Discover the Hidden Kingdom: Top 11 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Bhutan

1. Tobacco Ban Takes a Drag

In a puff of irony, Bhutan kicked the habit, only to reluctantly take a drag again for the greater good: The country became the first to ban tobacco sales and smoking in public places in 2004, but temporarily lifted it in 2021 due to COVID-19 related smuggling concerns. The ban on tobacco production still stands, alongside restrictions on sales near schools, monasteries, hospitals, and heritage sites.
Source => blogs.bmj.com

2. Swiping Right on Happiness

In a world obsessed with GDP, Bhutan swiped right on happiness instead: This small, landlocked country created the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, measuring not just economic factors, but also elements like culture, psychological well-being, and overall harmony. This innovative approach caught the United Nations' eye, leading to a General Assembly resolution in 2011 promoting a "holistic approach to development" inspired by Bhutan's happiness-first ethos.
Source => ophi.org.uk

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=> Fun Facts about Nepal

3. Fashion Police in Full Force

If the hills were alive with the sound of music, Bhutan would be brimming with the sights of fashion police: Bhutanese citizens adhere to "Driglam Namzha," a strict dress code and behavior standard that not only dictates their attire (men in knee-length robes called ghos and women in vibrant blouse-dress combos called wonju and kira) but also influences their everyday lives, including traditional construction of sacred fortresses, also known as dzongs, all without a single plan, blueprint, or nail!
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4. Ungulate Frankenstein: The Takin

In a bizarre twist of bovine evolution, Bhutan's national animal seems to have been pieced together from a goat's leftovers and a cow's blueprints – an ungulate Frankenstein, if you will: The takin, a unique product of convergent evolution, symbolizes Bhutanese culture, roams the high altitudes of the kingdom and calls the 8.4-acre Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimphu its home, while their American cousins enjoy their time in Cumberland, Ohio, as part of a Species Survival Plan.
Source => atlasobscura.com

5. Better Late Than Never: TV & Internet

It's not always easy being a "late bloomer" – just ask Bhutan as they hit the snooze button on their TV remote for an entire decade! The land of the Thunder Dragon finally gave a thumbs-up to the small screen: Bhutan introduced television in 1999, having banned it since 1989 to preserve their national culture. The internet entered Bhutan cautiously in the same decade, while the government clicked the "mute" button on MTV and a wrestling sports channel to protect the youth from less-than-laudable influences.
Source => factsanddetails.com

6. Levitating Tiger's Nest Monastery

You know what they say about real estate, it's all about location, location... levitation? Perched high on a cliff like an enchanted residence straight out of Avatar: The Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan sits at an impressive 3,000 meters above sea level, and boasts a tiger-carved statue while hosting spiritually-supercharged monks who find their zen in the meditation-ready cave networks.
Source => odysseytraveller.com

7. Paying Happiness Forward

In the mystical kingdom of Bhutan, where happiness conquers all, you'll find that every step you take – or rather, every dollar you pay – is a contribution to the greater good: Bhutan charges a daily Sustainable Development Fee of $200 per person, increased from $65, to fund infrastructure upgrades, cultural preservation, and fair wages, while encouraging "high value, low volume" tourism. Discounts are available for families, children under five are exempt, and though tour guides aren't required anymore, they're still needed for trekkers and off-the-beaten-track explorers.
Source => cnbc.com

8. Archery & Sports Shenanigans

When Bhutan's Robin Hood wannabes aren't splitting trees in twain with toothpicks, they might just be bending it like Beckham, slam-dunking or spiking like pros: Although archery is the national sport of Bhutan, the country also takes pleasure in football, basketball, and volleyball, participating in international competitions, while archery remains a cultural celebration during public holidays and festivals, complete with players and dancers enjoying house-to-house feasts.
Source => texts.mandala.library.virginia.edu

9. Carbon-Negative Champions

In a world where most countries treat carbon dioxide like an unexpected guest who has overstayed their welcome, Bhutan is that mate who excitedly dons the chef hat, whisks out a hearty meal, and makes everyone feel right at home: Bhutan, remarkably, is the world's first and only carbon-negative country, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it emits, thanks to maintaining over 72% of its territory as forests which host 90 species of mammals and 770 species of birds, making it one of the world's biodiversity hotspots with 19,750.57 square kilometers of protected areas.
Source => thewildlifediaries.com

10. Pearly Whites and Healthcare

Ever wished for a pearly white smile that makes all those teeth-whitening toothpaste commercials pale in comparison? Bhutan might just be your new tooth fairy godmother: Private hospitals and diagnostic centers spice up the nation's healthcare by offering specialized services like dental and cosmetic procedures, considered non-essential in government hospitals, and even play a role in screening expats. Beware, though, as that sparkling smile might come at the cost of widening the gap between the rich and poor, and a chink in Bhutan's free healthcare armor.
Source => onlinelibrary.wiley.com

11. Happiness: Bhutan's Currency

In a world where money can't buy you happiness, Bhutan has cracked the code and made happiness its currency of choice: This charming little kingdom located in the eastern Himalayas prioritizes the well-being and happiness of its citizens above all else, embracing the unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept, which can be traced back to the reign of the fourth Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and continues to thrive under the current monarch, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, making Bhutan the only nation on Earth to officially put joy and harmony at the top of the national agenda.
Source => en.wikipedia.org