Profile
Tucked away amidst the majestic Himalayas, Bhutan as a travel destination is much sought after by tourists from all over the world. Fondly called as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, this tiny Himalayan kingdom offers fantastic trekking opportunities. The country's forest cover stands at an impressive 72% and environmentalists love to come here to explore. In Bhutan one will find many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
The population stands at a meager 750,000 people and most of them follow the Vajrayana school of Mahayana Buddhism.
There is something very unique, spiritual as well as mystical about Bhutan. For those seeking adventure this is the place where they can really roam to their hearts content. Bhutan as a country is slowly opening up to the world and people are learning to appreciate the ancient and vibrant traditions of this country.
Origin
Signs of inhabitation have been evident in Bhutan since the early part of 2000 BC as per archaeological records. Though Buddhism has been prevalent here since the 2nd century still as per Bhutanese tradition it was Guru Rinpoche who introduced this religion in Bhutan in the 8th century. In fact he is the most revered figure of Bhutan. So much so that he is even regarded as the second Buddha.
The history of Bhutan saw much turmoil's as a number of clans and families ruled over different valleys and clashes were common amongst them as well as with Tibet. In 1616 Ngawang Namgyal who was a monk of the Drukpa Kagyu school of Buddhism came to Bhutan from Tibet. He took the title Shabdrung Rinpoche and soon became a revered religious figure. It was he who unified the country and named it the Druk Yul or the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
However after his death in 1705 Bhutan was again drowned in internal conflicts for the next 200 years till 1907.
In 1907 Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned as the first king of Bhutan unanimously. He became a hereditary ruler of Bhutan and the Wangchuck dynasty began which continues till today. The present king is Jigme Wangchuck. Tourists first stepped into this Himalayan Kingdom in 1975. Television and Internet were introduced in the year 1999.
People and Culture
Bhutan is inhabited by three major ethnic groups- Sharchops (the original inhabitants living in the eastern region), Ngalongs (Tibetan immigrants living in the western region since 9th century), and Lhotshampas (Nepali speaking race living in the southern region since late 19th century).
Bhutan is sparsely populated as 79 percent of the populace lives in rural areas. People follow Mahayana Buddhism's tantric Vajrayana form and it is the official religion here. In the northern and eastern region, Buddhism is the main religion whereas in the southern region Hinduism flourish.
Tibetan influence is evident in Bhutanese art forms like intricate wall paintings, thankas (wall hangings), historical writings and sculpted images. The theme is basically religious.
Buddhism is reflected in the style of dress and architecture of Bhutan. The traditional dress for men is the gho and for women it is the kira. These are colorful dresses and the fabrics are simple cotton checks and stripes. Some are made of woven silk with the most intricate designs.
The architecture of Bhutan mainly consists of chortens, stonewalls, temples, monasteries, fortresses, mansions and houses. The designs are however influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
More about People and Culture
Fairs and Festivals
The Tsechu is the main festival which is held to honour Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Buddhism in Bhutan. It is organized in every district where hundreds of Bhutanese participate in a spirit of festivity, celebration and deep faith. Dancers dressed in elaborate and ancient costumes, masks and headgear perform during this festival. This festival which begins from the tenth day of the Bhutanese month lasts up to four days.
The other important festival is Throngdoel which means "liberation on sight" and a giant thangkha known as a throngdel is unfurled. There are long queues of people who by touching the bottom of the thangkha with their heads seek blessings.
There are also folk festivals that are celebrated in Bhutan amongst smaller communities as per their local beliefs and inspiration by the pre-Buddhist tradition known as the Bon practice. Some of the prominent folk festivals are: -) Ache-Lhamo Dances (in Bumthang), Hungla dances (in Trashi Yangtse), Bon festival (in Ha and in Trashi Yangtse).
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