Language: - The Tibetan language is generally classified as a Tibeto-Burman language of the Sino-Tibetan language family although the boundaries between 'Tibetan' and certain other Himalayan languages can be unclear.

History:- Much of Bhutan's early history relies on legend and folklore, as many of the country's historical documents have been lost to fires. However, the modern era is far better documented, and no less colourful. A hereditary monarchy since 1907, this remote and insular kingdom experienced dramatic change in the last half century, when it sought to become a member of the wider international community and set off on the road to modernisation. Development has been carefully controlled in order to preserve the country's natural resources and national identity. One of Asia's natural and cultural gems, Bhutan became a Democracy in July of 2008.

 

Timeline of Bhutan History

• 1972 - King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck dies and is succeeded by his son, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, aged 16. The young king pledges to continue modernisation and announces a plan for the country to achieve economic self-reliance and the ideal of "GNH". Gross National Happiness

• 1974 - Bhutan establishes its own monetary system and currency, the ngultrum. International press are allowed to enter the country for the official coronation of the fourth king. To accommodate 287 invited guests several hotels are built facilitating the dawn of tourism within the country

• Early 1990s - Thousands of ethnic Nepalis in southern Bhutan flee to Nepal after they are declared illegal immigrants and for demanding greater democracy and respect for Nepali rights.

• 1998 - The king relinquishes absolute rule, dismisses a fully nominated cabinet and agrees to include members of a new national assembly, elected by village bodies, in a council of ministers

• 1999 - Television arrives

• 2000 - The first Internet cafe opens in the capital, Thimphu

• Nov 2004 - Bhutan becomes the first country in the world to ban sales of tobacco products

• Mar 2005 - Bhutan unveils the draft of its first constitution that aims to set up a two-party democracy

• Dec 2005 - King Jigme Wangchuck announces he will hand over power to his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and hold the country's first multi-party democratic elections in 2008

• Dec 2006 - King Jigme Wangchuck abdicates to make way for his Oxford-educated son

• Mar 2008 - Bhutan votes in its first ever parliamentary elections

• Jul 2008 - The king ratifies Bhutan's first constitution, formally ending a century of royal rule and establishing a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state

• Nov 2008 - The 5th King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 28, is coronated, becoming the youngest reigning monarch on the planetHimalayan mountain ranges of the north. A stunning and unspoilt destination.

Geography: - Most modern geographical sources consider Tibet to be located in East Asia while some (mostly European and American sources) have regarded Tibet as part of Central Asia. Today's maps of the West show a trend toward considering all of modern China, including Tibet, to be part of East Asia. Some academic institutions also include Tibet in their South Asia studies programs. Tibet is west of China proper, and within China, Tibet is regarded as part of Xibu a term usually translated by Chinese media as "the Western section", meaning "Western China".

Economy: - The Tibetan economy is dominated by subsistence agriculture. Due to limited arable land, the primary occupation of the Tibetan Plateau is raising livestock, such as sheep, cattle, goats, camels, yaks, dzo, and horses. The main crops grown are barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and assorted fruits and vegetables. As a result of being subsistence agricultural society Tibet is ranked the lowest among China’s 31 provinces, on the Human Development Index according to UN Development Programme data.

Culture & Religion: - Religion and spirituality is extremely important to the Tibetans and has a b influence over all aspects of lives; ingrained deeply into their cultural heritage. Bön is the ancient traditional religion of Tibet, but following the introduction of Tantric Buddhism into Tibet by Padmasambhava this became eclipsed by Tibetan Buddhism, a distinctive form of Vajrayana. Tibetan Buddhism is practiced not only in Tibet but also in Mongolia, parts of northern India, the Buryat Republic, the Tuva Republic, and in the Republic of Kalmykia and some other areas in China besides the Tibet region.

 

Bhutan Festivals

TSHECHUS:There are many types of festivals in Bhutan, but the best known are tshechus which are religious festivals in honour of the revered saint the Guru Rimpoche.Tshechus are held around for a few days around the 10th of the month. Each district dzong and a large number of villages will have an annual tschechu attracting people from the surrounding countryside. People flock to witness festival the dances and procession, dressed in their best clothes and most expensive jewelery. The festival attendees receive blessings and watch the performances of the masked dances as they perform colourful life dramas. The belief is that merit is accumulated by attending the festival, becoming immersed in religion and watching the religious dances.

Tsechus are celebrated for several days, and normally consist of three parts: the "Pre-festival" on the first day, ceremonies inside Dzong on the second day, and the main festivities on the festival ground on the remaining two to three days, along with a wang, a blessing given by a high lama. Certain tshechus end with the dawn unfurling of a huge religious embroidered thangka, respresenting Guru Rimpoche and his Eight Manifestations. This type of thangka is called a thongdrel, which means that just by viewing it , you have a chance of being delivered from the cycle of reincarnations.

Both monks and lay people perform in the tsechu dances. Masked and dressed in elaborate costumes of silk brocade, dancers demonstrate the triumph of good over evil and the power of compassion to the sounds of trumpets, cymbals and flutes. Dances are interspersed with folksongs and masked clowns (atsaras) who entertain the crowds. Atsaras are the only people who are allowed to mock religion, without showing disrespect. The dances, masks and costumes of Bhutan's festivals have survived unchanged for over 1000 years. Each dance is said to be an exact re-enactment of visions seen by Bhutan's great Buddhist saints, and thus any changes would be sacrilegious and the dances are the same from festival to festival.

 

Bhutan climate

Bhutan has a varied climate depending on elevation. The low-lying southern border has subtropical temperatures with high amounts of rainfall, the central areas of Bhutan are temperate highlands and the Himalayan regions have a polar climate with all year round snow. Western Bhutan has heavy monsoons but eastern Bhutan is drier than the west with warm summers and cool winters.

Bhutan's generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. From mid April until mid-June, there are occasional showers as the temperatures rise and the summer monsoon lasts from late June through late September bringing heavy rains from the southwest, high humidity, flash floods and landslides, and numerous misty, overcast days. Autumn, from late September or early October to late November is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations. From late November until March, winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 meters.

At any time of year, conditions can change quickly in the Himalayas, and the weather and climate can be diverse as you traverse high mountain passes decend into warmer valleys.

 

Bhutan Ecology

This small Himalayan kingdom has a rich array of animal and plant species. The remote geographical location and the government's policy of isolation has meant that relatively little ecological research has been done. At the same time the government's careful development programme has kept the country unbelievably unspoilt. It is likely that there is much more to be discovered in Bhutan's unexplored territory.

Forest still covers more than 50% of the country and glaciers cover 10% of the area. Rocky ranges, heathlands made up of alpine dwarf bushes and pasture make up a further 25%. Only 8% is under cultivation, growing crops to feed around 600,000 people.

Bhutan stretches over an area of 46,500 sqkm with high moutains in the north and subtropical jungles in the south. The highest peak is Gangkar Punsum at 7,497m and the lowest point is on the Indian Border 150m above sea level. Such conditions have created a variety of habitats rich diversity of species within a small area. The country is divided further by seven southward flowing great rivers. Ravines with depths of up to 3,000m act as natural boundries for many plants as well as some animals.580 species of birds have been recorded. The Common raven is the most revered bird. The god Mahakala took the form of the bird to lead Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyl to Bhutan. Around two hundred black-necked cranes migrate from Tibet to Bhutan in winter. These can be witnessed at Gangtey where the birds are celebrated at a festival in their honour. The colourful Rufous-necked hornbill, Mrs Gould's sunbird and Satyr Tragopan are also to be found here.

The country's devotion to Buddhism has meant that hunting of animals is strictly forbidden. The tlargest of Bhutan's mammals are the Asiatic Elephant and rare Indian Rhinoceros. The country also boasts the tiger, leopard, red panda, and the national animal of Bhutan - the strange goat-like Takin. In the mointains the grey wolf preys on horned animals such as the blue sheep, serow and goral. The snow leopard is roams above the treeline in the summer and has been sighted at altitudes above 5,500m.