The Story of Bhutan: The Hidden Kingdom of the Himalayas — Fexingo History
FexingoNestled in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan—known as Druk Yul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon—is a kingdom that has preserved its sovereignty and culture against staggering odds. This show traces Bhutan's story from its early settlement by Tibetan migrants in the 8th century to the unification under the warrior-monk Ngawang Namgyal, the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, in the 17th century. It examines the dual th... more
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 148 | Founded | 3 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureHistory | |||
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Latest Episodes
In 1772, Bhutan faced a British East India Company army at Chichakotta, sparking the first Anglo-Bhutanese conflict. Lucas walks Luna through the causes: a dispute over the succession of Cooch Behar, the Bhutanese invasion, and the British counteratt... more
Long before Bhutan's unification under the Wangchucks, a visionary engineer and Buddhist master named Thangtong Gyalpo — the 'Iron Bridge Builder' — forged a network of suspension bridges across the Himalayas in the 14th and 15th centuries. This epis... more
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the story behind Bhutan's most photographed landmark, the 108 chortens at Dochula Pass. Built in 2004 under the patronage of Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the chortens honor Bhutanese soldiers who d... more
In 1639, a Tibetan army of 5,000 marched into Bhutan determined to destroy the young kingdom. Their target: a newly built fortress called Drukgyel Dzong, perched on a ridge in the Paro Valley. The battle that followed would decide whether Bhutan surv... more
Bhutan's reputation as a 'hidden kingdom' or 'last Shangri-La' wasn't just the result of geography — it was a deliberate policy of isolation that served both spiritual and political goals. This episode traces Bhutan's closed-door approach from the 17... more
Before the Wangchuck kings ruled Bhutan, the Penlop of Trongsa was the most powerful man in the land. This episode traces the rise of Trongsa Dzong as a military and political fortress in central Bhutan, the strategic genius of Jigme Namgyal, and how... more
In 1647, Bhutan was rocked by a succession crisis that plunged the young kingdom into civil war. After the death of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier who had forged Druk Yul from warring valleys, rival claimants — his half-brother Tenpa Thinlay ... more
In this episode of The Story of Bhutan, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the aftermath of the 1864–65 Duar War, focusing on the Treaty of Sinchula and Bhutan's permanent loss of the Bengal Duars. They examine how Penlop Jigme Namgyal of Trongsa emerged a... more
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Apple Podcasts | #99 |  New Zealand/History |
Apple Podcasts | #182 |  India/History |
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Historically focused and deeply analytical, this show offers thorough explorations of Bhutan's journey from its early settlement and unification to its modern-era reforms and constitutional transition. Across episodes, listeners get a blend of political history, religious influence, and development strategy, with particular attention to how monarchy, centralization, and modernization intersected with culture, national identity, and Bhutan's distinctive Gross National Happiness philosophy. Notable throughlines include the ascent of the Wangchuck dynasty, pivotal reforms under Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, infrastructure-driven modernization, and the country's navigation of globalization while preserving Buddhist traditions. The host duo tends to fo... more
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this podcast launched 3 months ago and published 148 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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