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FACTS & FIGURES
Area : 46,620 sq km
Population : 6,00,000
Capital : Thimphu
Languages : Dzongka, English
Currency : Ngultrum
INTRODUCTION
Bhutan, the land of the peaceful thunder dragon, is known by many names. The original name from the times of Marco Polo was "Bootan,” but the natives prefer to call the country "Druk Yul." Many people haven't even heard about Bhutan, so quiet has been the little kingdom, perched up in the Himalayas. The nation is not involved with the Industrial Age, the World Wars, nor the arms race, and, until recently, not even cyberspace. A land with a vibrant and orthodox culture, Bhutan is often referred to as the “living museum” of the world.
HOW TO REACH
There are only two entry points to Bhutan. Most travelers arrive
by air at Paro; some arrive by road at Phuntsholing on the
southern border with India. In either case, one has to fly by the
national carrier, Druk Air, either in or out. Druk Air has no
interline agreements with other carriers. Hence, tourists will
need to arrange for their own tickets to and from wherever they
connect with them, as they are the only airlines that fly into
Bhutan. The flight from Kathmandu to Paro provides the most
spectacular view of Himalayan vistas of any scheduled flight. Druk
Air does not issue tickets until they have received the visa
clearance. Paro airport is less than two hours from Thimphu. The
best way to journey by road is to start at Kathmandu.
As Bhutan has no domestic air service or railway tracks, the only
way to visit the places around is by foot or by road. On a normal
tourist visa, the tour operators generally provide the
transportation. Public buses are crowded and rough and the winding
roads make them quite bumpy. It is possible to hire a vehicle with
a driver through a travel agency. Mountain biking is a great way
to explore Bhutan, especially around the Thimphu and Paro
valleys.
PLACES TO VISIT
The capital of Bhutan Thimphu lies in a sylvan valley, on a hillside on the bank of the river by the same name. One interesting fact about this city is that it is the only world capital without any traffic lights. The city is a storehouse of Bhutanese culture. The Trashi Chhoe Dzong or the fortress of Glorious Religion, and the Memorial Chorten are some of the old sites worth a visit. Among the modern attractions, the School of Arts and Crafts, the Weekend market, the Changlimithang Stadium, and the National Institute of Traditional Medicine are famous.
The town of Paro in western Bhutan also attracts tourists by its scenic locales, its beautiful landscapes, wooded villages and historic buildings. The National Museum, and the famous Taktshang Monastery is located here. The spiritual heartland of Bhutan, Bumthang, is the home to the most important dzongs, temples and palaces. Wangdichholing Palace, the residence of the former king, Ugyen Wangchuk; the temple of Jambey Lhakang, the sacred cave of Kurjey Lhakang; and the largest Bhutanese dzong, Jakar, are located here.
For the lovers of wildlife, the Satkeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Phobjika Valley and the Black Mountain National Park are classic retreats. The wild east of the Bhutanese kingdom, can be explored from Trashigang. Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang and Gangtey Gompa are some of the favorite tourist sites.
ADVENTURE SPORTS
Rocky mountains, captivating valleys, winding rivers, sparkling lakes, thick forests and the unexplored virginity of nature all make Bhutan a trekkers' paradise. Trekking is the ideal way to experience rural Bhutanese culture and uncharted wilderness. There is no personal equipment available in Bhutan, and no facilities to rent a sleeping bag. Trek operators will provide guides, pack animals, foam mattresses, eating utensils, and kitchen equipment. Trek routes range from the relatively effortless three-dayers to expeditions lasting over three weeks.
Though rafting in Bhutan is still underdeveloped, experts who have scouted the rivers are of the opinion that it has the potential for some of the best rafting on earth. The fees are the same for normal tourists and trekkers, and there are several specialist companies already offering river programs on rivers ranging from class 3 to 5. The outstanding ones include Mo Chhu, upstream of Punakha in eastern Bhutan, and the Ema Datse Canyon on the Mangde Chhu in central Bhutan.
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Location
The kingdom of Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas, between Tibet to the north, the Indian territories of Assam and West Bengal to the south, and Arunachal Pradesh to the east and Sikkim to the west. The kingdom has a total area of about 47,000 square kilometers. It spreads between meridians 89°E and 93°E, and latitudes 27°N and 29°N.
Physical Features
Located in the heart of the high Himalayan mountain range, Bhutan is a landlocked country surrounded by mountains. The sparsely populated Greater Himalayas, bounded to the north by the Tibetan plateau, reach heights of over 7,300 m, and extend southward losing height, to form the fertile valleys of the Lesser Himalayas divided by the Wang, Sunkosh, Trongsa and Manas rivers. The entire country is virtually mountainous, the 7554-m Kulha Gangri on the Tibetan border being the highest. North to south, it features three geographic regions, namely, the high Himalayas of the north, the hills and valleys of the interior, and the foothills and plains of the south. Its great rivers helped to carve its topography and their enormous potential for hydropower has helped shape the economy. Monsoon influences promote dense forestation in this region and alpine growth at higher altitudes. The cultivated central uplands and Himalayan foothills support the majority of the population. In the south, the Daurs Plain drops sharply away from the Himalayas into the large tracts of semi-tropical forest, savannah grassland and bamboo jungle.
Climate
The climate is variable. It is tropical in the southern plains. In the central valleys, one experiences cool winters and hot summers, while in the Himalayas severe winters and cool summers are prevalent.
Flora & Fauna
Bhutan is a botanists’ paradise. One of the ancient names given to Bhutan was 'Southern Valley of Medicinal Herbs.' Rhododendrons, junipers, magnolias, carnivorous plants, rare orchids, blue poppy (the national flower), edelweiss, gentian, medicinal plants, daphne, giant rhubarb, high-altitude plants, tropical trees, pine and oak abound in Bhutan.
Among the rare and exotic faunas found in Bhutan are golden langur, red pandas, black-necked crane, snow leopard, takin, musk deer, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan marten, tiger, hornbills, pheasants, mountain goats and timid blue sheep.
HISTORY
Bhutan has never been colonized and although recorded history mentions the country in the 7th century, its independence was recognized even before that. In the 8th century, the great Tantrik mystic, Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche came to Bhutan from Swat, in present-day Pakistan, and spread the Buddhist faith. The next defining event in Bhutan's history was the arrival of Ngawang Namgyal, the "Shabdrung" (literally, at whose feet one submits) in 1616. The Shabdrung was the father and unifier of medieval Bhutan. After repelling numerous Tibetan invasions, the Shabdrung subdued the many warring feudal overlords and brought all of Bhutan under the influence of the Drukpa Kagyud School. His 35-year reign also saw the establishment of a nationwide administration, aspects of which still endure, and the building of dzongs as easily defensible fortresses and seats of local government. In fact, many of the dzongs one sees today were built during the Shabdrung's reign.
The most recent watershed in Bhutan's history was the coming to power of Ugyen Wangchuk, the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan. Ugyen Wangchuk pacified the feuding Regional Governors who had plunged Bhutan into a state of almost perpetual civil war. Having consolidated his authority across the entire country by 1885, he played the key mediator role between the British and the Chinese. Finally, on December 17, 1907, Ugyen Wangchuk was unanimously elected by all Regional Governors and the Central Monastic Body, at the Punakha Dzong and crowned "Druk Gyalpo" (literally, precious ruler of the dragon people). The present king, the fourth hereditary monarch, is Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk, upon whose coronation in 1974 Bhutan opened its doors to tourists.
PEOPLE
Ethnicity
The Drukpas form the major chunk with nearly 67% of the total population. They are of two groups. Those related to the Tibetans speak Dzongka. The other major language is Tsangla in the east with 11 different dialects. The Nepalis form 20% of the total Bhutanese people. Formerly the second largest peoples group after the Tsangla, they inhabited the southern region mostly. Now due to disagreements over government policies they have moved back to Nepal, their country of origin. Indians, Tibetans, Sikkimese, Sherpas, etc., form the remaining 13% of the population.
The unity of the Bhutanese people and independence of the country is under control of the state religion, Buddhism. There is very limited religious freedom, as government and social pressure do not allow for public expressions of other faiths.
Buddhism is followed by 70% of the population, while Hinduism is practiced by 25%. The rest are either Muslims or Christians.
Arts & Crafts
All Bhutanese art—dance, drama and music—is steeped in Buddhism. The paintings are not produced for tourists, but for religious purposes; festivals are not quaint revivals, but living manifestations of a national faith; and almost all art, music and dance represents the struggle between good and evil. These traditions can be seen in all their glory at Bhutan's spectacular religious festivals called tsechus.
Fairs & Festivals
The largest and most colorful festivals take place at Bhutan's dzongs and monasteries once a year, especially in honor of Guru Rinpoche. They are normally celebrated in spring and autumn. Tsechus consist of up to five days of spectacular pageantry, masked dances and religious allegorical plays that have remained unchanged for centuries. Besides being a vital living festival and an important medium of Buddhist teaching, tsechus are huge social gatherings. Bhutanese revel and exult together, dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry, in a welcoming ambiance where humor and devotion go hand in hand. For guests, the tsechu provides an ideal opportunity to appreciate the essence of the Bhutanese character.
CUISINE
The Bhutanese diet is rich in meat, dairy, grain (particularly rice) and vegetables. Emadatse, made with green hot chilies and cheese stew, is considered the national dish with many interpretations to this recipe throughout the kingdom. Meat dishes, mainly pork, beef and yak, are lavishly spiced with chilies, and it is common to see bright red peppers drying on rooftops in the sun. Salted butter tea, or suja, is served on all social occasions. Though there is plenty of white rice, Bhutanese prefer a local, slightly nutty, red variety. At high altitudes, wheat is the staple. Several Tibetan-style dishes are common, including momos (dumplings), and thukpa (noodles). Pork fat is popular in the wilds because of its high-energy content. Chang, a local beer, and ara, a spirit distilled from rice, maize, wheat or barley, are also common and widely favored. Doma or betel nut is offered as a customary gesture of greeting.
POLITY
Bhutan is the only democratic theocracy in the world. His Majesty, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk is Bhutan's fourth elected king.
Bhutan is divided into 20 dzongkhas or dzong districts, each with its own elected three-year representatives. The Tshogdu or National Assembly has 154 members divided fall into three categories. The largest group with 105 members is the Chimis. They are the representatives of Bhutan's 20 dzongkhas. The regional monk bodies elect 12 monastic representatives, who also serve three-year terms. Another 37 representatives are civil servants nominated by the king. They include 20 Dzongdas, ministers, secretaries of various government and other high-ranking officials. The National Assembly meets in Thimphu once each year.
ECONOMY
The GDP of Bhutan is US$85 million, while the GDP per head is at US$142. The current annual growth rate is 6.8%. The major industries are mining, timber, fruit processing, tourism, and the sale of hydroelectric power (to India). India and Bangladesh are the major trading partners of Bhutan.
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