Bhutan is a peaceful and stable country, well-known to the world for its pristine environment and breathtaking sceneries of magnificent mountains. In recent years, Bhutan has not only been considered as one of the most preferred travel destinations in the world, but also increasingly many scholars and students from USA, Canada, Japan and Switzerland considered Bhutan for a place to study abroad.
About Bhutan
Bhutan is the last of the small, hidden kingdoms in the Himalayas to unlock its doors to the world. The Land of the Thunder Dragon, as the name implies, has maintained its integrity and independence throughout the centuries; repelling invasions from the strongholds of its fortified monasteries, or "dzongs". Bhutan is almost entirely mountainous, with the land rising from approximately 180 meters above sea level in the south to the over 7,000 meters snow peaks in the north. The higher regions of these mountains remain almost entirely free of the footprint of man, while the world of alpine meadows below belongs to the yak herders who bring up their herds for grazing amidst the rich grasslands and fields of wildflowers.
Bhutan is a land locked country, approximately 300 km from east to west and 150 km from north to south. It is bordered by Tsang and Lho-Bag provinces of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China in the north and north west, and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the west, south and east.
In the world today of the fast-disappearing Himalayan ecology, Bhutan represents the most unspoiled example the flora and fauna. Brilliantly coloured birds and butterflies are everywhere, along with endless species of flowers, whole mountain slopes covered with tree-size rhododendrons, including some of the rarest species in the Himalayas.
The people of Bhutan can be broadly divided into three main ethnic groups, though this distinction is becoming blurred due to inter-marriages taking place in modern times. The “Sharchops”, who live in the east of the country are believed to be the original inhabitants. The “Ngalongs”, who live mostly in western Bhutan, are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from the 9th century. The “Lhotshampa”, who are of Nepalese origin, settled in the south of Bhutan in the late 19th century. The latter (“Lhotshampa” meaning Southern Bhutanese) are mostly Nepali speaking.
The Bhutanese architectural landscape is made up of chortens (stupas), stonewalls, temples, monasteries, fortresses, mansions and houses.
Bhutan is a remote, mysterious, exhilarating place to visit. It is the most unspoiled, beautiful, powerfully traditional country in the Himalayas, and possibly on earth. Over 72 per cent of the country is under forest cover, including 26 per cent categorized as protected areas, consisting of four national parks. Its allure has attracted visitors from faraway places since the 17th century due to its pure and genuine cultural heritage. The merger of past and future is very visible in Bhutan. Thus, a trip to Bhutan can be a gift of beauty, insight, and friendship that can be treasured for a lifetime.
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