52 Facts About Bhutan

Bhutan is a tiny kingdom nestled high in the Himalayas. 

Bhutan is landlocked by its more prominent neighbours, China (Tibet Autonomous Region) to the north and Bharat to the east.

Officially, Bhutan is called the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy ruled by a king who also serves as the country's head of state.

The cabinet, led by the prime minister, has executive power over the country.

Bhutan's name has a hazy history, but it is thought to be derived from the Tibetan endonym Böd. It was transcribed from the Sanskrit Bhota-anta (shortened to Bhotant), which means "end of Tibet," according to tradition. This is due to Bhutan's location on the Tibetan plateau's southern rim. Another possible origin for the country's name is "Bhu-uttan," which means "highlands" in Sanskrit.

Bhutan was previously known as Lho Mon. Lho, which means south, and mon, which means darkness. As a result, it was dubbed the Southern Land of Darkness. It was so named because, in ancient times, Buddhism had a strong following in Bharat and Tibet but not in Bhutan, indicating that religion had not yet 'enlightened' it.

Bhutan has had an official name since the 17th century, which is "Druk yul," which means the Drukpa Lineage country. This name in turn means the "Land of the Thunder Dragon". This is due to the loud thunder in the area during severe storms.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, also known as Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King, is Bhutan's current king. Because of his humble nature, he is more affectionately known as the People's King. He speaks to his people personally and is said to have met the majority of the country's citizens.

In Bhutan, polygamy is legal. Indeed, one of their previous kings married four sisters. However, the practise is becoming less common these days, while divorce and remarriage are not.

Bhutan is primarily Buddhist. Guru Padmasambhava established the religion in the eighth century. Previously, the dominant religion was Bonism, which involved worshipping nature in all of its forms. In some remote areas of Bhutan, bonism is still practised.

Bhutan was inaccessible and cut off from outsiders for many centuries due to its remote location. It only began to welcome visitors in the 1970s.

The first recorded foreign visit to Bhutan was in 1627. Two Portuguese Jesuits on their way to Tibet met Ngawang Namgyal, the 18th throne-holder or Drukpa at the time. They gave telescopes, firearms, and gunpowder as gifts.

Bhutan is thought to have been inhabited as early as 2000 B.C., based on the discovery of ancient weapons, stone tools, and large stone structure remnants.

Bhutan’s official language is Dzongkha, meaning “language of the palace”. It is the only national language of the country. Approximately 650,000 people speak the language today.

Bhutan's official religion is Buddhism. This religion is practised by approximately 75% of Bhutanese, while Hinduism is practised by approximately 23%. The rest follow Bonism, Christianity, or Islam.

Songtsan Gampo, a Tibetan king who reigned from 627 to 649, was largely responsible for the early spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. Bhutan remained a part of his kingdom, which also included Sikkim in Bharat.

Parts of Bhutan's early history cannot be verified because many historical records were destroyed in a fire in Punakha, the country's ancient capital, during the 1800s.

Bhutan opened its doors to tourists for the first time in 1974. The government wanted to show the world its culture while also increasing revenue. There were 287 tourists who visited that year.

Bhutan's king abdicated in order for the country to become democratic. Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy after elections in 2005. Jigme Singye Wangchuck performed this selfless act because he knew that the kingdom might not always have an honest king.

Bhutan, despite its small size, has had its share of problems. It had to defend itself against the British, Tibetans, and Chinese. The country was fortunate not only to be located in inaccessible territory, but also to have wise leaders. It has remained unconquered in the end.

Bhutan's national animal is the takin. Also known as the gnu goat or cattle chamois, the takin resembles the moose without the antlers. It lives at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 15,000 feet. The species is threatened by habitat loss and competition for grazing areas with domesticated animals.

Citizens in Bhutan have free access to education. Although the subjects are taught in monasteries, the government is working hard to increase the country's literacy rate.

Bhutanese citizens have free access to health care. Many medical services have significantly improved over the years. Traditional medicine is available, but people can choose to avoid it if they so desire.

Yellow is a significant colour in Bhutan, and it is used to indicate one's social status. Monks and nobles wear yellow scarves, while ordinary citizens wear white scarves.

Rice is considered a basic dish because most people are vegetarians. Most rice varieties do not grow in Bhutan due to the altitude, so they cultivate red rice. This variety is chewy and has a distinct flavour.

Tea is a popular beverage in Bhutan. Suja, a yak butter tea that has been a favourite of many Bhutanese since the 7th century, is its most popular drink. The drink is made by boiling tea leaves, straining them, and churning the liquid with yak butter in a wooden cylinder. Salt and/or pepper may also be added. Suja is a high-calorie drink that is ideal for cold climates.

In Bhutan, it is thought that teaching children to be good citizens is just as important as getting good grades.

Although traditional houses exist in Bhutan, two houses are unlikely to look alike. People enjoy decorating, so their walls are covered in patterns and drawings of animals, birds, and flowers.

You can visit Bhutan but you won't be able to see every nook and cranny. Visitors are only permitted to travel with a guide and are not permitted to walk the streets or go anywhere on their own. Visiting Bhutan also necessitates travelling in a group. The Bhutanese government sets and regulates all travel-related expenses.

Bhutanese people adore nature. In 2015, its citizens set a world record by planting 50,000 trees in 60 minutes.

Everyone in Bhutan has a place to live. Because there is no such thing as a homeless person, you are unlikely to come across anyone living on the streets. Anyone without a roof over their head can request an audience with the king. He will then give the person land on which to build a house.

Bhutan has only four airports, one of which is an international airport. This is Paro International Airport, which first opened its doors in 1968. It has one terminal and one runway and is regarded as the most dangerous airport in the world to land at. Only eight pilots are trained and permitted to land a plane at this airport.

In 1999, Bhutan's first television set was installed. The internet became available the same year. Radio broadcasting did not begin until 1973. The delay in bringing technology to Bhutan is primarily due to its leaders' and people's fear of external influences that could have a negative impact on its culture and monarchy.

Bhutan is the world's first country to include a constitutional requirement requiring its citizens to protect and preserve the environment. The government has mandated that the country maintain at least 60% of its landscape under forest cover as part of its responsibility. This allows the region's unique flora and fauna to thrive in their natural environment.

Bhutan's environmental stewardship has paid off. It is the only country in the world that is currently carbon negative.

Anyone convicted of killing the black-necked crane would almost certainly face life in prison. The black-necked crane is both threatened and sacred.

In Bhutan, it is illegal to kill any animal. This is largely due to the people's Buddhist beliefs, which forbid taking another person's life. They do, however, consume meat. The meat, on the other hand, is imported.

Bhutan has a low crime rate, owing largely to the influence of Buddhism. Violent crime is also uncommon.

Bhutan is a relatively new country. Its population has a median age of 28.1 years. A quarter of its population is under the age of 14. Many Bhutanese boys become monks and attend monastic schools. Some monks in training are very young, as young as five years old.

It is considered polite in Bhutan to refuse food that is offered to you. It is a custom for the host to offer a dish to the visitor, who then politely refuse. The guest may refuse up to three times before partaking of the food. When a visitor offers them food, the Bhutanese are expected to do the same. The refusal is regarded as a token of gratitude and respect.

Because smoking is considered a sin in Bhutan, the sale of cigarettes and tobacco is prohibited. It is also believed that tobacco grew from the blood of a demon. Tobacco products, on the other hand, are available at government-run duty-free shops.

Despite the tobacco ban, smokers can import tobacco products in limited quantities, with one caveat. Buyers must pay exorbitant taxes and duties. As a result, smuggled tobacco products from Bharat began to appear on the black market.

At 24,840 feet, Gangkhar Puensum is Bhutan's highest point. It is still the world's highest unclimbed peak.

In Bhutan, one must drive slowly. There are no traffic lights, and the roads in this mountainous region are quite steep. Large animals roam freely, and people frequently stop in the middle of the road to greet one another.

The ema datshi is Bhutan's national dish. Ema (chilies) (chilies) Datshi (cheese) is a dish made by simmering chilies and onions with melted cheese, preferably yak cheese.

Chilies are not considered condiments or seasonings in Bhutan. They are instead treated and served as vegetables.

In Bhutan, inheritance is passed down through the matrilineal line. This means that any assets, property, or belongings owned by the elders will be passed down to the family's eldest daughter rather than the eldest son.

On New Year's Day, Bhutanese people celebrate their birthdays. Every New Year's Day, every Bhutanese turns one year older, which is convenient for those who forget or are illiterate. The year of birth is far more important to the Bhutanese than the day or month of birth.

In Bhutan, the phallus is a symbol of good fortune and a talisman that wards off evil spirits. They are also painted or drawn to help married couples become more fertile. In rice fields, phallic symbols are also used instead of scarecrows. Phalluses can also be found as wood carvings beneath eaves and on top of doorways, as well as in granaries. They're also used in religious ceremonies.

Bhutan is one of the world's happiest countries. It measures economic growth in GNH - Gross National Happiness - rather than GDP. GNH is built on four pillars that measure happiness. These are as follows: a healthy environment, cultural values preservation and promotion, long-term development, and good governance.

Bhutan has the highest average elevation of any country on the planet, at 3,280 metres.