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Best Books on Bhutan

| POSTED IN:> Books

Bhutan is a country steeped in happiness, literally. This is the country that invented Gross National Happiness as a way to measure the country’s success – forget GDP. If you’re interested in joining one of my tours to Bhutan, check out the WanderTours website and feel free to contact me to be on the waitlist for future tours!

Tipping my hat to these happy peeps, I thought I’d do a little roundup of my favorite books about Bhutan.

Lonely Planet BhutanLonely Planet Guide to Bhutan – There are few guidebooks to Bhutan and Lonely Planet is one of the best. though you likely won’t use this book for hotel and restaurant recommendations like you might with other guidebooks (because your tour operator will be making your hotel reservations on your behalf), there is plenty of other great historical, religious, cultural and other info in this guide to keep you reading up to, during and long after your journey to the Kingdom. Available on Amazon.

*****

Bhutan: Himalayan Mountain KingdomBhutan: Himalayan Mountain Kingdom by Francoise Pommaret – Francoise is an ethno-historian who has lived in Bhutan for 30 years and knows Bhutan like few outsiders. This book is a comprehensive study of all facets of Bhutan and its people. Not a guidebook in the Lonely Planet sense, but a must for anyone traveling to the country. Available on Amazon.

*****

Beyond The Sky and EarthBeyond the Sky and Earth by Jamie Zeppa – One of the best memoirs about Bhutan, this chronicles the story of the author who spent a couple of years in Bhutan working as a teacher in a remove village. It’s reflective, insightful and a romance all at once. Available on Amazon.

*****

Buttertea at SunriseButtertea at Sunrise by Britta Das – Though this book isn’t quite as well known as Beyond the Earth and Sky, I actually enjoyed this book a bit more (perhaps, simply, because I read it after a couple of a visits to Bhutan). Similar to Jamie’s story, this chronicles Britta’s 2 year stint in Bhutan as a physical therapist in a remote region. It, too, is insightful and a love story. Available on Amazon.

*****

Bhutan a Trekker's GuideBhutan, a Trekker’s Guide – A very detailed guide to Bhutan’s many (but not all) treks. If you’re considering one of the more popular routes, this guide will help you plan and prepare. Times and distances are pretty much on target but realize that new paths on the same routes are often developed, cutting down times (while rain/bad weather can increase times by quite a bit). Available on Amazon.

*****

Dreams of the Peaceful DragonDreams of the Peaceful Dragon by Katie Hickman – Probably my very favorite memoir about Bhutan written by a foreigner. This follows Katie and her boyfriend’s travels across the country by foot and by horseback. She was one of the first travelers to be allowed entrance into Eastern Bhutan and provides insight into this region that was/is so untouched by the outside world. Available on Amazon.

*****

Under the Holy LakeUnder the Holy Lake by Ken Haigh – Though this book is based on Ken’s experiences in the late 80’s, it’s likely that little has changed in Eastern Bhutan since his work as a teacher in a small village. Equally as well written as the other memoirs about Bhutan, Ken writes with a fresh perspective and interesting insights.  Available on Amazon.

*****

Treasures of the Thunder DragonTreasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan by Queen Ashi Dori Wangmo Wangchuk – Who’da thunk that the Queen of a country would spend so much time trekking the mountains of the Himalayas to meet the locals and to find out what their needs were. This Queen does (one of 4 sisters married to the 4th king) and writes about her experiences in this really interesting perspective of the country from a true insider. Available on Amazon.

*****

Bhutan Land of SerenityBhutan: The Land of Serenity by Matthieu Ricard – This coffee table book was written and photographed by Matthieu, who is both a professional photographer and the French interpreter for the Dalai Lama. It’s filled with images of the Kingdom and includes accompanying written details about the culture and religion. Available on Amazon.

*****

married to bhutanMarried to Bhutan by Linda Leaming – This is a precious book that provides a big picture overview of the country and its people. Linda has lived in Bhutan for 10 years and is married to a Bhutanese artist. I really enjoyed reading about her sometimes very funny insights and perspective as someone very steeped in the culture, yet very much an outsider. Available on Amazon.

*****

Radio Shangri-laRadio Shangri-la by Lisa Napoli – I have to admit that I haven’t yet read this book but have high hopes for it. Lisa is a former NPR reporter in the LA area who jets off to Bhutan to volunteer as a consultant in 2006 for a youth radio station. Available on Amazon.

*****

Beneath the blossom rainBeneath the Blossom Rain by Kevin Grange – I haven’t yet read this yet but it is on my nightstand and I can’t wait to start it. This is Kevin’s story of doing the Snowman Trek, notoriously known as the hardest trek in the world. Available on Amazon.

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wandering educators says

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    oh!! i so want to read these – thank you for such an incredible list! and then, i am SURE to want to go to bhutan even more than i do now. 🙂

  2. Jennifer says

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    Bhutan is definitely on my list. Forget Disneyland; Bhutan is the happiest place on Earth.

  3. Kim Kircher says

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    I read Beyond the Sky and Earth before I traveled to Bhutan a few years back. It was a great read. I will add a few of these to my library too. The Queen’s book looks fascinating. Thanks for this!

  4. Vera Marie Badertscher says

    at

    I think you missed one of the most heart-warming of the new memoirs about Bhutan, Married to Bhutan by Linda Leaming. I did a double review of Married to Bhutan and Radio Shangrai La and wondered if it is possible to travel to Bhutan WITHOUT writing a memoir. So when is yours coming??

  5. Stephanie @ Where in the World Am I? says

    at

    Great information! We’re planning a trip to Bhutan about a year from now. We have a baby who will be around 18 months when we go. Do any of these books cover things that might be great or might be impossible to do with a baby? She does well in the hiking backpack so we’re hoping for at least a couple days of trekking.

  6. Don Schofield says

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    why don’t I just go to AMAZON and look up books on Bhutan? I thought you’d have some different ideas….

  7. Beth Whitman says

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    Sheesh, Don. You know there aren’t that many books about Bhutan in the first place.

    You’re welcome that I took the time to help you find these 🙂

  8. Robert says

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    You may want to update with another book:

    The Cloud Garden: A trip to Bhutan to mend a broken heart. Shangri-la – or something else entirely?
    Barbara van Schaik

  9. Paula Deutsch says

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    Hi Beth do you sell your photos of Bhutan?

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About Beth I wear many hats as the founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours. I lead small group adventures to off-the-beaten-path destinations, am the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides for women travelers and the publisher of this website. I've also started the WanderWorld Foundation, a non-profit to help women and children in developing countries. Read More…

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