Bhutan

Lore & Background

The precise etymology of 'Bhutan' is unknown, although it is likely to derive from the Tibetan endonym 'Böd' for Tibet. Traditionally, it is taken to be a transcription of the Sanskrit Bhoṭa-anta 'end of Tibet' through Nepali Bhuṭān, a reference to Bhutan's position as the southern extremity of the Tibetan plateau and culture. Since the 17th century, Bhutan's official name has been Druk yul (literally, 'country of the Drukpa Lineage' or 'the Land of the Thunder Dragon'). Buddhism was first introduced to Bhutan in the mid of 7th century CE. The Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo extended the Tibetan Empire into Sikkim and Bhutan and ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples. During the 16th century, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal unified the valleys of Bhutan into a single state. He defeated three Tibetan invasions, subjugated rival religious schools, codified the Tsa Yig legal system, and established a government of theocratic and civil administrators. Bhutan came under increasing British influence from the British Empire. Bhutan ceded the Bengal Duars to British India during the Duar War in the 19th century. The Wangchuck dynasty emerged as the monarchy and pursued closer ties with Britain. In 1910, the Treaty of Punakha assured British advice in foreign policy making a protectorate arrangement of a sort although Bhutan never officially became a protectorate. The arrangement continued under a new treaty with India in 1949, signed at Darjeeling, in which both countries recognised each other's sovereignty. Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971 and currently has relations with 56 countries. The 2008 Constitution established a parliamentary government with an elected National Assembly and a National Council.

In Their Own Story

Mist clings to ancient pine forests as a lone traveler ascends toward the cliffside sanctuary of Tiger's Nest. Below, the Paro Valley pulses with the rhythm of dawn prayers; the soft crackle of butter lamps in the wind harmonizes with chants drifting from the dzong. Here, time is not measured by clocks but by the turning of prayer wheels and the slow unfurling of seasons. On a high ridge, a local farmer pauses to offer a silent blessing to a passing stranger, his face etched with the serene patience of a nation that has steadfastly chosen its own path through history.

Reader's Guide

The Himalayan mountains in the north rise from the country's lush subtropical plains in the south. In the Bhutanese Himalayas, there are peaks higher than 7,000 metres above sea level. Gangkhar Puensum is Bhutan's highest peak and is the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. The wildlife of Bhutan is notable for its diversity, including the Himalayan takin and golden langur. The capital and largest city is Thimphu, with close to 15% of the population living there. Bhutan is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and a member of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the Non-Aligned Movement, BIMSTEC, the IMF, the World Bank, UNESCO and the World Health Organization (WHO). Bhutan ranked first in SAARC in economic freedom, ease of doing business, peace and lack of corruption in 2016. In 2020, Bhutan ranked third in South Asia after Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the Human Development Index, and 21st on the Global Peace Index as the most peaceful country in South Asia as of 2024, as well as the only South Asian country in the list's first quartile. Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves for hydropower in the world. Melting glaciers caused by climate change are a growing concern in Bhutan.

Did You Know?

• Gangkhar Puensum is the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
• Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves for hydropower in the world.
• Bhutan ranked first in SAARC in economic freedom, ease of doing business, peace and lack of corruption in 2016.
• The first recorded Europeans to visit Bhutan were Portuguese Jesuits Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral in 1627.