The culture of Bhutan is deeply rooted in its unique blend of Buddhism, traditions, and the preservation of its natural environment. Bhutan has managed to retain its distinct cultural identity due to its isolated location in the Eastern Himalayas and its focus on preserving its cultural heritage.

Architecture

Bhutanese architecture is unique, striking and hints at the rich history of the nation. The stone walls of a village house or towering edifices of a dzong are not just beautiful to look at, they are true reflections of the country and its people. Bhutanese architecture is heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and is made without nails or iron bars. In fact, most dzongs were made without any written plans or designs.

Thanks to a royal decree passed in 1998, all Bhutanese buildings must follow some traditional rules during construction. Most traditional houses in the west feature rammed earth walls, wooden windows and slanted roofs. They are often decorated with religious symbols or even giant phalluses, a symbol of fertility. In hotter climates, houses are made from thatched bamboo. Travel across Bhutan to experience world-renowned architecture that is still very much alive today.

Dzong Architecture

These mighty fortresses were first constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel for both security and administrative purposes. The angled walls of the dzong are made of stones and dirt. They are white-washed for a uniform appearance. The entrance is one large and fortified door.  The utse or center tower is a feature in every dzong. It is usually surrounded by a large and open courtyard where religious festivals are held. You will notice a red band on top of the dzong. This symbolizes that this is a sacred and important building. Although many dzongs have been ravaged by fires over the years, re-construction efforts have restored them to their former glory.

Traditional Bhutanese Houses

Even with modern construction materials available, traditional Bhutanese houses in the western part of the country are made of rammed earth, mud and timber. These houses were usually two or three stories. Livestock would be housed in the lower floors, family and altar room on upper floors and drying spaces for chillies and crops in the attic. In the east, houses made of thick stone slabs are common. Traveling to the warm south, you will find thatched bamboo houses. Bhutanese people like to decorate interiors with religious paintings, wooden crafts and pictures of the royal family. 

Religious structures 

The temples, monasteries and stupas that dot the landscape of Bhutan are built in the traditional architectural style. Temples follow the same layout and style of dzongs, with white-washed walls and sloping roofs. Monasteries also resemble dzongs in terms of technical design and decorations of intricate religious murals and paintings. Chortens or stupas have a square base, topped with a dome. Like dzongs and lhakhangs, they are made of mud and stone and colored white.

Bridges

Due to the country’s mountainous topography, you will notice that many places in Bhutan are connected by wooden and metal bridges. Most of these are cantilevered which means that they have no vertical supports but are connected to the ground at the foundation. Constructed over swift moving rivers, these bridges are a lifeline used by pilgrims, tourists and animals. They are often adorned with many prayer flags that flutter in the wind and give the bridges an enchanting look.

Traditional art and music

Traditional Music and Art

Bhutan’s history and culture are intertwined with its art and music. Passed down and transformed from generation to generation, these creative works form a spell-binding mosaic of the nation’s spirituality, tradition and nationalism.Bhutanese music can be classified as folk, literary, lozey, religious, rigsar and B-pop. With an explosion of radio stations, Youtube videos and live performances, it’s safe to say that the Bhutanese music scene is only getting more popular both within the country and internationally.

Bhutanese art is influenced by Tibetan religious paintings and often depicts saints of Vajrayana Buddhism. This type of art adorns the walls of almost every dzong, chorten and monastery that you will visit. Modern art is also gaining popularity and can be appreciated with a visit to contemporary art galleries. There are also 13 famous arts and crafts of Bhutan known collectively as “Zorig Chosum.”Experiencing Bhutanese art and music during your trip means opening your eyes and ears to the multitudes of perspectives, values and understandings that exist in this small country.

Before the introduction of musical instruments, music in Bhutan were oral tales of love and spirituality. This type of folk music differs from region to region and is still performed at tsechus. This type of music is often accompanied by dancers. Tshechus are also where you can hear the religious music and chants performed by the monastic body. There are also many types of traditional instruments that are found in Bhutan. These include the dranyen or seven stringed lute, chiwang fiddle, dong lim bamboo flute and chikang mouth organ. Monks often use cymbals and flutes in their religious chants and during mask dance performances.

A greater understanding of Bhutanese music and dance can be found when visiting the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). This is a government organization that promotes the preservation of traditional Bhutanese culture. The Academy instructs musicians and dancers in both secular and religious folk music and dance. The Academy showcases live performances of songs and dances from Bhutan’s various regions and genres.

Currently the music that you will hear on radio stations or played in restaurants and cafes is B-pop or Bhutanese pop music. This genre is influenced by western music, K-pop and is often accompanied by rap sequences and high quality music videos. The young and innovative B-pop artists have found immense success both in Bhutan and in neighboring regions of India.

Bhutanese art originated to depict scenes and saints represented in Tibetan Buddhism. Deities like Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche and Terton Pema Lingpa are often depicted in murals and paintings found at religious sites. Besides painting, Bhutan’s 13 arts and crafts include sculpture, carving and needle work among others. A visit to the Zorig Chosum Institute is recommended for art lovers.There is only so much that you can read about Bhutan’s rich culture of art and music. It must be experienced by visiting galleries, museums, monuments and attending live performances. The traditional art and music of the country is carefully preserved but it is also continually evolving to suit the needs and tastes of the modern Bhutanese.

Buddhism in Bhutan

Monks and nuns in maroon robes, colorful prayer flags strung along trees at mountain ridges, and countless white-washed monasteries. It is hard not to notice that religion permeates every aspect of life in Bhutan. A majority of the population practices the Vajrayana or Mahayana branch of Buddhism, which has origins in Tibet.

In Bhutan, monks and nuns follow the teachings of the Kagyu school of Mahayana Buddhism. This involves praying for all living beings to be liberated from suffering. Whatever religion you may personally identify as, you will be enamored by the devotion of Bhutanese people to Buddhism and its teachings.

Before the advent of Buddhism, Bonism was prevalent in Bhutan. This is the worship of animate and inanimate forms of nature. Even today there are remnants of this religion in remote parts of the country.  Buddhism was first introduced by the 8th century Tantric master Guru Rinpoche, who propagated the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism.

Another significant figure in the spread of Buddhism in the country is Phojo Drugom Zhigpo who introduced the Drukpa Kagyu sect. His descendants were instrumental in spreading Buddhism to regions of western Bhutan.

However, the greatest contributor to the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan was Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Arriving from Tibet in 1616, he brought various Buddhist schools to the country where they flourished under his domain. Zhabdrung also unified the country as one nation-state and gave it a unique national identity.

Buddhism in Bhutan is not just in rituals conducted once a year or in festivals at dzongs that people go to watch. It is in the morning offerings to the altar room, checking the newspaper for auspicious days to start projects in the afternoon and circumambulating a nearby chorten in the evening. An understanding of this religions’ deep roots in the country will give you a better appreciation for Bhutanese architecture, culture and people.