Eastern Himalayas. This small,
landlocked country is located
along the southern slopes of the
Himalayan range, bounded by
Tibet in the North and India from
the other sides. The official name
of Bhutan is Druk-yul which
means ‘land of the thunder
dragon’. It earned this name because of the fierce storms that often roll in from the
1206: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate by ………………...
1526: Beginning of the …………………… Dynasty
In 1876 Queen Victoria was given the title Empress of India by
the British ………………
1947: India achieved its ……………………….
1774: Warren Hastings was …………………… the first
Governor General of India by the East India Company
Himalayas. The country has an area of 38,394 and a population of 716,896. Since it is
cut off from the rest of the world by the Great Himalayas, a unique culture and
tradition based on gentle Buddhist beliefs have evolved over time.
Bhutanese men wear Gho - a knee length robe - and women wear Kira - a sheet like
cloth piece. Bhutanese houses are built from mud and stone, with wooden shingle
roof. The Bhutanese never use iron nails in their buildings. Usually, the Bhutanese
build each other's houses by exchanging labour within the community. Different
Festivals are celebrated all year round in Bhutan. The festivals reflect colourful
masks and the rich Bhutanese culture. Dances are performed by the Buddhist monks
to protect the valleys and ward off evil spirits. The main religious festival is called
Tshechus. The teachings of Lord Buddha are enacted through mask dances for threefive
days in the courtyard of the monasteries. People attend these events in their best
clothes, with picnic baskets. Another major festival is called Losar. It is celebrated
on Lunar New Year. People cook special dishes and wear new clothes. It is a time
for family get together. Men play archery or darts while women sing and dance.
Pure mountain air, crystal blue skies and pristine vegetation cover have made this
small country an ideal destination for the environment lovers. The ecosystem of this
small nation supports the existence of rich flora and fauna which are protected by
strict laws. Even, anyone found guilty of
killing a black-necked crane could be
sentenced to life in prison.
The government of Bhutan has taken a
number of steps to protect its biodiversity.
Bhutan is the first country in the
world with specific constitutional
obligations on its people to protect the
A Bhutanese family in traditional clothes
environment. As per the constitution, at least 60 percent of the country must remain
under forest cover at all times. Efforts are also taken to protect the nation against the
intrusion of foreign cultures and values. The first foreign tourists were allowed into
Bhutan in 1974. Now, tourism is encouraged but is controlled and limited to about
6,000 visitors a year. Bhutan is one of the last countries in the world to introduce
television and the Internet to its people. The government lifted a ban on TV and the
Internet only in 1999. The Bhutanese government has made it mandatory for all
Bhutanese to wear only their national dress in public.
Finally, the most interesting fact about Bhutan is that they are the only country that
measures success in Gross National Happiness rather than Gross National Product! In
2006, Business Week rated Bhutan as the happiest country in Asia and the eighth
happiest country in the world.
