dramana and Shakhatoe

Further north of Doklam, at Dramana and Shakhatoe, more villages have been identified, with recent photographs taken in November 2021 showing a collection of structures nestled between snow-capped mountains. Varying in size, the largest village identified by journalist Devjyot Ghoshal comprises more than 84 buildings with construction having been started in December 2020 and seemingly completed by December 2021.

Little is known about the nature of these villages or their occupants other than their size and location. However, the Chinese PLA has patrolled these areas aggressively, warning away Bhutanese herders and challenging counter patrols by the Royal Bhutanese Army.

A permanent PLA presence in the area would be a significant change to the status quo. Informed speculation suggests that these may house either civilian contractors brought in from Tibet to oversee construction projects in the area, Tibetan or Chinese citizens brought across the border, or they could even be barracks for the PLA to help facilitate increased patrols in these contested areas.

3. Menchuma Valley

Amid the sustained activity in the west of Bhutan, we are seeing similar levels of activity mirrored in the northern contested areas in Jakarlung, Pasumlung and the Menchuma Valley, a well-known entry point into Tibet for Bhutanese pilgrims.

In May 2021, a team of researchers led by Robert Barnett from the London School of Oriental and African Studies discovered three additional villages in these contested areas, alongside a series of infrastructure projects, sitting between 3km and 5km south of the Chinese border in Bhutan. Barnett identified what appears to be police and military posts near these villages, as well as a communications tower.

While the building efforts at Doklam are seen as having a geopolitical intent towards India, these villages and their locations are seemingly aimed to maximize China’s leverage over Bhutan. They are considered sacred in Tibetan Buddhist teachings as the birthplace of ancient Himalayan cultural heroes, with strong links to the Bhutanese royal family. Today they are the home to holy sites and temples, such as the Singye Dzong.

For China to intrude on this area, and in some cases even deny entry to parts of it, is suppression of Bhutanese history, culture and traditions. By design or by default, Beijing is managing Tibetan religion and culture beyond the borders of the Tibetan Administrative Region.

ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for Bhutan for 2024-2028 aims to enable inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and job-creating growth.

The Asian Development Bank is ramping up investment in technical and vocational education and training in Bhutan, which is helping to train thousands

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company, today announced the opening of Yarkay, Thimphu - IHCL SeleQtions in Bhutan. Nestled amidst the serene Himalayas, the hotel offers a harmonious blend of Bhutanese heritage and modern comforts. The 83-key Yarkay, Thimphu - IHCL SeleQtions is a haven of tranquillity in the heart of the capital city. Inspired by Bhutan’s beloved folktale of the Four Friends, the hotel’s interiors are a celebration of Bhutanese culture and values. Vibrant colour schemes exude the warmth and sincerity of its locale reflecting the blend of tradition and modernity, with monastery inspired Dzongs, cornices, and traditional style wooden panels. Guests can indulge in a culinary journey at the all-day dining restaurant or explore the authentic Bhutanese flavours at Zachum which serves traditional dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. The Sky Garden Restaurant provides a panoramic view of the city. Yarkay, Thimphu- IHCL SeleQtions ...

Bhutan is a beautiful country in southern region of Asian continent at the eastern end of majestic Himalayas. The country is gifted with abundant beauty of nature. It is known for their scenic natural beauty and tranquility around the...

Bhutan is a delightful nation in southern district of Asian mainland at the eastern end of grand Himalayas. The nation is talented with plenteous delightfulness of nature. It is known for their grand common delightfulness and serenity...

On September 23, Bhutan reopened its doors to the world with a fresh approach to sustainable tourism. The Himalayan kingdom has also added new activities and launched the Trans Bhutan Trail

Traders are allowed to export this quantity till March 31

The third edition of community-driven, zero-waste Kholey Dai Harvest and Music Festival in Kalimpong’s Parengtar village puts the spotlight on the region’s Rai people and their love for paddy fields, music and dance

Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay spoke of ‘deep’ economic challenges, the potential of the new carbon-negative smart city project, and ruled out re-joining the BBIN vehicle agreement

Bhutan is a beautiful country in southern region of Asian continent at the eastern end of majestic Himalayas. The country is gifted with abundant beauty of nature. It is known for their scenic natural beauty and tranquility around the...

Bhutan is a delightful nation in southern district of Asian mainland at the eastern end of grand Himalayas. The nation is talented with plenteous delightfulness of nature. It is known for their grand common delightfulness and serenity...

Photojournalist Emmanuel Rondeau spent a month trying to photograph endangered tigers in Bhutan for the World Wildlife Fund.

The Amateur Traveler talks to Jose from Caracas Venezuela about a recent trip to Bhutan. Learn about this remote country in the himalayas. Jose, a friend, a tour guide and a drive explored a small portion of the beautiful country on a 5 day trip. They hiked to Buddhist monasteries, watched the national sport (archery) and even saw the youngest king in the world. The flight in may be harrowing but the country itself is peaceful.

Hear about travel to Bhutan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Beth Whitman from WanderlustAndLipstick.com about this country that she has fallen in love with.

Somali and Bhutanese refugees are two of the largest groups recently resettled in the United States and Canada. This report examines factors that might promote or undermine the mental health and overall well-being of children of these refugees, with regard to factors such as past exposure to trauma, parental mental health, educational attainment, social support, and discrimination.

Bhutan is using an innovative financing system to ensure its citizens have access to quality affordable health care.

ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and Bhutan Finance Minister and ADB Governor Namgay Tshering today discussed ADB’s support to the country in its fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

ADB today approved a $20 million loan to support Bhutan’s efforts to stimulate the economy, protect public health, and mitigate the effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on its people.

ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and Bhutan Finance Minister and ADB Governor Namgay Tshering today discussed ADB’s support to the country in its fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A major focus of the Phuentsholing Township Development Project is to provide a safer space in which the town can grow by helping develop a new urban center with raised ground levels in an area sheltered by the embankments.

The Health Sector Development Program, supported by the ADF facility and additional ADF grant funding for a total of $20 million, is improving primary health care delivery and information systems in Bhutan.

The happy country that set a Guinness record for planting 49,672 trees in just one hour welcomes the birth of a new prince by more than doubling that planting.

Bhutan scored 4.10 points out of 7 on the 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum. Competitiveness Index in Bhutan averaged 3.86 Points from 2014 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 4.10 Points in 2018 and a record low of 3.73 Points in 2014. The most recent 2016-2017 edition of Global Competitiveness Report assesses 138 economies. The report is made up of over 110 variables, of which two thirds come from the Executive Opinion Survey representing the sample of business leaders, and one third comes from publicly available sources such as the United Nations. The variables are organized into twelve pillars with the most important including: institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic framework, health and primary education and higher education and training. The GCI score varies between 1 and 7 scale, higher average score means higher degree of competitiveness. This page provides the latest reported value for - Bhutan Competitiveness Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Internet Speed in Bhutan increased to 3426.37 KBps in the first quarter of 2017 from 3407.37 KBps in the fourth quarter of 2016. Internet Speed in Bhutan averaged 1210.53 KBps from 2007 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 3426.37 KBps in the first quarter of 2017 and a record low of 99.26 KBps in the fourth quarter of 2007. This page includes a chart with historical data for BhutanInternet Speed.

IP Addresses in Bhutan increased to 3582 IP in the first quarter of 2017 from 3365 IP in the fourth quarter of 2016. IP Addresses in Bhutan averaged 3634.33 IP from 2007 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 5147 IP in the second quarter of 2011 and a record low of 1363 IP in the third quarter of 2007. This page includes a chart with historical data for BhutanIP Addresses.

Temperature in Bhutan decreased to 18.37 celsius in August from 18.97 celsius in July of 2013. Temperature in Bhutan averaged 11.81 celsius from 1816 until 2013, reaching an all time high of 19.31 celsius in July of 2009 and a record low of 0.98 celsius in January of 1819. This page includes a chart with historical data for Bhutan Temperature.

Bhutan recorded a Current Account deficit of 18.20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Current Account to GDP in Bhutan averaged -17.38 percent from 2001 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 15.80 percent in 2007 and a record low of -33.10 percent in 2016. The Current account balance as a percent of GDP provides an indication on the level of international competitiveness of a country. Usually, countries recording a strong current account surplus have an economy heavily dependent on exports revenues, with high savings ratings but weak domestic demand. On the other hand, countries recording a current account deficit have strong imports, a low saving rates and high personal consumption rates as a percentage of disposable incomes. This page provides - Bhutan Current Account to GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bhutan recorded a government budget deficit of 1846.80 BTN Million in 2018. Government Budget Value in Bhutan averaged -872.32 BTN Million from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 4296.30 BTN Million in 2014 and a record low of -5344.90 BTN Million in 2017. This page provides - Bhutan Government Budget Value- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bhutan recorded a Government Budget deficit equal to 1.10 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Government Budget in Bhutan averaged -3.18 percent of GDP from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 4.10 percent of GDP in 2014 and a record low of -12.80 percent of GDP in 2002. Government Budget is an itemized accounting of the payments received by government (taxes and other fees) and the payments made by government (purchases and transfer payments). A budget deficit occurs when an government spends more money than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit is a budget surplus. This page provides - Bhutan Government Budget - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bhutan recorded a Current Account deficit of 31306.95 BTN Million in 2018. Current Account in Bhutan averaged -10260.56 BTN Million from 1991 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3707.50 BTN Million in 2007 and a record low of -41436.09 BTN Million in 2016. Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid). This page provides - Bhutan Current Account - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

External Debt in Bhutan increased to 2642.10 USD Million in 2018 from 2505.40 USD Million in 2017. External Debt in Bhutan averaged 1300.04 USD Million from 2003 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 2642.10 USD Million in 2018 and a record low of 405.50 USD Million in 2003. This page provides - Bhutan External Debt- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bhutan recorded a government debt equivalent to 110.10 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2018. Government Debt to GDP in Bhutan averaged 76.59 percent from 1996 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 116.30 percent in 2016 and a record low of 36.90 percent in 1998. Generally, Government debt as a percent of GDP is used by investors to measure a country ability to make future payments on its debt, thus affecting the country borrowing costs and government bond yields. This page provides - Bhutan Government Debt To GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Government Revenues in Bhutan increased to 54666.70 BTN Million in 2018 from 42673.10 BTN Million in 2017. Government Revenues in Bhutan averaged 26296.84 BTN Million from 2002 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 54666.70 BTN Million in 2018 and a record low of 7054.30 BTN Million in 2003. This page provides - Bhutan Government Revenues- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Private Sector Credit in Bhutan increased to 15.70 BTN Million in 2018 from 15.40 BTN Million in 2017. Private Sector Credit in Bhutan averaged 24.33 BTN Million from 2004 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 40.70 BTN Million in 2010 and a record low of 6.40 BTN Million in 2014. This page provides - Bhutan Private Sector Credit- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Bhutan was last recorded at 3172.80 US dollars in 2018. The GDP per Capita in Bhutan is equivalent to 25 percent of the world's average. GDP per capita in Bhutan averaged 1419.84 USD from 1980 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3172.80 USD in 2018 and a record low of 405.90 USD in 1980. This page provides - Bhutan GDP per capita - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Bhutan was last recorded at 9347.80 US dollars in 2018, when adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP). The GDP per Capita, in Bhutan, when adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity is equivalent to 53 percent of the world's average. GDP per capita PPP in Bhutan averaged 5069.14 USD from 1990 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 9347.80 USD in 2018 and a record low of 2327.20 USD in 1991. The GDP per capita PPP is obtained by dividing the country’s gross domestic product, adjusted by purchasing power parity, by the total population. This page provides - Bhutan GDP per capita PPP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Deposit Interest Rate in Bhutan decreased to 2 percent in 2018 from 2.80 percent in 2017. Deposit Interest Rate in Bhutan averaged 5.72 percent from 1982 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 8.25 percent in 1996 and a record low of 2 percent in 2008. The Deposit Interest Rate is the average rate paid by commercial banks to individuals or corporations on deposits. This page includes a chart with historical data for Deposit Interest Rate in Bhutan.

GDP From Agriculture in Bhutan increased to 8059.80 BTN Million in 2018 from 7795.20 BTN Million in 2017. GDP From Agriculture in Bhutan averaged 6825.30 BTN Million from 2006 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 8059.80 BTN Million in 2018 and a record low of 6043.40 BTN Million in 2006. This page provides - Bhutan Gdp From Agriculture- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.