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BHUTAN |
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Bhutan is a landlocked mountain kingdom,
roughly the size of Switzerland'in the eastern Himalayas.
The modem name for the country is derived from the Sanskrit
word 'Bhu-Uttan' ('High Land'). The Bhutanese, however, have
always know it is"Druk Yul". The indigenous people are "Drukpas"
and the school of Buddhism they adhere to is the "Drukpa
Kagyud". Bhutan is the last unspoilt Himalayan kingdoand the
only nation in the world to profess Tantric Buddhism as its
state religion. |
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 Bhutan has never been colonized; and
although recorded history first mentions the country in the
7th century, its independence was recognized even before
that. In the 8th century, the great Tantric mystic Guru
Padmasambhava (more popularly known as Guru Rimpoche in
Bhutan) came to Bhutan from Swat, in present-day Pakistan,
and spread the Buddhist faith through the land, planting the
seeds of the culture that flourishes today. Temples and
monasteries dating from the 8th century still stand as
hallowed places in contemporary Bhutan. The next defining
event in Bhutan's history was the arrival of Ngawang Namgyel,
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 you see today were built during the Shabdrung' s
reign. |
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The most recent watershed in Bhutan's
history was the coming to power of Ugyen Wangchuk, first
hereditary monarch of Bhutan: Like the great Shabdrung,
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 mediatory role between
the British and the Chinese. Finally, on December 17
(Bhutan's National Day) 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was
unanimously elected by all the Regional Governors and the
Central Monastic Body, at the Punakha Dzong and, crowned "Druk
Gyalpo" ("Precious Ruler of the Dragon People"). |
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The present King, fourth hereditary
monarch, is Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk, upon whose
coronation in 1974 Bhutan opened its doors to tourists.While
tourism in Bhutan has come a long way since then, it has
always been guided by the desire to preserve Bhutan's unique
heritage and spectacular natural beauty.Visitors can thus
still encounter a vibrant culture in an unspoilt
environment. |
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COUNTRY PROFILE |
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Area |
47,000 square kilometers |
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Position |
Latitude 26°40' N and
28°15' N and longitude 80°45' E and 92°10'
E. Bhutan is landlocked, with the hot plains
of India in the south and the Tibetan
Autonomous region of China in the north. |
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Population |
0.6 million |
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Capital |
Thimphu |
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Government |
Hereditary Monarchy |
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Religion |
Mahayana Buddhism (Red Hat sect known as
Drukpa Kagyripa) |
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Language |
Dzongkha is the national
language with other dialects spoken in
different districts. English is also widely
spoken. |
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Working hours |
Government offices |
9 am - 5 pm (summer) |
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9 am - 4 pm (winter) |
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Business |
9 am - 5 pm |
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Shops |
8 am - 9 pm (Tuesday closed) |
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Air Transit |
Druk Air the national
airline operates throughbut the week with
flights to Delhi, Calcutta, Dhaka, Bangkok
and Kathmandu. |
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Currency |
The unit currency is Ngultrum |
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NU.l |
100 Chetrums |
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NU.l |
1 Indian Rupee |
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NU.30.85 |
1 US $ |
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Credit cards |
American Express is
accepted in standard hotels and a few
handicraft stores. |
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Seasons |
Winter |
December - February |
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Spring |
March - May |
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Summer |
June - August |
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Autumn |
September - November |
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The best season to visit Bhutan is in spring and autumn |
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