From its earliest tribal settlements to its spiritual awakening under Guru Rinpoche, its heroic unification under Zhabdrung, and its peaceful shift to democracy, Bhutan’s history is a powerful reminder that progress does not have to come at the cost of identity. Each chapter reveals a people determined to guard what makes them unique, while welcoming change on their own terms. Bhutan is living proof that tradition and innovation can walk hand in hand, and that happiness can, in fact, be the highest goal of a nation. As you explore Bhutan’s dzongs, meet its people, and witness its spectacular landscapes, you’ll feel these stories come alive — not locked away in books, but pulsing through every prayer flag, every festival, every mountain trail. Bhutan’s timeline is far from finished, and perhaps your own footsteps through this incredible land will become part of its unfolding story.