Missing Piece · Map quiz · Series
Missing Piece #10: name the country in 3 clues
Three clues, four options, one piece of the world: it measures Gross National Happiness, there are no traffic lights in its capital, and a monastery clings to a cliff. Watch the film and lock in your answer before the piece drops. The answer, and how to actually go there, is below. Spoilers from here on.
The places in this film
- 1
The answer: Bhutan
Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom between India and China. Its government steers policy by Gross National Happiness, an index that weighs wellbeing, culture and the environment alongside the economy. The capital, Thimphu, famously has no traffic lights, and police direct traffic by hand at the main junction. The monastery is Paro Taktsang, known as the Tiger's Nest, built on a cliff face high above the Paro valley.
- 2
Tiger's Nest
Reached by a steep walk of several hours there and back from the valley floor. Start early, and take it slowly at this altitude.
- 3
Punakha
A warm, low valley of rice terraces. Its fortress monastery stands where two rivers meet.
- 4
Thimphu and Paro
The capital and the valley with the country's international airport. Most trips begin and end here.
Plan it
- Best time
- March to May for spring flowers and September to November for clear mountain views. Summer is the monsoon, and winter is cold but dry.
- How long
- Five to seven days covers Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Longer trips go east or into the mountains on foot.
- Getting around
- Visitors travel with a driver and a licensed guide arranged through a tour operator. Roads are mountain roads, so distances take time.
Good to know
- Visitors pay a daily government fee on top of travel costs. Check the current rules and amount before planning.
- Flights into Paro are limited and often full. Book them early.
- Dress modestly for monasteries and fortresses, with shoulders and knees covered.
Frequently asked
What is Missing Piece? +
Missing Piece is a short 3D map quiz by Drift Vistas. A country is lifted out of the globe, you get three clues and four options, and the piece drops back into place to reveal the answer. Then the film cuts to real footage of the country.
Is the map real? +
Yes. The globe and terrain are built from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and Copernicus elevation data, with borders from Natural Earth. The height of the mountains is exaggerated so the relief reads on a phone screen, but the shapes are the real ones.
Where can I watch the next one? +
New episodes go up on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok at @driftvistas. Every episode also gets a page here with the answer and a short guide to visiting the country.
