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Bhutan

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Bhutan. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Thimphu

Head of State

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Head of Government

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay

last updated:

29 November, 2024

Bhutan, a Himalayan nation of fewer than 800,000 people, is pitching its Gelephu Mindfulness City project as “a sanctuary for global businesses and professionals”. Photo: Getty Images

Nepal

Bhutan’s ‘mindfulness city’ angers displaced ethnic Nepalis

Bhutan’s plan for southern farmlands has sparked outrage among forced-out ethnic Nepalis, who say the megaproject would be on stolen land.

2 Dec 2024 - 8:02AM

Music

Ed Sheeran to make history with concert in Bhutan

29 Nov 2024 - 10:06PM

Investing

Bhutan aims to sell Southeast Asia on its 21-year ‘mindfulness city’ project

12 Nov 2024 - 9:39AM

Food and Drinks

What is Bhutan’s authentic food like? Tourists rarely taste it

The Bhutanese like lots of cheese and chillies in their food, such as in ema datshi, but many restaurants tone down flavours for tourists.

22 Sep 2024 - 6:27PMvideocam

A yak cheese dish at Phangu in Thimphu, Bhutan. Photo: Llewellyn Cheung

Asian cinema

Review | The Monk and the Gun, Bhutanese political satire, is a triumph

The Monk and the Gun is a witty Bhutanese political satire about the kingdom’s move towards democracy in the wake of the king’s announcement that he is abdicating.

21 Aug 2024 - 6:15PMvideocam

Bangladesh

Opinion | Can democracy in South Asia withstand US-China rivalry?

From rising authoritarianism to political instability, unrest throughout the region has intensified alongside shifting alliances.

10 Aug 2024 - 5:59AMvideocam

Climate change

Opinion | Urgent action needed to save Hindu Kush Himalaya, world’s ‘water tower’

Low snow levels and an alarming glacial melt rate amid an Asian heatwave underline the need for countries to collaborate in climate action.

30 Jun 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

The Hindu Kush Himalaya is one of the greatest mountain systems in the world, covering 4.2 million sq km across eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Photo: EPA-EFE / ICIMOD

Asia travel

Aman, Como, Six Senses and more – the best luxury resorts in Bhutan

How many other countries have five Aman resorts but no McDonald’s? We travel around Bhutan to find the best luxury accommodation in all the main tourist centres in the Himalayan kingdom.

5 May 2024 - 11:31AM

Nepal

Ethnic Nepali prisoners in Bhutan await justice after decades behind bars

At least dozens of political prisoners are still being held in Bhutan’s jails, according to human rights organisations.

19 Apr 2024 - 1:30PM

Asia travel

Music, dance, sport at 12,000ft: Bhutan’s Royal Highland Festival

Attended by the king and villagers from across the country, Bhutan’s high-altitude Royal Highland Festival involves dancing, horse racing, wrestling and other trials of strength.

16 Apr 2024 - 9:14AMvideocam

The yak dance is colourful and energetic. Photo: Bassem Nimah

China-Asean relations

Meetings with India could affect Bhutan’s border talks with China, analysts say

Reciprocal trips by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart, Tshering Tobgay, are said to strengthen ties but could disturb Thimphu’s border negotiations with Beijing.

29 Mar 2024 - 6:01PM

India

Is India’s billion-dollar aid to Bhutan aimed at curbing China’s influence?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made his recent visit to Bhutan a priority despite the possibility of violating pre-election rules.

28 Mar 2024 - 7:00PMvideocam

India

India-friendly Bhutan walks tightrope as it seeks to end border row with China

While Bhutan relies on India economically, Delhi also needs to ensure Thimpu remains an ally amid Beijing’s increasing presence and influence in the kingdom, analysts say.

19 Mar 2024 - 6:00PM

Tibet

Chinese village construction in disputed zone outpaces China-Bhutan border talks

At least three villages have been built in the mountainous region separating the two countries, with some doubling in size.

22 Feb 2024 - 3:49PM

Renewable energy

Bhutan eyes surge in national happiness with US$15 billion hydropower push

The kingdom, which uses a Gross National Happiness index, is looking to unlock value in its abundant lakes and rivers through partnerships with India.

25 Jan 2024 - 2:32PM

Tourists walk across a bridge over the Puna Tsang Chhu River. Bhutan’s GDP relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. Photo: AFP

Asia elections

Ex-Bhutan PM’s party wins election as economic strife hits ‘national happiness’

Tobgay’s People’s Democratic Party won nearly two-thirds of seats in parliament, local media reported, with the 58-year-old conservation advocate expected to become premier for the second time.

10 Jan 2024 - 1:42AMvideocam

India

India keeps wary eye on Bhutan polls amid kingdom’s warming ties with China

Bhutan, ‘one of the last barriers’ in China’s bid to exert influence in South Asia, will elect a new parliament next week.

6 Jan 2024 - 12:52PMvideocam

Climate change

Opinion | The climate crisis isn’t taking a break, but neither are we

Climate change now dominates discourse, more governments have net zero pledges, cleantech spending has surged, renewable energy is cheaper and EV technology is improving.

6 Jan 2024 - 8:18AMvideocam

Climate activist Greta Thunberg gestures while blocking the entrance to an oil facility in Malmo, Sweden, on July 24 last year. Photo: AP

India

Opinion | India’s anti-China electricity trade guidelines could backfire in South Asia

Efforts to freeze out Chinese investment in power projects in South Asia will do little to improve India’s economic or soft power in the region. Likewise, undermining the development of a liberal market for cross-border power trade in the region limits gains towards energy security.

20 Dec 2023 - 7:30PM

India

India fears Bhutan will cede land to China. Can a king’s visit calm nerves?

Bhutan-India ties have historically been strong, and New Delhi has wielded influence in trying to take care of Bhutan’s security interests.

9 Nov 2023 - 2:18AMvideocam

China-India relations

Why Bhutan’s tilt towards China may ‘significantly change’ regional dynamics

Negotiations on border dispute and diplomatic ties moved forward when Bhutan’s top diplomat visited Beijing. The small Himalayan kingdom is sandwiched between two Asian giants competing for influence.

29 Oct 2023 - 9:00AMvideocam

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji (left) meets Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

China-India relations

In ‘big test’ for India, China and Bhutan push for official ties and border fix

Chinese and Bhutanese officials wrap up new round of border talks and agree to work towards formal diplomatic relations, signalling thaw in ties that analysts say could be a setback for New Delhi’s security efforts in the Himalayas.

25 Oct 2023 - 10:00PMvideocam

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji (left) shakes hands with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Arts & Culture

Thousands attend Bhutan’s ‘masked dance’ festival

27 Sep 2023 - 9:07PM

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Boosting Bhutan: kingdom cuts daily tourist fee by half to lure more visitors

Bhutan is wary of the impact of mass tourism and bans mountain climbing to preserve its peaks, so the Sustainable Development Fee limits visitor numbers, but increasing it to US$200 a night has put too many people off.

26 Aug 2023 - 5:38PM

Sri Lanka

Asia has 14 of the world’s top 25 shortest countries – can you guess who’s No 1?

There’s around a 20cm difference between children in the tallest and shortest nations, studies have found. Genes are part of the reason, but environmental factors such as poor diet could be more important.

13 Jun 2023 - 12:32PM

A girl uses her hand to measure her height. Average heights in several nations have both risen and fallen over recent decades. Photo: Shutterstock

Nepal

Nepal cracks down on ‘refugee scam’ that could impact ties with China, India

Nepal’s ex-home minister, Balkrishna Khand was arrested for his role in a scam that duped young Nepalese out of money on the promise they would be sent to the US as refugees from Bhutan.

11 May 2023 - 6:00AMvideocam

Nepal’s police have widened their investigation into a human trafficking scam involving several former senior government officials and politicians. Photo: Shutterstock

India

Opinion | Is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation still relevant?

Paralysed by India-Pakistan enmity and with Afghanistan’s status in limbo, with members unwilling to recognise the Taliban government, SAARC is becoming moribund.

19 Apr 2023 - 3:30AMvideocam

India

As China and Bhutan wind down border feud, alarm bells ring in India

China’s talks with Bhutan prompted India to send its foreign secretary over for meetings with the kingdom’s leaders.

25 Jan 2023 - 6:29PMvideocam

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