Bhutan, a landlocked country in the Himalayan Mountains, has a rich history dating back to the 8th century. It has been ruled by various Tibetan and Mongol lords until the Drukpa sub-sect gained power in the 16th century. The country has had many border disputes with neighboring countries and signed the Treaty of Sinchula with British India in the 18th and 19th centuries. Bhutan is one of the least developed and most isolated countries, with a small economy based on forestry, tourism, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. The country values happiness over gross national product and is mainly Buddhist.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked nation located in the Himalayan Mountains. It borders China and India and has historically been known by several names. It has been called Lho Mon, which means “southern land of darkness”, Lho Tsendenjong, or “southern land of Tsenden cypresses” and Lhomen Khazhi, which means “southern land of the four approaches”. The Bhutanese refer to their nation as Druk Yul, or “land of the thunder dragon”.
The early history of Bhutan is unclear, as many historical records were destroyed by fire in 1827 in Punakha, the ancient capital. Padma Sambhava, a Buddhist saint, is known to have passed through the area in 747 AD and various sects of Buddhism started to emerge in the area. During this period it was ruled by several Tibetan and Mongol lords. After Mongol rule began to decline, these different Buddhist groups began fighting for dominance, until the Drukpa sub-sect gained power in the 16th century.
For the next century, the area consisted of various fiefdoms until the Tibetan military leader and lama Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the area. Namgyal implemented a series of laws and built a network of forts, many of which still exist, to protect the country. In 1621, when Namgyal died, the country fell into civil war. The area was then unsuccessfully attacked by Tibet in 1710 and again, with Mongol help, in 1730.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Bhutan had many border disputes with neighboring countries and finally signed the Treaty of Sinchula with British India. Finally, in 1870, internal power struggles led to another civil war, which brought Ugyen Wangchuck, the governor of Tongsa, to power. He signed a treaty with Britain that technically let Britain run the country’s foreign affairs, stripping it of complete sovereignty.
When India gained independence, it entered into a friendly relationship with Bhutan, which it modernized. In 1953, the Bhutanese legislature was established, and in 1971, Bhutan was admitted to the United Nations. In 1998, Bhutan’s King Jigme Singye Wangchuck implemented political reforms that led to more democracy. Elections to the National Council were first held in 2007 and elections to the National Assembly were held in 2008.
The country remains one of the least developed and most isolated countries left on earth, and its government seems to prefer it that way. The ban on television and internet access was only lifted in 1999, making it one of the last countries in the world to have access to television.
The geography of Bhutan ranges from the Himalayan peaks in the northern part of the country to the subtropical lowlands in the southern area. The national religion is Mahayana Buddhism and the population of the country is mainly Buddhist. Although the Ngultrum is the national currency, the Indian rupee is also accepted.
Bhutan has one of the smallest economies in the world, but it is growing rapidly, with a median annual income of US$1,321 annually in 2006. The economy is mainly based on forestry, tourism, agriculture and hydroelectric power, which is sold to India. As roads are limited and rail systems are non-existent, export is limited.
The country of Bhutan considers happiness more important than gross national product. In a survey by the University of Leicester in the UK, Bhutan had the honor of being ranked the eighth happiest in the world. In fact, he tried to measure the country’s Gross National Happiness (GNH), even though there is no fixed formula for GNH.
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