Bhutan is a tiny kingdom wedged between China to the north and India to the south. Locals call Bhutan as “Druk –yul” meaning the land of the thunder dragon.
There are four different entrances into Bhutan:

Bhutan is derived from the Sanskrit word Bhu-uttam which means “High land”.

Geographical location of Bhutan

Geographically Bhutan is located between China to the north and India to the south. Its a small kingdom roughly the size of Switzerland.

Flying to Bhutan

You can fly to Bhutan from various internationals airports like Suvarnabhumi International Airport of Bangkok in Thailand, Indra Gandhi International Airport of Delhi in India, Dumdum International Airport of Kolkota in India, Gaya Bihar India, Bagdogra airport in West Bengal India and Tribhuvan International Airport in Katmandu Nepal.

Bhutan has only one Airport; Paro International Airport and one airline, DrukAir. Druk Air has two Airbus 319 operating daily flights from Bangkok and flights on alternate days from the other routes. For flight scedule click here

Travelling to Bhutan by road

One can drive overland through west Bengal, The two routes are Phuntsholing in West Bhutan and Samdrup jongkhar in East Bhutan. Phuntsholing is a popular route connecting several near by Indian and Nepalese airports. The distance from Phuntsholing to Thimphu (capital ) is 172km and it takes about 6 hours drive.

At present Bhutan has Twenty districts.

1. Chhukha
2. Dagana
3. Gasa
4. Gelephu
5. Haa
6. Jakar
7. Lhuntsi
8. Mongar
9. Paro
10. Pemagatshel
11. Punakha
12. Samdrupjongkhar
13. Samtse
14. Tashigang
15. Tashi yangtse
16. Thimphu
17. Tongsa
18. Tsirang
19. Wangdiphodrang
20. Zhemgang

The main peaks in Bhutan with their heights are as given  below:

RIVERS
Bhutan has numerous rivers and streams which flow from north to south. These rivers are never navigable but they transport logs in summer and generate hydroelectric power. The are the principal rivers of Bhutan:
The Am-mo-chhu river starts from high peaked Dangla inTibet and flows through Chhumbi valley and enters into western Bhutan. It enters the Brahmaputra throughPhuntshoing as Toorsa river.
Two rivers flow from Jumolhari through the valley of Paro, one is known as Tsang-chhu and the other as the Do-chhu. They join near Paro Dzong to form the combined river Pa-chhu which joins the Wang-chhu(Thimphu chhu) at chhunzom. The combined river of Pa-chhu and Wang-chhu joins Ha-chhu near Chapchha and flows into the Brahmaputra via Chhukha known as Raidak in the Indian plains. This is the longest riverin Bhutan and is 356km.long.
The Pho-chhu river starts from Mt.Rinchhen Dzyo near which joins the Mo-chhu below Punakha Dzong. The Mo-chhu rivers starts from Masang Gang nearYangla Gang Near Gyon in Gasa. The combined river is called Tsang-chhu which flows through Punakha valley and meets with Dang-chhu river near Wangiphordang Dzong. This combined river flows through Kalikhola and then through the Indian plains as the Sankosh before joining the Brahmaputra.
Mangde-chhu river starts from Gangkhar Pun Soom and flows through the valley of trongsa and Zhemgang which joins with Bumthang-chhu, kuru-chhu and Dangme-chhu. Bumthang-chhu is a combination of two rivers flowing from Mela Karchung and Bumthang Dar and flows through Bumthang Changkhar and is also known the valley of Kurtyo(lhuntsi). Dangme-chhu starts from the greater Himalayas and joins with the Nyamjang-chhu in the extreme eastern parts of the country. These three rivers meet near Gelephu and take the name of the Manas which flows into the Barhmaputra in the Indian plains.
RACE
The present population of Bhutan is 6,00,000. The average density of population is greater in the second zone which consist mainly of the valleys. The original inhabitants of Bhutan are the Monpas, a Mongoliods stock who lived in the dense forest of the southern Himalayas. This race is still found in the Trongsa,Zhemgang and Dagana Dzongkhags.
Milo is another race of Bhutanese who inhabited the western part of the country. Milo in Dzongkha means one who does not go back. Sometimes in the 19th century during the reign of King Relpachen(805-836) in Tibet,the Tibetan army invaded Bhutan. Some solider liked the country and decided to settle down in Bhutan. They were called Milo.
Chhoje-Dungjyu are the noble families who are the descendents of high Lamas and ruling families in Bhutan. The present Royal family also hails from such a clan.
Lhotsampas(southerners) are the inhabitants of southern Bhutan. They originally migrated from Nepal and settled down in Bhutan for good.
Since there was slavery in India in the olden days, some of the slaves were boughtby Bhutanese to work as their servants. They however known as jowoand Jaam for males and females respectively. However, the system of slavery was abolished by the third King of Bhutan.His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk(1952-1772). They were also given land an equal status in the country.
A tribal people known as Tabab-Damteb(Dongya) lives in the banks of the Am-mo-chhu river under Samtse Dzongkhag. The population is very meagre and they lead an isolation life. This tribe resembles to the Todas race of North Bengal,India. Their clothes and customs are quite differentfrom elsewhere in Bhutan. They live on the sale of a special betel leaf called todum which is very ppular in Bhutan.
Dialects/National language
The national language of Bhutan is Dzongkha.
Dzongkha was the language of western Bhutan
Prior to 1971, Dzongkha was a spoken dialect. It was only in the 7th century that Guru Rinpoche’s disciple Denma Tsemang introduced the Dzongkha script.
Since 1971,Dzongkha was not only recognised as the national language of Bhutan but also used as a written language with standardization of spelling and grammar. Two Bhutanese scholar viz. Lopen Nado and Lopen Pemala composed Dzongkha grammar. Now Dzongkha is being taught widely in the school in Bhutan and used in the government and private organisations.
Dress, Jewellery and culture
Bhutanese men wear a garment called a gho which resembles the Scottish Kilt. The women wear a long robe called a kira which is wrapped around the body covering it from neck to ankle. The monks wear red robes with a sleeveless top.
Men’s dress
The required dress for men is gho (gown), kerey (belt), a shirt, shorts for summer and long underwear for winter and traditional Bhutanese shoes (tsholham).
Women’s dress
 The required set of clothes for women is a kira, a gutsum (petticoat), a wangju (blouse), a tyoko (jacket), a kerey (belt) and a traditional Bhutanese shoes, known as zomilham.
Monk’s dress
 The required dress for monks is a tyotsi (a sleeveless coat), a shamtho, a meyo (under garment), a kerey (belt) a tsholham (shoes) and a long red robe (bura).
Jewellery
Bhutanese women usually wear heavy silver and gold necklaces with coral, turquise, and other precious stones. Rings and earrings decorated with pearl and turquise are also popular. Women also use koma (broaches) and dopchu (bracelets) made of silver and gold in traditional designs. Thingka was very famous in the olden days but it has now been replaced by koma. Both men and women carry silver containers covered with gold plate for betel-nut, leaf and lime known as chaka and timi respectively.
FOOD AND BERVAGE
Rice is the staple food. However, the diet also consists of wheat, barley, maize and potatoes. Yak meat, beef, pork, chicken and fish are also eaten. For vegetarians cheese and butter are used along with vegetables.
Ara and chhang brewed from rice, wheat and barley are favorite Bhutanese drinks .
BIRTH, MARRIAGE
Birth
Bhutan celebrates the birth of a child by performing a religious ceremony on the third day. The vital part of the worship consists of an astrologer writing a horoscope clearly indicating all the good and bad points forecast for his/her whole life with remedial measures. A head Lama is invited to perform Lhabsang-Thrusol (incense and water ceremony) and name the child based on auspicious signs. In accordance with Bhutanese tradition there is no surname. All relatives and friends gather on this occasion to offer a ceremonial scarf accompanied by the newly-born child.
Marriages
Rituals and prayers are performed by a lama during a wedding and its essential that the couple must take an oath to remain faithful to each other throughout their lives. Friends and family gather to witness the events and offer ceremonial scarves and presents.