| Bhutan remains one of the most secluded | | | | |
| nations in the world, and almost tourists are | | | | Bhutan remains one of the most secluded |
| involved to book packaged tours (offered by | | | | nations in the world, and almost tourists are |
| the country's numerous tourist agencies) in | | | | involved to book packaged tours (offered by |
| order to travel around the country. | | | | the country's numerous tourist agencies) in |
| | | | order to travel around the country. In |
| Bhutan is one of the to the highest degree | | | | contrast to Nepal, which is well-known as a |
| isolated nations in the world, foreign | | | | budget travel destination, Bhutan imposes a |
| influences and tourism are heavily regulated | | | | minimal daily fee of US$200 for tourists |
| by the government to maintain its traditional | | | | travelling in groups during high season, or |
| Tibetan Buddhist culture. most Bhutanese | | | | US$240 per day for single travelers (who |
| follow either the Drukpa Kagyu or the | | | | still must be accompanied by a guide and |
| Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The | | | | driver). |
| official language is Dzongkha (lit. "the | | | | |
| language of the dzong"). | | | | The traditional dress for Ngalong and |
| | | | Sharchop men is the gho, a knee-length robe |
| Bhutan is often described as the last | | | | tied at the waistline by a cloth belt known |
| surviving refuge of traditional Himalayan | | | | as the kera. Women wear an ankle-length |
| Buddhist culture. Non-Buddhists complain of | | | | dress, the kira, which is clipped at one |
| man rights violations; approximately 100,000 | | | | shoulder and tied at the waist. A |
| ethnic Nepali (who are usually Hindu) left | | | | accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved |
| the country in the 1980s as they were unhappy | | | | blouse, the toego, which is wear off |
| with new government insurances designed to | | | | underneath the outer layer. Social status and |
| reduce the growing illegal immigration | | | | class find out the texture, colours, and |
| derived from Nepal. | | | | decorations that embellish the garments. |
| | | | |
| Stone tools, arms, and remnants of big stone | | | | Scarves and shawls are also indicants of |
| structures provide evidence that Bhutan was | | | | social standings, as Bhutan has traditionally |
| populated as former as 2000 BC. Historians | | | | been a feudal society. Earrings are wear off |
| have theorised that the state of Lhomon | | | | by females. Controversially, Bhutanese law |
| (literally, "southern darkness"), or Monyul | | | | now requires these Tibetan-style garments for |
| ("Dark Land", a reference to the Monpa - the | | | | all Bhutanese citizens including the |
| aboriginal peoples of Bhutan) may have | | | | Nepalese, who are not of Tibetan stock. |
| existed between 500 BC and AD 600. The names | | | | |
| Lhomon Tsendenjong (Sandalwood Country), and | | | | Bhutan's national sport is archery, and |
| Lhomon Khashi, or even Southern Mon (country | | | | competitions are held regularly in virtually |
| of four approaches) have been found in | | | | all villages. It differs from Olympic |
| ancient Bhutanese and Tibetan chronicles. | | | | standards not only in technical details such |
| | | | as the placement of the targets and |
| The earliest transcribed event in Bhutan was | | | | atmosphere. There are two targets placed over |
| the passage of the Buddhist saint | | | | 100 metres apart and teams shoot from one end |
| Padmasambhava (also called Guru Rinpoche) in | | | | of the field to the other. Both member of the |
| the 8th century. Bhutan's former history is | | | | team shoots 2 arrows per round. Traditional |
| unclear, because to the highest degree of the | | | | Bhutanese archery is a social festival and |
| records were destructed after fire ravaged | | | | competitions are organised between villages, |
| Punakha, the ancient capital in 1827. By the | | | | towns, and amateur teams. |
| 10th century, Bhutan's political development | | | | |
| was heavily influenced by its religious | | | | There are typically plenty of food and drink |
| history. | | | | complete with singing and dancing |
| | | | cheerleaders comprising of the wives and |
| Several sub-sects of Buddhism issued which | | | | supporters of the participating teams. |
| were patronised by the Several Mongol & | | | | Attempts to distract A opponent include |
| Tibetan overlords. After the decline of the | | | | standing around the target and making fun of |
| Mongols in the 14th century, those sub-sects | | | | the shooter's ability. Darts (khuru) is A |
| vied with each more for mastery in the | | | | equally popular outdoor team sport, in which |
| political & spiritual landscape, eventually | | | | heavy wooden darts indicated with a 10cm nail |
| leading to the ascendancy of the Drukpa | | | | are throw away at a paperback-sized target |
| sub-sect by the 16th century. | | | | ten to twenty metres away. |