About Bhutan
Hidden in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan had been unknown to the world for thousands of years. When the kingdom first emerged from centuries of self-imposed isolation in the 1960s, it was soon perceived as the “Last Shangri-La”. Wedged between China and India, this little country’s unique development paradigm – known as Gross National Happiness – provides a perfect recipe to save our planet from ecological disaster.
Yet it is inevitable that Bhutan is changing. Five decades of development have had a dramatic impact on the Kingdom which has moved, in a short span of time, from the medieval age into the...
In recent times, Bhutan has become famous worldwide as a happy country. The United Nations to countries like Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, the USA and France have all embraced Bhutan’s gift to mankind,...
Even as the world is trying to heal itself from the scars of ecological damage, Bhutan is emerging as an example to the international community, with more than 70 percent of its land still under...
Bhutanese, arts and crafts, language and literature, ceremonies and events, and basic social and cultural values draw their essence from religious teachings. The exquisite traditional painting is visible on monasteries and houses, skillfully enhancing the...
Most Bhutanese live off subsistence farming scattered in sparsely populated villages across the slopes of the rugged Himalayas. The sense of individuality and independence emerges as a strong characteristic of the people. Numerous ethnic groups...
For a tiny country with less than a million people, Bhutan has built a strong identity for itself by zealously protecting its culture, traditions and other age-old values. Bhutanese culture is manifest in dress, language,...
Religious festivities take place in different districts at specific times during the year. Apart from the spiritual significance, the festivals are occasions to get together and renew acquaintance amid a profusion of sights and sounds...
Just as the kingdom’s history is characterised by religious landmarks, the influence of religion is highly visible in every day life of the lay population. Bhutan is a spiritual nation. Hundreds of sacred monasteries, stupas,...
It is a matter of great pride to the Bhutanese that their small kingdom was never colonised. Its ancient history, which is a mixture of the oral tradition and classical literature, tells of a largely...