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Beyond Expeditions. Beyond Business.
Beyond Imagination.
Top Destinations
Travelers' Choice
Beyond Expeditions. Beyond Business.
Beyond Imagination.
Beyond Expeditions. Beyond Business.
Beyond Imagination.
Beyond Expeditions. Beyond Business.
Beyond Imagination.
In Bhutan, community is more than a neighbourhood. Villages share labour, celebrate together and care for their temples, forests and water sources as common responsibilities. Many of these traditions now sit alongside modern local government.
The country is divided into 20 dzongkhags (districts), which are divided into gewogs (blocks of villages) and, below them, chiwogs. Each gewog has an elected local leader, the gup, and a local council, the gewog tshogde, which plans roads, water supply and other village projects. Decisions about shared resources are often still talked through at village meetings.
Villagers traditionally help one another build houses, repair irrigation channels and bring in the harvest, expecting the same help in return. Building a new farmhouse or temple can bring the whole village together, with food and ara provided by the host family.
The local lhakhang (temple) is the heart of many villages. Each year families take turns to sponsor its rituals and festivals, and almost every community has its own celebration, from the great tshechus at the district dzongs to small village festivals honouring local deities. These gatherings renew friendships, settle obligations and pass traditions to the next generation.
Many villages manage their own community forests, harvesting timber and firewood sustainably under plans agreed with the forestry department. Sacred groves, lakes and mountains are protected by custom as the homes of local deities, a belief that has helped conserve much of Bhutan’s landscape.
The tradition of kidu, welfare granted by the King, supports people facing hardship, from land grants to scholarships. In recent years many citizens have volunteered as De-suung, the “Guardians of Peace”, helping during floods, fires and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024 Bhutan also launched Gyalsung, a national service and training programme for young people.
Visitors can share in this life respectfully through homestays, village walks and local festivals. Spending money in family-run guesthouses, with village guides and on local crafts helps keep rural communities strong. Read about our impact in Bhutan.