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Geography
The kingdom lies
east of Nepal and west of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It
is south of the Tibetan hinterland and north of the Indian
territories of Assam and West Bengal.
Located in the
heart of the high Himalayan mountain range, Bhutan is a land-locked
country with its area 38,394sq.km, which is surrounded by mountains in the north and west. The rugged
east, visited by few western travelers, borders the sparse and
largely unknown Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The high
Himalaya in the northern steppes separates the kingdom from Tibet.
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Altitude in the
south ranges from 1000 to 4500 feet. Altitudes in the more
populated central regions range from 4000 feet in the east around
Trashigang to a high of 17,000 feet over the highest pass. The
altitude at Thimphu, the capital, is 7700 feet.
Until roads were
built in 1960’s, it took travelers at least five days to make a
journey from the Indian border at Phuntsholing to Thimphu. A high
mountain range separates the lowlands of the south from the central
valleys. Before the Chinese closed the border with Tibet in 1959,
the Bhutanese used to trade across the lower passes in the north of
the country as they remained open during the cold winter months.
CLIMATE
Bhutan has four
distinct seasons. Each has its advantages and disadvantages for the
visitor. Notice should be taken of the predictable weather patterns
before making decisions when to visit. Remember that even
predictable weather can vary dramatically in different areas and in
24-hour periods. The southern plains close to the Indian border are
warmer and more tropical than higher central valleys.
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Spring is
arguably the most beautiful time of the year in the kingdom.
The fierce cold that characterizes the winter months tends
to subside towards the end of February (around Bhutanese New
Year, Losar). Rhododendron begins to bloom, first in
the warmer east. At the height of spring, the end of
March, the whole kingdom comes to life with the spectacular
flaming red, pink, and white of the rhododendron blossom.
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Rhododendron |
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The annual
monsoon
from the Bay of Bengal affects the south and central regions. The
north is inhabited in the summer months when nomads return to the
higher plains to tend to their yak herds. The end of monsoon, also
a popular time to visit, marks cobalt skies and warm weather.
The
autumn months
of September bring shorter days and cooler evenings. The days
remain lovely with crisp, clear skies. Views over the high
Himalayas are usually only possible from September to March.
Come the end of
November, the weather takes on its winter coat. The days remain
crisp and the nights turn cold. The southern areas, at lower
elevations, have a more temperate climate and considerably warmer
winters.
Clear skies in the
winter months bring with them cold weather, but it’s also the best
time of the year to view the snow-capped peaks of the high Himalayan
mountains.
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