Qibla direction in Bhutan
The Qibla in Bhutan lies towards the west. Depending on the city the angle from true north ranges from 273.4° in Gasa to 275.1° in Samdrup Jongkhar, and the Kaaba is between 5,006 km and 5,244 km away. The table gives the exact bearing for 21 cities.
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by the angle of your city. A phone compass shows magnetic north, which in Bhutan can differ from true north by a few degrees; our Qibla finder corrects this automatically when your phone reports true heading.
Why the Qibla changes across the country
Between the cities in the table the Qibla angle varies by 1.8°. Samtse is the closest to the Kaaba (5,006 km) and Samdrup Jongkhar the farthest (5,244 km). The farther apart two cities are, the more their bearings to Makkah diverge, which is why the angle of the capital, 273.8°, should not be used everywhere.
Inside a mosque, the mihrab already shows the Qibla. Elsewhere, a compass app, the position of the sun or our Qibla finder can be used; scholars agree that facing the general direction is enough when the exact angle cannot be known.
Qibla in Bhutan: questions
What is the Qibla direction in Thimphu?
273.8° from true north, towards the west, 5,055 km from the Kaaba.
Which city in Bhutan is closest to Makkah?
Samtse, 5,006 km from the Kaaba, among the 21 cities listed.
Does a phone compass show the right Qibla?
Only if it is calibrated and corrected for magnetic declination. Turn the phone in a figure 8 and keep it away from metal; our Qibla finder uses the true heading when the phone provides it.
| City | Qibla | Direction | Distance to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daga | 274.3° | west | 5,081 km |
| Gasa | 273.4° | west | 5,060 km |
| Ha | 273.7° | west | 5,020 km |
| Jakar | 274.2° | west | 5,163 km |
| Lhuentse | 274.2° | west | 5,205 km |
| Lungtenzampa | 273.8° | west | 5,055 km |
| Mongar | 274.6° | west | 5,214 km |
| Paro | 273.7° | west | 5,033 km |
| Pemagatshel | 274.9° | west | 5,232 km |
| Punakha | 273.8° | west | 5,077 km |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | 275.1° | west | 5,244 km |
| Samtse | 274.1° | west | 5,006 km |
| Sarpang | 274.6° | west | 5,121 km |
| Shemgang | 274.4° | west | 5,157 km |
| Tashigang | 274.7° | west | 5,244 km |
| Thimphu | 273.8° | west | 5,055 km |
| Trashi Yangtse | 274.4° | west | 5,236 km |
| Trongsa | 274.1° | west | 5,140 km |
| Tsimasham | 274.1° | west | 5,047 km |
| Tsirang | 274.4° | west | 5,106 km |
| Wangdue Phodrang | 273.9° | west | 5,080 km |