47 Interesting Facts About Bhutan

Last updated on February 27th, 2022

37. If you are addicted to smoking, you may not want to visit Bhutan. It has banned the sale of cigarettes and tobacco because smoking is considered a sin. It is also believed that tobacco grew out of a demoness’ blood. Tobacco products, however, are sold at government-run duty-free shops.

38. Although the tobacco ban is in place, it does allow smokers to import tobacco products in controlled amounts, with a catch. Buyers must pay high taxes and duties. This encouraged the appearance of smuggled tobacco products from India in the black market.

39. During the pandemic, Bhutan decided to ease up on its tobacco control after a worker who handled goods imported from India was tested for Covid-19 and turned up positive. The lift on the ban is meant to regulate demand for smuggled tobacco products. The lift, according to the prime minister, is temporary.

40. Bhutan’s highest point is Gangkhar Puensum at 24,840 ft. It remains the highest unclimbed peak in the world.

41. One must drive slowly in Bhutan. Not only is there an absence of traffic lights but the roads in this mountainous region are quite steep. There are also large animals that roam freely and people tend to stop in the middle of the road to say hello to one another.

42. The Bhutanese national dish is the ema datshi. Ema (chilies) Datshi (cheese) is a dish made by cooking chilies and onions until they simmer, then adding melted cheese, preferably yak cheese.

43. In Bhutan, chilies are not considered condiments or seasoning. Instead, they are treated and served as vegetables.

Bhutan on map

44. Inheritance in Bhutan is passed on through the matrilineal line. This means that any property, assets, or belongings that the elders own will be passed on to the family’s eldest daughter and not the eldest son.

45. In Bhutan, people celebrate their birthdays on New Year. Every Bhutanese turns one year older every New Year’s day, which is convenient for people who forget or are illiterate. For the Bhutanese, the year of birth is far more important than the day or the month.

46. In Bhutan, the phallus is a symbol of good fortune and a sort of talisman that drives away bad spirits. They are also painted or drawn to increase the fertility of married couples. Phallic symbols are also used instead of scarecrows in rice fields. Phalluses may even be found as wood carvings placed under eaves and on top of doorways, or placed in granaries. They are also used in religious festivities.

47. Bhutan is one of the happiest countries in the world. It does not measure its economic growth in GDP but in GNH – Gross National Happiness. GNH has four pillars that quantify happiness. These are:

-healthy environment
-cultural values – preservation and promotion
-sustainable development
-good governance

Bhutan – quick facts and statistics