Bhutan

Discover Bhutan

Fun Foods

Ema datshi, Momos, Kewa datshi, Red rice

Bhutan is the only country in the world that's carbon negative. That means its forests suck up more pollution than the country creates. It's also never been colonized, which almost no country can claim.

The Bhutanese call their home Druk Yul, the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon. In 1616, a Tibetan leader named Ngawang Namgyal unified all the warring valleys into one country. He built massive fortress-monasteries called dzongs that still stand today.

This unification came with a price. For centuries, Bhutan stayed hidden from the world. They didn't want to end up like their neighbors who got taken over by bigger countries.

That isolation strategy worked. In 1907, the Wangchuck dynasty became Bhutan's royal family, and their kings are called Dragon Kings.

The fourth Dragon King made a decision that changed everything. He created something called Gross National Happiness in 1972. Instead of measuring success by money, Bhutan measures it by how happy people are.

This happiness focus didn't mean staying hidden forever. Bhutan stayed isolated until the 1970s when they finally let tourists visit. They didn't even have TV until 1999, making them one of the last countries to get it.

The Dragon Kings kept modernizing. In 2008, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy where people vote for their leaders.

Now that you know the history, let's talk about the amazing places you can visit. Want to hike to a monastery built on a cliff? Tiger's Nest sits at 10,000 feet and looks like it's about to fall off the mountain. The climb takes a few hours through pine forests, but the view is worth every step.

After that workout, visit the Motithang Takin Preserve to see Bhutan's national animal. The takin looks like someone mashed a goat and a cow together. At Dochula Pass, count the 108 white stupas lined up against the Himalayas.

Those stupas are just one example of how Buddhism shapes everything here. Monks in red robes walk the streets, prayer flags flutter everywhere, and colorful festivals feature masked dancers telling ancient stories.

And then there's the food. Bhutanese food revolves around chilies and cheese. Ema datshi, the national dish, is a spicy stew of green chilies melted with yak cheese. They eat chilies like vegetables, not spices.

Try red rice grown in the Paro Valley. It's nutty and goes with everything. Momos are dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables. And if you see hard yak cheese hanging like garlands at markets, that's chhurpi, a chewy snack that'll work your jaw muscles.