Bhutan

Happy Place and Nature Beautiful

Bhutan, which is also called land of the thunder dragon, is among the most distinctive and undefiled places in the world and is situated in the Eastern Himalayas. A land of beautiful sceneries, old monasteries and great devotion towards keeping its cultural heritage intact, Bhutan is the country where the harmony between the traditional and the modernism is carefully attended. Located in SouthEast Asia, Bhutan is a land of beautiful nature, steeped in history and with its new approach to the development process and its dwellers based on the concept of happiness, this country is a place that brings richness to those who visit it.

In this handbook, we will see geography, history, culture, economy, and must-visit attractions of Bhutan and find out what one of the smallest kingdoms has to offer in detail.

Geographical Location

Bhutan is a country board bounded by two of the largest nations in the world that surround it, the north is China and the south, east and west is India. It is a tiny nation, its territory size being about 38 394 square kilometers, however, because of the striking geography and mountainous terrain that boasts towering Himalayan mountains to the north and green valleys to the south, it is an amazing country to visit. Bhutan is politically and economically centered in Thimphu, which is the capital city that resides on the west of the country.

Furthermore, Bhutan is blessed with extremely good biodiversity with myriad ecosystems with subtropical forest lower to alpine meadows and glac Dale in the mountainous country.

For an in-depth travel guide, visit the Official tourism guide for Bhutan

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Geographical forms and Structures

The country is mainly covered by the Himalayan mountain range which serves as the northern border to the country. Bhutan has a diverse terrain constituting the central region Black Mountains and the south of Siwalik Hills. Valleys of the country which include Paro and Punakha valleys have steep hillsides with dense forest.

Bhutan has also some of the most primeval rivers in the world with the rivers Mo chu and the Pho chu running in Bhutan. The biodiversity of the country is outstanding and one finds a variety of species such as tigers, and snow leopards as well as rare ones like the black-necked crane.

Old and Middle Ages

The history of Bhutan is old and diverse with more than 1,000 years. Present-day Bhutan has been inhabited by different indigenous tribes and with time, the nation was unified by leadership regimes whereby a Tibetan lama and military leader known as Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal took control in the 17th century. His role aided in making Bhutan a new country with specific culture and independence from other neighboring cultures.

Bhutan became a monarchy as Ugyen Wangchuck was made the first king of Bhutan in 1907. This started a constitutional monarchy which was maintained by his successors.

Colonial Impact and Freedom

Unlike most states within the region, at no instance was Bhutan colonized by the Europeans. British India only impacted Bhutan economically and with contacts; India however never took over Bhutan and remained sovereign even during the colonial era. In 1910, Bhutan officially signed a treaty with Britain; this treaty even though Bhutan remained independent, agreed to surrender sovereignty to foreign affairs to Britain. Following the Indian independence in 1947, Bhutan entered into the same agreement with India in 1949.

ContemporaryHistory and Development

Bhutan has undergone moderate modernization in the 21 st century, and this was done without compromising the distinct culture and traditions of the country. During the reign of the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan came up with a notion of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which aims to strike the balance between the economic growth and prosperity and cultural life, environmental sustainability, and overall happiness of its population. Democratic elections began in the country in 2008 which rendered Bhutan a constitutional monarchy.

The importance of happiness instead of material well being that Bhutan has been focusing on has earned the world attention and even caused the country to be used as an example by other countries looking to quantify development differently.

Ethnic Diversity and Religious Diversity

The population of Bhutan is mostly ethnically Bhutanese although there are some other specific groups including the Ngalops in the west of the country, Sharchops in the east and Lhotshampas in the south. These groups make the country culturally diverse since each of them has their own dialect, customs and practices.

The role played by Buddhism in Bhutanese culture is critical as most of the people believe in Tibetan Buddhism. It is peppered with monasteries, temples, and stupas, most of which people visit as pilgrimage sites whether they are local and foreign. Another religion, Bon, which is as ancient as the country is native to the region, also belongs to the spiritual world of Bhutan.

Cultural Practice and Traditions

The Bhutanese culture is closely related to Buddhism and this is depicted in the art, architecture and festival of Bhutan. Most Bhutanese wear traditional clothes every day, men wearing gho and women wearing kira. Besides being a token of the Bhutan cultural identity, the national dress also indicates the fact that Bhutan has been serious towards a question of preserving its traditions.

Tshechu Festival is one of the greatest cultural events in Bhutan that takes place in all parts of the nation once in a year. These colorful festivals involve the mask dancers, music and watering ceremonies which provide a lively glimpse into the life of Bhutanese.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Most of the people of Bhutan are farmers and this agricultural means has been the mainstay of its economy. The most popular crops include rice, maize, and potatoes though Bhutan also has a great variety of popular organic products such as apples, vegetables, and medicinal plants. Other aspects of the country include natural resources such as timber, water and minerals that comprise the economy of the country.

The most valuable natural resource of Bhutan is its giant network of rivers that serves as a source of hydropower. Development of hydropower in the country is at a high level and Bhutan exports electricity to India and, therefore, this is an important source of revenue.

Tourism Industry

Another increasing economic sector in Bhutan is the tourism sector. Bhutan has developed a case of producing high-value, low-impact tourism that makes its main aim to attract those tourists who enjoy the culture of the country and its natural beauty and to be sure that this tourism does not interfere with the local environment and people of the country. The government introduced a tourist fee which is paid daily by the tourist; this has controlled the flow of people and the gains of tourist activities are also channeled back to the developmental actions in the country.

Its beautiful mountains and monuments such as the Tiger Nest monastery, Punakha Dzong and the phobjikha valley are some of the attractions as well as culture that makes it one of the most sought after tour sites by tourists.

Problems and Future of the Project

Despite the great progress achieved by Bhutan in terms of development, some of the challenges experienced by the country include its ability to preserve its cultural identity amidst modernization, how to cope with the climate change, and how the country will be able to divert its economy towards other aspects other than hydropower and agriculture. But this is not the case in Bhutan where Gross National Happiness (GNH) and sustainable development guarantees that the nation shall still focus on the happiness of its population rather than its economic growth only.

Historical Monuments and Cultural Places

Tiger Trek Monastery ( Paro Taktsang): It is one of Bhutanese most famous places and is located on the cliff and hangs at the edge and presents amazing views of the landscape.

Punakha Dzong- It is situated at the meeting point of two rivers- PHo and Mo- it is one of the most beautiful and historically important forts in Bhutan.

Rinpung Dzong – This is another beautiful scenic fortress built with religious purpose and also considered to be a major center of Buddhist study; it is placed in the town of Paro.

Natural Attractions

Phobjikha Valley-Another beautiful glacier valley covered with beautiful panoramas, the valley is habitat to the rare, black-necked crane too.

Bumthang Valley– Bumthang is a serene land of temples and monasteries that is commonly called the spiritual heart of Bhutan and also has beautiful sceneries.

Jomolhari Mountain-Located in Bhutan, Jhomolhari is one of the tallest mountains, which could be used as trekking destinations by adventurers who like stunning sceneries.

Healthcare System

Bhutan has made a great leap in the field of medical care and the government is concerned over the issue of incorporating universal health insurance to its citizens. Although the healthcare infrastructure is developing, especially in the rural setting, Bhutan has improved the situation concerning maternal and child health, poverty-related diseases, and life expectancy.

Education System

In Bhutan, education is given much priority in the sense that the government gives free education to all children through 12th grade. The nation has taken leading steps in the enhancement of the literacy levels and the education system is gradually shifting to employing contemporary methods of learning along with the age-old cultural principles.

Ideal Seasons

The optimum time of visiting Bhutan is either in spring (March-to-May) or autumn (September-to-November). This is the time when the temperate weather is ripe to carry out treks, sightseeing, and exposure to Bhutan festivals. Winters are sometimes cold especially in the high-altitude areas and monsoon months (June to August) are witnessed by heavy rains.

Festivals and Event

Bhutan boasts of colorful festivals and one of them includes the Tshechu festivals which are held in different parts of the country at different times enabling visitors a glimpse of traditional dances, rituals and festivals in Bhutan.

Conclusion: 

Bhutan is a source of hope to any individual who wants a moderate policy on development. In its dedication to Gross National Happiness, sustainability and cultural preservation, the country sets an example to other countries regionally and the globe. Bhutan presents the traveler with a unique chance to get to witness first-hand a nation that upholds its people and their well-being as the most important priority over any other in the world.

F.A.Q.

When is Bhutan best to visit?

March to May and September to November are the best periods to visit Bhutan because the weather during these times is perfect to look around the country and also go on treks.

Which are the best places in Bhutan?

Major attractions of the country are the Tiger Nest Monastery, Punakha Dzong, Rinpung Dzong and the Phobjikha Valley.

Which are the languages spoken in Bhutan?

Dzongkha is the official language in Bhutan though English is spoken widely especially within cities.

On what does the economy of Bhutan rest?

The Bhutanese economy is anchored on agriculture, hydro energy, tourism and handicrafts.

Is Bhutan safe for tourists?

Indeed, Bhutan is very safe as a tourist destination with minimal levels of crimes and good people.

Which are some of the cultural festivals to miss in Bhutan?

Hold the Tshechu Festival to get to know a little about Bhutan culture, through dances and religious activities.