| BHUTAN | | | | Royal Government and the U.S. Bureau of Census are |
| Population: 2.4 million (UN, 2005; some estimates are | | | | divergent resulting to some odd theories surfacing, |
| significantly lower) | | | | such as a fabricated census to gain the Kingdom entry |
| Capital: Thimphu | | | | into the United Nations with its population requirements |
| Area: 38,364 sq km (14,812 sq miles) | | | | of at least a million. The deal is, as a country in |
| Major language: Dzongkha (official) | | | | extreme seclusion, no census was conducted until |
| Major religions: Buddhism (official), Hinduism | | | | 2005, and it seclusion that the nation's culture is bound |
| Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 64 years (women) | | | | and rooted. |
| (UN) | | | | After all, it is this seclusion that strengthened traditions, |
| Monetary unit: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum | | | | policies, values, unity and loyalty among the Bhutanese. |
| High up in the Himalayas is a place called Drak Yul, | | | | The culture of the Bhutanese is devoid of material |
| Land of the Thunder Dragon, conveyed clearly, with its | | | | gratification having existed with a modest lifestyle since |
| national flag and a menacing dragon emblem in focus, | | | | 500 BC, with firm emphasis on the values of living in |
| a mighty independent country of strong policies in | | | | harmony, controlling anger, overcoming jealousy and |
| South Asia. This is perhaps way too much information | | | | selfishness, and promoting tolerance and patience, |
| than the outside world cares to know about the | | | | which are as important subjects in school as math and |
| trivial-by-impression mountain kingdom. The Kingdom of | | | | science. Deeply rooted in the Buddhist traditions, the |
| Bhutan is a remote and almost mythical earthly | | | | King aims for a slow haste where traditions exist and |
| paradise hailed one of and the last Shangri-la that | | | | subsist in the face of 21st century rapid modernization. |
| evokes spirituality and oriental exoticism. True to the | | | | The country's quirky philosophy of Gross National |
| name, the Dragon Kingdom is among the last pristine | | | | Happiness is the brainchild of the Dragon King Jigme |
| places and undisturbed places in the planet. | | | | Singye Wangchuk wherein holistic happiness is |
| GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE | | | | mandatorily the focus and driving force behind any |
| Bhutan (27 29 N, 89 36 E) is a pristine gem that | | | | endeavour to development. The modest man is a |
| continues to get richer in non-materialistic values. A | | | | pioneer of the principle with four wives, but admiringly, |
| look at the geography of the region might explain such | | | | without Swiss accounts or lear jets on trail, the great |
| lacklustre for material possessions. With its rich | | | | king lives on the front foot in a log cabin quite humbly. In |
| biodiversity and the 72.5% of the country's 38,394 km2 | | | | accordance with the King's ways, the Bhutanese find |
| land covered in forest (and increasing), the tiny nation | | | | everyday happiness from simple things like the ancient |
| may be perceived as a land of golden abundance, but, | | | | traditions of their national sport, archery. |
| the harsh truth is that life in the grasslands is gruelling | | | | FOOD & ATTRACTION |
| with only 7.8% of the total area arable for crops and | | | | In the recent years that the Shangri-la has opened |
| vegetation. No wonder the Bhutanese can understand | | | | itself to the outside world of tourism, technology and |
| very well and appreciate the modest lifestyle provided | | | | television, the international audience is beginning to see |
| by the land. There are two major river systems in | | | | the tiny nation as a jewel, not only for the Kingdom's |
| Bhutan: Mo Chhu and Drangme Chhu which both | | | | rare and dazzling characteristics, but the price it |
| support the land's biggest money spinner, | | | | demands from its scant visitors. As one of the world's |
| hydroelectricity. The overall terrain of Bhutan is | | | | most expensive countries to visit, tourism accounts for |
| mountainous with ranges as high as 1,500-2,700 metres | | | | its second largest source of income. Bhutan is not set |
| 4,900-8,900 feet above sea level, with a few fertile | | | | ideally for a backpacker's travel budget with expenses |
| valleys and savannahs. The highest point remains Kula | | | | per day averaging to an astounding $200, although it |
| Kangri, elevated 7,553 metres above sealevel, and the | | | | has the pristine and pure features and destinations that |
| lowest point is Drangme Chhu, 97 metres above sea. | | | | a backpacker will thirst for. More importantly, the |
| Despite strong policies of environment preservation, | | | | Bhutanese do not view tourists as cash registers to |
| the land is threatened with soil erosion and landslides, | | | | follow around. At the end of the day, being in one of |
| brought about by violent thunderstorms, the origin of | | | | the world's paradise on earth is an invaluable |
| the country's name "Drak Yul". | | | | experience. |
| The kingdom is landlocked, meaning there are no | | | | Back in the 60's, to sink step in Bhutan's soil requires a |
| coastlines or water territories, and sandwiched by | | | | royal invitation from the King. These days, a passport |
| countries of over 6 billion population around it. This is a | | | | and a ticket will do. The icon of Buddhism in Bhutan, the |
| great contrast to the parcels of the population in | | | | famous monastery Taktsang Monastery or "Tiger's |
| pockets such as the 50,000 people living in the capital | | | | Nest" is a crown jewel of the nations where tourists |
| of Bhutan, Thimpu. Population density is a player in the | | | | are not allowed ultimate entry into, which is the similar |
| general 5-season climate of Bhutan just as much at is | | | | case for Singye Dzong in Lhuentse. Jakar draws |
| altitude. In the highlands, the climate is subtropical to | | | | spectators as a sacred site where the earliest temple |
| temperate with hot humid summers and cold winters; | | | | relic, the Kurje Lhakhang can be seen. There are also |
| while up north is a polar-type climate with year-round | | | | other sites that are not off-limits such as the early |
| snow. In the West, monsoon comes with heavy rains, | | | | Buddhist sites in Bumthang Dzongkhang, whereas |
| while central and eastern Bhutan is temperate and | | | | Punakha and Wangdue are famous destinations for |
| drier with warm summers and cool winters. Fall and | | | | cultural tours that offer unique travel experiences as |
| spring are deemed the best times to fully enjoy the | | | | well. On the other, Zhemgang, a bird watcher's |
| grandeur of Bhutan sans the muddy summer soils or | | | | paradise, is a barely explored region endowed with |
| the snow covered winter land. | | | | excellent fauna viewing while the East of Bhutan is the |
| PEOPLE & CULTURE | | | | least trudged by visitors. |
| Legislatively, freedom of religion is propagated but it | | | | Food is hard to come by in Bhutan, as there are no |
| does not harbour the support by the royal government. | | | | places to eat or stay in while rigorously trekking the |
| Vajrayana Buddhism is the way of life in Bhutan | | | | highlands. A Bhutanese meal consists of meat (pork, |
| besides being the state religion followed and practiced | | | | beef, yak, mutton, and chicken) and vegetable dishes |
| by 75% of the Bhutanese. Hinduism comes in second | | | | cooked with chilli, which is of medium heat, |
| with 24% of the populace as followers of the faith, | | | | accompanied by rice, a staple eaten in every meal. |
| while an estimate of less than 1% practice other | | | | There are practically no other spices or condiments |
| religions such as Islam, Christianity, and so on. Christians | | | | other than chilli and cheese-the predominant flavours in |
| estimate to 65,000, the majority in Southern Bhutan, | | | | the national dish the Ema datshi. The traveller needs |
| despite strict restriction towards non-Buddhist religions. | | | | not head this way for dessert because fruits like |
| Christians experience persecution in the form of | | | | watermelons, apples, and blackberries are enough to |
| withdrawal of Bhutanese rights to education, controlled | | | | sate the Bhutanese sweet palette. Although, the |
| practice and expansion of the Church, and oftentimes, | | | | traveller may satiate dessert cravings in Thimpu's Art |
| even loss of citizenship. Succinctly, conversion from | | | | Cafe where cakes, pastries, brewed coffee, and |
| Buddhism is taboo, hence strictly forbidden. | | | | empty calories may be enjoyed. |
| The Bhutanese, the politically correct address to its | | | | In a world of dictators and corrupt governments, this all |
| nationals, consist of two major ethnic groups classified | | | | sounds like the stuff of myths and fairytales where the |
| by region: Ngalops of Western Bhutan, and the | | | | government is free of the taint of corruption, while the |
| Sharchops of the East. The Kingdom's official | | | | King gives up absolute power to bring democracy to |
| language is DZONGKHA of the Ngalops, which is only | | | | the people. There is no opposition, no political parties, |
| 1 of the 24 languages spoken in Bhutan, but just like | | | | just pure love and reverence for a government and a |
| the country's population, the language statistics is not | | | | King who mixes with his people to reach out to them |
| well-characterized. ENGLISH and HINDI are both | | | | in close proximity and hold dialogues with them to |
| understood by people in the urban areas. English is | | | | make sure they are not going hungry and remain, well, |
| widely taught in school and, therefore, used with | | | | "happy."To question the King's modus is punishable by |
| signages written in both Drongka and English. | | | | treason, but the Bhutanese simply have no reason to. |
| Population discrepancies number the Bhutanese from | | | | For more valuable travel information on backpacking |
| 691,141 in 2010 from 2,327,849 in 2007, which is beyond | | | | and various destinations throughout the world please |
| issues of inconsistency and statistics. Statistics of the | | | | visit our website Backpacking Addictz. |