Landlocked to unlocked - how Street View opened a Buddhist kingdom to the world.

Digitally mapping the beauty of Bhutan

Prior to Street View's initiative, Bhutan didn't have the technical expertise or equipment to connect with potential visitors, which made it challenging for tourists to plan trips. Now, anyone - from buddhist pilgrims to potential visitors - can virtually unearth the fortress monasteries of Thimpu and pristine villages of Punakha.

While this is a milestone in the government's plan to reach out to the world, it's also a step forward in Bhutan's digital journey towards an ICT-enabled society.

A Bhutanese road more travelled

Street View's smart navigation has opened tourists up to a worldwide hotspot, and given travelers the freedom of choice and movement. Access to real time 360 footage and virtual tours of ground conditions has helped visitors set their journey expectations, and explore accordingly.

With 500 new businesses added to Street View and 4,000 updates made to Bhutan maps, residents have also been able to reap the benefits, with everything from real time traffic updates and route suggestions to more exposure for local businesses.

Better street views

Beyond reaching out to the world, the government's Street View initiative has proved very helpful in the planning of development projects. Filming terrain that has been hidden for centuries marks the start of Bhutan's heritage maintenance strategy. Through Street View data, they can take stock of road conditions and improve them where necessary.

Bhutan is being discovered by more and more explorers. But with just twenty towns covered, a territory of 38,394 km², and plans to regularly update maps with new infrastructure developments, this Street View initiative has only just begun.

Street View connects small worlds in big ways. Uncovering hidden gems through immersive imagery, it can revolutionise a country's trajectory and play an integral role in its development.