Facts for Travellers

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.

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.

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.

Rhododendron

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.

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.