부탄, 구글 지도 사진: Buhtan, a virtual drive through.

ALAN TAYLOR

Google's Street View vans continue to cover countries around the world, stitching together panoramas and allowing armchair travelers to hit the road. A few years ago, I posted "A Trip to Bhutan," a photo essay made up largely of agency photographer's shots, which had a great reception. Today I'd like to show you a few views of Bhutan's remarkable landscape and colorful architecture, courtesy of Google's Street View team (with links in the captions, so you can explore more on your own). Covering most of the roads in mountainous country, some of the shots were taken at elevations approaching 4,000 meters (13,129 ft) above sea level.

• A view of the hilltop Lhuntse Dzongm, founded in 1543, above the Kuri Chhu valley in eastern Bhutan. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A gateway on the Trashiyangtse -Tashigang Road, one of hundreds of similarly ornate gates found throughout Bhutan.

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Prayer flags fly in the wind at the highest point on Dantak Road, an elevation of 3,988 m, (13,083 ft). 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A view of the Trongsa Dzong, founded in 1543, renovated in 1927. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A broad valley near Wangdue Phodrang. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Prayer wheels in Chhukha, Bhutan. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A man overlooks a valley near Samdrup Jongkhar. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Friendly wishes near Narphu. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A riot of color and fabric, as a road bridge and older footbridge over the Kulong Chu River are decorated with prayer flags.

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A waterfall visible from the Phuntsholing-Thimphu Highway. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A roadside stupa on farmland near Trashiyangtse. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Newer construction clustered together in Wangdue Phodrang. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• The streets of Paro. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Road sign on a twisting mountain road reads "Be Gentle on My Curves". BRO stands for the Border Roads Organisation, which maintains roads bordering some parts of India. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• The ruined Dzong at Wangdue Phodrang. Built in 1638, the structure burned down in June of 2012 while undergoing renovation. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• The Dangme Chu River flows through a narrow valley. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A friendly bit of graffiti on a wall in Thimphu, saying simply "I Love You". 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A roadside shrine north of Thimphu. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Hillsides surrounding Wangdue Phodrang. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A statue of Buddha at Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• The large building at right is the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of Bhutan's civil government, in the city of Thimphu. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A pigeon flies in front of the camera on a street corner in the small town of Khaling. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A small footbridge above the Dangme Chu River. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Buildings near the Gangtey Monastery.

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A small group of homes on a lush hillside near Samdrup Jongkhar. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A small farm building near Paro. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• An overview of Bhutan's capital and largest city, Thimphu. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A small bridge leads to Paro Rinpung Dzong. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• Overlooking the town of Paro, above the Rinpung Dzong. 

  © Google, Inc.
  
  

• A man uses his mobile phone on a roadside above a valley near Trashiyangtse. 

  © Google, Inc.