About Bhutan:
Bhutan (officially the Kingdom of Bhutan; in Dzongkha: Druk Yul, meaning “Land of the Thunder Dragon”) is a small, landlocked Himalayan kingdom in South Asia. It is nestled between China (Tibet Autonomous Region) to the north and India to the south, east, and west.
Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy (constitution adopted in 2008). The bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (upper house, 25 members) and National Assembly (lower house, 47 members).
The landscape is dominated by the Eastern Himalayas, with elevations ranging from subtropical lowlands in the south to high alpine peaks in the north. The highest point is Gangkhar Puensum (24,840 feet/7,570 meters), the world’s highest un-climbed mountain. Bhutan is renowned for its biodiversity, extensive forest cover (constitutionally required to remain at least 60%), and status as one of the world’s few carbon-negative countries.
Bhutan is famous for prioritizing Gross National Happiness (GNH) over GDP as a development philosophy (introduced by the Fourth King in the 1970s). GNH rests on four pillars: sustainable socioeconomic development, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and good governance.
Traditional dress (gho for men, kira for women) is commonly worn, and national identity is strongly tied to Buddhism, with distinctive fortress-monasteries (dzongs), colorful festivals (tshechus), archery as the national sport, and rich arts and crafts.
The country long maintained isolation and has carefully managed modernization. Key sectors include hydropower (major export to India), agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Bhutan graduated from the UN’s Least Developed Countries list in December 2023. Tourism follows a “high-value, low-volume” model. International visitors generally require a visa arranged through a licensed operator and pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF, currently $100 USD per person per night for most adults, with discounts in place through at least 2027). This supports free healthcare, education, and conservation.
The Capital and largest city is Thimphu with a population around 800,000 (2024–2026 estimates). The official language is Dzongkha (a Tibetan dialect) although English is widely used in government and education.
Buddhism is the official state religion (and spiritual heritage under the constitution). The 2008 Constitution guarantees freedom of religion for citizens but prohibits proselytism (conversion by coercion or inducement). Public church construction and open missionary activity are restricted; Christians generally worship privately or in small gatherings.
The first recorded Catholic contact occurred in 1627 when Portuguese Jesuits Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral briefly visited Bhutan while traveling toward Tibet. Modern Catholic involvement began in the 1960s when Canadian Jesuit Fr. William Mackey was invited to help develop Bhutan’s education system (he stayed until his death in 1995 and founded schools, including contributions to Sherubtse College).
Fr. Kinley Joseph Tshering, S.J. is the only native Bhutanese Jesuit priest in the Kingdom of Bhutan, making him a unique figure in a country where Catholicism is a small minority. Born into a devout Buddhist family in Bhutan, he was fascinated by the image of the child in the manger from Christmas cards and later encountered the crucifix in a convent in Darjeeling, India, which deepened his spiritual curiosity. Kinley was baptized in secret in 1974 at age 15, despite family opposition. He studied at Jesuit-run boarding schools in Darjeeling and later at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, and St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He earned a postgraduate diploma in management from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, becoming Bhutan’s first M.B.A.
For years, his professional life and family pressures delayed his decision to enter the consecrated life. In 1986, while returning from Hyderabad, he sat next to Mother Teresa of Calcutta on a flight. She told him, “You have a vocation — be generous with God and He will be generous with you”, which convinced him to pursue priesthood. Fr. Tshering entered the Jesuits in India, serving as provincial superior of the Darjeeling Jesuit Province. In 1986, all foreign missionaries were asked to leave Bhutan, but he remained connected through the Jesuit educational legacy there.
After years abroad, he returned to Bhutan in 2008, dedicating himself to serving the small Catholic community of about 100 people. In Bhutan, being Catholic meant being socially marginalized in a Buddhist theocracy. Fr. Tshering has focused on mentoring youth, promoting vocations, and serving the poor. He dreams of opening a facility for needy children and hopes to inspires to embrace the vocation. His life reflects a journey from entrepreneur to priest, from a closed Buddhist society to a place of spiritual service. He embodies the Jesuit ideals of education, service, and evangelization, while navigating the challenges of being a minority faith in his homeland.
Today, Fr. Kinley Tshering continues to live in Thimphu, balancing pastoral work, community outreach, and the example of a life consecrated to Christ in a unique cultural and religious context.
Catholic places of interest in Bhutan:
Catholic presence in Bhutan is very small and limited. Salesian missionaries were later expelled in the early 1980s over proselytism concerns. Pastoral care was transferred to the Diocese of Darjeeling in 1975.There are no independent Catholic dioceses, full parishes, or large public church buildings in the country. The Kingdom of Bhutan falls under the pastoral jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Darjeeling (India). Estimates of the number of Catholics in Bhutan range from about 1,000–1,500 (roughly 0.1–0.2% of Bhutan’s population of about 800,000). Most are expatriates (especially of Indian or Nepali origin) or a small number of local converts.
Mackey Centre, Thimphu is listed by the Diocese of Darjeeling as a Catholic presence/center (established around 1997).
Church of St. Andrew Kim Taegon: A chapel located at Indo Shopping Mall in Thimphu (under the Diocese of Darjeeling).
There are no other publicly listed formal Catholic churches or cathedrals inside Bhutan. Worship often occurs discreetly in homes, private venues, or centers rather than dedicated public buildings. The community relies on private or semi-private gatherings, occasional visits from the Diocese of Darjeeling, and the ministry of Fr. Kinley Tshering. For the most current practical information (e.g., Mass times for visitors or expatriates), contact the Diocese of Darjeeling or local Catholic networks discreetly, as public listings remain limited.
Traveling to Bhutan:
Bhutan is widely regarded as one of the safest and most culturally intact destinations in Asia, offering dramatic mountain scenery, spiritual sites (such as the famous Tiger’s Nest / Paro Taktsang monastery), and a strong emphasis on environmental and cultural sustainability. The time zone is UTC+6 and the country calling code is +975.
By plane: Bhutan has one main international airport, Paro International Airport (PBH), and a secondary international airport, Gelephu (GLU). Due to the challenging mountainous terrain, only specially certified pilots are allowed to land, and only two Bhutanese carriers operate scheduled flights into the country.
By train: Bhutan has no direct access to rail transport. However, visitors planning to reach Bhutan by train can board a train to Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri, New Alipurduar, or Hasimara railway stations, and finally make an entry to Bhutan’s town of Phuentsholing via Jaigaon by road.