Bhutan is officially known as the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is a sovereign state in the Eastern Himalayas landlocked by China to the north and India to the south, east and west. Thimphu is the capital and the largest city of Bhutan, while Phuntsholing is its main financial centre. The King of Bhutan is known as the 'Druk Gyalpo' which, in local language, means the 'Thunder Dragon King'. Bhutan once enjoyed strong cultural links with Tibet as it was located on the Silk Road from China to the Indian subcontinent.
Bhutan is mostly a country of high mountains with deep river valleys. Towards the south it merges into the river plains of India. As you go from the south to the north of the country you can see its landscape change from lush green subtropical plains to the snowy sub-alpine Himalayan mountains. The highest mountain peak of Bhutan is the Gangkhar Puensum, 24,840 ft, which is also one of the highest unclimbed mountains in the world. Just like its varying topography, Bhutan's climate also varies widely. Bhutan has five distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring, with heaviest monsoon rains occurring in western Bhutan. This allows Bhutan to support a diverse ecosystem. Along with its landscape and ecosystem, Bhutan is also popular for mountain adventure, trekking and hiking.
The bhutanese culture is mostly based on its ancient culture, undisturbed by outside influences. The people there primarily follow the buddhist religion while some follow the hindu religion.
