I’m not going to lie, I had no idea, nor was I prepared, for the about of Bhutan fun facts that I learned on my eight day tour there!
Like most people, when I became interested in visiting Bhutan, it was primarily to see the famous Tiger’s Nest temple. But what I learned and experienced was so much more than that!
Here’s some Bhutan fun facts! Leave a comment if you know any more!
Below is my video rounding up all of the facts I wrote!
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Bhutan is Small Country in the Himalayas
Bhutan is landlocked by India, Nepal and China (formerly Tibet). The Himalayas (AKA Himalayan mountain range) separate the border of Nepal and (now) China.
It is a small country, with only around 700,000 people, yet very diverse nature and cultural aspects!
Check out my blog post with the highlights of Bhutan here!
Buddhism is a Major Influence There, But It Wasn’t Always
Before Buddhism was brought to Bhutan, the country was in an extremely long civil war. Now they are one of the mos peaceful countries in the world. Buddhism is a major influence on the culture and people in Bhutan, and you will see it everywhere you look!
From people praying at all times of the day, to endless temples and stupas! Be sure to have your guide explain the history of Buddhism to you in one of the temples where it is depicted on wall paintings!
They Measure Gross National Happiness Over GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
You read that correctly! Bhutan is the only country that doesn’t measure GDP, and instead, it measures Gross National Happiness! That being said, Bhutan is said to be one of the happiest countries in the world!
Only Country to Purposely Not Have Traffic Lights
Here’s one of my fave fun facts about Bhutan; they purposely do not have any traffic lights in the entire country! Most intersections are round-abouts, and there’s a few that even have an old-fashioned traffic guard who signals when to stop and go!
Chilis and Chili Powder are in Every Dish
This wasn’t a great revelation for me since I tear up at the mere taste of spiciness, but it was extremely interesting to witness! From day one my guides told me that every single dish, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, usually has some form of chili in it!
The most popular traditional dish is sliced chilis cooked in Bhutanese cheese sauce!
People Still Wear the Traditional Clothing
You’ll see most people in Bhutan wearing what looks like the same thing; a maroon-hued stitched cloth that looks similar to a toga, but is called a “gho” for men. And a similar sarong-like skirt, but with a satin or silk blazer-looking top all called a “kira”.
The kira can be casual for every day wear, but there are some extremely beautiful (and expensive) hand embroidered ones that are worn at spiritual sites and for festivals, and special occasions.
Welcome Drinks Are Either Wheat Wine or Butter Tea
Now this is something I was not expecting at all. My first beverage in Bhutan, was “butter tea”, and as the name implies…it is tea mixed with melted BUTTER. As in, you are drinking a cup of butter. I honestly couldn’t do it at first. But then someone explained that you can put these rice crispy things in it, and it makes it more like a soup…
Anyway, another welcome drink that took a sec to open up to, is wheat wine. It’s clear, and kind of tastes like soju or sake, and it’s served when you enter someone’s house. Even if it’s in the morning.
That being said, I tried it at nine in the morning.
They Make Local Wines in Bhutan!
After that wheat wine, I had little confidence about regular wine, but to my extreme delight, I soon found out that there are a few local Bhutanese wines!
I tried two reds called “Takin” (the national animal), and also Raven (the national bird), and while I don’t normally drink red, I actually really liked them. The local white is a peach white, which is a bit sweet, but kind of grows on you.
Drinking is Popular
Despite being a very religious country, drinking alcohol is actually very popular in Bhutan! As I mentioned, they have some wines, but people mostly prefer beer or whiskey!
Tiger’s Nest Temple Takes 4 Hours to Hike
That’s right, the most famous thing to see in Bhutan, the Tiger’s Nest Temple, requires an intense 4 hour hike roundtrip. It also gets hot and crowded!
Check out my Tiger’s Nest Temple Tips to make sure you go at the right time and are prepared!
People Do Not Have Family Last Names
The majority of Bhutanese people have their own unique first and last names, but they don’t share their last names with anyone else in their family. Which makes it really hard to tell who your relatives are!
The Penis is Prayed to (for Protection and Fertility)
More properly referred to as the “phallus”, this male genitalia is worshiped in Bhutan as a sign of protection and fertility. This whole concept came from someone they call “the Devine Madman”, so you can probably guess how this was all started.
If you’d like more info, check out my post below:
Photos, Videos, and Shoes are Not Allowed in Any Temple
If you’re hoping to go to Bhutan to document the ornate paintings, sculptures, and architecture inside the many temples, think again! Absolutely no photos or videos are allowed inside of them! They do this because they believe it’s bad luck to photograph the gods feet at the wrong angle, and they don’t trust tourists to do it properly.
Also, FYI, drones are strictly prohibited in Bhutan.
It Is Expensive to Visit on Purpose to Keep “Quality Tourists”
Bhutan believes in “high quality, low impact”-tourism. Meaning they purposely make it very expensive to go there in order to ensure that both the tourists who come are willing to dish out a lot o see it, and that in return, they get a great experience, without destroying the nature and culture.
As of right now in 2024, they still have a $200 per day tourist fee just to be there, and that does not go towards the tour or anything else.
There are Bengal Tigers in Bhutan
Originally from Northern India, there are some Bengal Tigers that migrated into Bhutan when their habitats started getting destroyed. Unfortunately, many farmers killed them because they were eating their livestock though. So now there are only a small number of them.
But! They are now protected by the government! And if they eat someone’s cow, the farmer can actually get reimbursed for it.
The National Animal is a Strange Looking “Takin”
When I saw photos of the Takin, I thought it was a made up, mythical creature. In fact, it even has a story that the Divine Madman created it using the bones of a horse and a goat!
Then I went to the Royal Takin Reserve, and saw them in real life. They still look mythical, and pretty scary, yet for some reason, they also seemed friendly.
Bhutan Has the Highest “Unclimbed Mountain” in the World
The Bhutanese people believe that many of their mountains are sacred and holy sites. Therefore, they banned climbing to the top of many of them.
Because of this, Bhutan now has the highest “unclimbed mountain” in the world, called Gangkhar Puensum. It has an elevation of 7,570 meters, or 24,836 feet.
It is Known For Hiking, Especially the “Snowman Trek”
One of the top things to do in Bhutan, is actually hiking and trekking! As I’ve mentioned, it is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range, plus most of the temples and monasteries are at the tops of mountains.
The most famous trek to do in Bhutan is the “Snowman Trek”, which reaches across about half the country, and requires around 21 days.
There are a lot of Really Cute Stray Dogs, and Most are Sterilized
The stray dogs you see in Bhutan look like purebred dogs you’d buy in USA. They’re all really fluffy and cute, and especially friendly!
If you see some with the tip of its ear cut off, that doesn’t mean it was in a fight. It means it has been sterilized by the government; something they did a few years ago in an effort to reduce the amount of strays!
The Best Time to See Festivals is March-April and October-November
Festivals are a big part of Bhutanese tradition, and not only do most of the locals attend them, but this is also when most tourists go there as well!
Some happen in March-April (when it also gets very hot), and others are in the fall. Do an internet search or ask your tour company for a line up of them all, as the dates change each year.
At Festivals There Are “Entertainers”, and They Are HIGHLY Entertaining
At the cultural festivals, there are many music and dance performances. But there are also designated “entertainers”, and let me just tell you, they are highly entertaining! Well, they’re also kind of terrifying, just to warn you.
They typically wear scary masks, and their role at the festival is to mess with the guests, so keep an eye out for them!
Some People Go to Meditate for Three Years or More
There are monks, and monks-in-training, who study and meditate all their lives. Then there are the regular people, however sometimes even they will go to mediate for a minimum of three years!
During this time, they do not work, and they cannot see their families. Some choose to extend it for another three years as well.
Bhutan’s Main Export is Water Energy
I met a guy working with the UN who was in Bhutan to discuss their exports. It was he who informed me that their main export is water energy! There are many powerful rivers and waterfalls that come from the glaciers at the tops of the mountains, so that makes sense.
Many People in Bhutan Chew Betelnut
If you haven’t heard of Betelnut, than oh do I have some fun facts for you! I first saw people chewing it in Papua New Guinea…which was slightly terrifying because it turns your mouth red like blood, and you know how their history involves cannibalism..
Betelnut is a natural stimulant, that probably feels like you popped an Adderall, except it only lasts a few minutes. It’s an actual nut that you put in a leaf, and mix with lime, then put the whole thing in your mouth and chew it. It smells bad and looks gross, so try it at your own risk!
Speaking of cannibalism though…
Bhutanese People Used to Practice Cannibalism
Before Buddhism arrived in Bhutan, cannibalism was actually a thing. From what I gathered though, it wasn’t anything vicious, but more like you eat your loved ones who pass away naturally. Still gross, but, now you know!
There is Such a Thing as Getting “Dzonged Out”
Just like getting “templed out” from seeing too many temples, you will likely also get “dzonged out” from seeing so many dzongs. There’s one in every district, and they’re huge, so you spend a lot of time at them!
In The Past, Men Needed to Master Embroidery to Be Considered Educated
Nowadays, mostly women do the intricate embroidery that’s famous in Bhutan. But it used to be mostly the men! In fact, a man was not considered fully educated unless he could properly embroider traditional clothing and tapestries.
The Last King Married Four Sisters
I had to try hard not to show that this fun fact bothered me, but it’s true; the last king decided to marry four sisters. Sister wives IRL.
The current king however, is a one-woman-man, and they have a seriously beautiful family!
Betel Nut in Meghalaya (India) is very common too. People always have a box of betel nuts handy with them. Interestingly, there is an interesting legend behind the betel nut there, something about a rich and a poor friend.