麻豆APP

Bhutan: 30 Fascinating Facts About the World’s Last Shangri-La

Bhutan is a landlocked South Asian country, which is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. It is a kingdom with a rich cultural heritage and a deep connection to nature. Bhutan is also known for its unique approach to development, which is based on the concept of Gross National Happiness.

Bhutan is a popular tourist destination, but the government carefully controls tourism to protect the country’s environment and culture. Visitors to Bhutan can experience stunning mountain scenery, ancient temples and monasteries, and a unique way of life. Bhutan is often called the last Shangri-La, a mythical place of peace and tranquility. In this article, we highlight the fascinating world of Bhutan. We explore its rich history, culture, and unique approach to development. Let鈥檚 delve into the article.

1. Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures its progress by Gross National Happiness (GNH) instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Gross National Happiness (GNH), sometimes called Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH), is a philosophy that guides the government of Bhutan. It includes an index which is used to measure the collective happiness and well-being of a population. This is contrary to what other countries use which is the Gross Domestic Product.  Gross National Happiness Index is instituted as the goal of the government of Bhutan in the Constitution of Bhutan, enacted on 18 July 2008.

GNH is a holistic approach to development that takes into account not only economic growth but also social and environmental well-being. Bhutan is the only country in the world that measures its progress by GNH, and it has been praised for its commitment to sustainable development.

2. Bhutan is known locally as the Land of the Thunder Dragon

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bhutan is known locally as Druk Yul or Land of the Thunder Dragon, a name reflecting the cultural heritage of the country. A druk appears on the flag of Bhutan, holding jewels to represent wealth. According to traditional accounts, when the sect’s founder, Tsangpa Gyare, 1st Gyalwang Drukpa, began to build Ralung Monastery, there was a violent storm. 

Thunder is seen as the roar of the dragon. Deciding that this was an omen, he named the monastery Drug-Ralung, adding the word thunder dragon to the name. As of the 1900s, the Grand Lama of Bhutan wore a hat with thunder dragons on it to signify the origins of the sect. As the sect became more popular, it set up monasteries in what is now Bhutan, with the result that the area became known as Dug Yul, or Land of Thunder, among both Tibetans and Bhutanese.

3. The official language of Bhutan is Dzongkha

Dzongkha was declared the national language of Bhutan in 1971. Dzongkha study is mandatory in all schools, and the language is the lingua franca in the districts to the south and east where it is not the mother tongue. 

It is written using the Tibetan script. The word dzongkha means the language of the fortress, from dzong fortress and kha language. As of 2013, Dzongkha had 171,080 native speakers and about 640,000 total speakers.

4. Bhutan is home to the world’s highest unclimbed mountain, Gangkhar Puensum

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Gangkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, with an elevation of 7,570 metres and a prominence of 2,995 metres. Its name means White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers in Dzongkha.

Gangkhar Puensum lies on the border between Bhutan and Tibet. After Bhutan was opened for mountaineering in 1983 there were four expeditions that resulted in failed summit attempts in 1985 and 1986. In 1999, a Japanese expedition successfully climbed Liankang Kangri, a 7,535-metre subsidiary peak, separated from the main peak by a 2-kilometre long ridge to the north-northwest. Since 2003, mountaineering has been banned in Bhutan.

5. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy 

Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a king known as the Druk Gyalpo as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The current sovereign king of Bhutan is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the fifth Druk Gyalpo. He wears the Raven Crown, which is the official crown worn by the kings of Bhutan.

King Jigme Khesar was the youngest reigning monarch in the world, aged 28 during his coronation when he ascended the throne on 1 November 2008 after his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, abdicated the throne in his favor.

6. Bhutanese culture is deeply rooted in Buddhism

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. Tibetan Buddhism evolved as a form of Mah膩y膩na Buddhism stemming from the latest stages of Indian Buddhism. 

Tibetan Buddhism also includes tantric practices, such as deity yoga and the Six Dharmas of Naropa, as well as methods that are seen as transcending tantras, like Dzogchen. Its main goal is Buddhahood. The main language of scriptural study in this tradition is classical Tibetan.

7. Bhutan is famous for its unique traditional architecture

Bhutanese architecture remains distinctively traditional, employing rammed earth and wattle and daub construction methods, stone masonry, and intricate woodwork around windows and roofs. Traditional architecture uses no nails or iron bars in construction. 

Characteristic of the region is a type of castle fortress known as the dzong. Since ancient times, the dzongs have served as the religious and secular administrative centres for their respective districts. The University of Texas at El Paso in the United States has adopted Bhutanese architecture for its buildings on campus, as have the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and other buildings in the city of El Paso.

8. Bhutan is a high-value tourist destination

, , via Wikimedia Commons

In 2014, Bhutan welcomed 133,480 foreign visitors. Bhutan is a high-value destination. It imposes a daily sustainable development fee of US$100 a day on all nationals except Indians. Indians can apply for a permit to enter Bhutan which costs 1,200 INR per day. 

The tourism industry employs 21,000 people and accounts for 1.8% of GDP. Bhutan also has numerous tourist sites that are not included in its UNESCO tentative list. Bhutan has one element, the Mask dance of the drums from Drametse, registered in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

9. Bhutan is a carbon-negative country

Bhutan is known for its strong environmental conservation efforts, with over 70% of its land covered by forests, and it’s one of the few carbon-negative countries in the world.

While the entire country collectively produces 2,200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, the immense forest covering 72% of the country acts as a carbon sink, absorbing more than four million tons of carbon dioxide every year.

10. Bhutan is home to a variety of rare and endangered wildlife

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The wildlife of Bhutan is notable for its diversity, including snow leopards, red pandas, and various species of pheasants. The tiger, one-horned rhino, golden langur, clouded leopard, hispid hare and sloth bear live in the lush tropical lowland and hardwood forests in the south. In the temperate zone, grey langur, tiger, common leopard, goral and serow are found in mixed conifer, broadleaf and pine forests.

Fruit-bearing trees and bamboo provide habitat for the Himalayan black bear, red panda, squirrel, sambar, wild pig and barking deer. The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, antelope and Himalayan musk deer. Flora and birds abound with more than 770 species of bird and 5,400 species of plants known to occur throughout the kingdom.

11. Ema datshi is one of the most famous dishes in Bhutanese cuisine 

Ema datshi, made very spicy with cheese and chillies, might be called the national dish for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. This is a Bhutanese dish made from hot chilli peppers and cheese. It is among the most famous dishes in Bhutanese cuisine, recognized as a national dish of Bhutan. Ema means chilli and datshi means cheese in the Dzongkha language of Bhutan.

The cheese used in ema datshi is called Datshi, it is homemade from the curd of cow or yak’s milk. In the process, the fat is removed from the curd to make butter, and the remaining curd without fat is used to make the cheese. After the cheese is made, the whey is left over, which is used as a soup that can be taken with rice. No part of the milk is wasted.

12. The Taktsang Palphug Monastery is one of the most iconic landmarks in Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The Taktsang Palphug Monastery also known as the Tiger’s Nest is a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley in Bhutan. It is one of thirteen Tiger’s Nest caves in historical Tibet in which Padmasambhava practised and taught Vajrayana.

The shrine dedicated to Padmasambhava, also known as Gu-ru mTshan-brgyad Lhakhang or the Shrine of the Guru with Eight Names, refers to Padmasambhava’s Eight Manifestations and is an elegant structure built around the cave in 1692 by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. It has become the cultural icon of Bhutan.

13. Bhutan uses its own calendar and has numerous public holidays

Bhutan has numerous public holidays, most of which coincide with traditional, seasonal, secular or religious festivals. Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or tshechus. 

While national holidays are observed throughout Bhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas. Bhutan uses its own calendar, a variant of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar. Because it is a lunisolar calendar, dates of some national holidays and most tshechus change from year to year. For example, the new year, Losar generally falls between February and March.

14. Dzongs serve as religious and administrative centers in Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Dzong architecture is used for dzongs, a distinctive type of fortified monastery architecture found mainly in Bhutan and Tibet. The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks’ accommodation. 

Dzongs serve as the religious, military, administrative, and social centres of their district. They are often the site of an annual tsechu or religious festival.

15. The national animal of Bhutan is the takin

The Bhutan takin is Bhutan’s national animal. In Bhutan, Takin are found in bamboo forests at altitudes of 1,000 to 4,500 metres, where they eat grass, buds and leaves. Takins are diurnal, active during the day, resting in the heat on particularly sunny days. 

Takin gather in small herds in winter and herds of up to a hundred individuals in the summer; in winter, they move to lower elevations and split into smaller herds of 10鈥�50 individuals. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habitat loss.

16. Bhutan’s national and most popular sport is archery

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Bhutan’s national and most popular sport is archery. Competitions are held regularly in most villages. It differs from Olympic standards in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. Two targets are placed over 100 metres apart, and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. 

Each member of the team shoots two arrows per round. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event, and competitions are organised between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There is usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter’s ability. 

17. Bhutan is referred to as the World’s Last Shangri-La

Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact because of its isolation from the rest of the world until the mid-20th century. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country’s culture and traditions. Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage.

The government is increasingly making efforts to preserve and sustain the current culture and traditions of the country. Because of its largely unspoiled natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has been referred to as The Last Shangri-La.

18. The Punakha Dzong is the second oldest and second largest dzong in Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The Punakha Dzong meaning the palace of great happiness or bliss, is the administrative center of Punakha District in Punakha, Bhutan. Constructed by Ngawang Namgyal, first Dalai Lama, in 1637 to 1638, it is the second oldest and second-largest dzong in Bhutan and one of its most majestic structures. 

Punakha Dzong was the administrative centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955 when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

19. Bhutan was the first nation in the world to ban tobacco

Bhutan was the first nation in the world to ban tobacco. It was illegal to smoke in public or sell tobacco, according to the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010. Violators are fined the equivalent of $232, a month’s salary in Bhutan. 

In 2021, this was reversed with the new Tobacco Control Act 2021 to allow for the import and sale of tobacco products to stamp out cross-border smuggling of tobacco products during the pandemic.

20. Bhutan holds annual religious festivals known as tsechus

漏 Christopher J. Fynn / Wikimedia Commons

A tshechu is any of the annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar Tibetan calendar. The festival occurrence is dependent on the month. 

Tshechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce. The Thimphu tshechu and the Paro tshechu are among the biggest of the tshechus in terms of participation and audience. 

21. Bhutan’s currency is the Ngultrum

The ngultrum is the currency of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It can be literally translated as silver for ngul and coin for trum. It is subdivided into 100 chhertum. 

The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan, the central bank of Bhutan is the minting authority of the ngultrum banknotes and coins. The ngultrum is currently pegged to the Indian rupee at parity.

22. The Bhutan flag features a Chinese dragon from Bhutanese mythology

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The national flag of Bhutan is one of the national symbols of Bhutan. The flag features a Chinese dragon from Bhutanese mythology. This alludes to the Dzongkha name of Bhutan as well as the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, which is the dominant religion of Bhutan.

The Bhutanese subsequently redesigned their flag to match the measurements of the flag of India, which they believed fluttered better than their own. Other modifications such as changing the red background color to orange led to the current design, in use since 1969. The National Assembly of Bhutan codified a code of conduct in 1972 to formalize the flag’s design and establish protocol regarding acceptable flag sizes and conditions for flying the flag.

23. Bhutan has a young population, with a median age of around 25 years

Bhutan had a population of 777,486 people in 2021. Bhutan has a median age of 25 years.

There are 1,070 males for every 1,000 females. The literacy rate in Bhutan is around 66 per cent.

24. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan. Thimphu, as the political and economic centre of Bhutan, has a dominant agriculture and livestock base, which contributes to 45% of the country’s GNP.

The culture of Bhutan is fully reflected in Thimphu in literature, religion, customs, and national dress code, the monastic practices of the monasteries, the catholic church, traditional music, and dance, and in the media. 

25. Bhutan celebrates its National day on December 17th

The National Day of Bhutan is December 17. The date marks the coronation of Ugyen Wangchuck as the first Druk Gyalpo of modern Bhutan. 

Celebrations are held at Changlimithang Stadium, and include a public address by the Druk Gyalpo and a procession including a statue of Ugyen Wangchuck to honour the first Druk Gyalpo and the independent Bhutanese nation.

26. The Je Khenpo is the head of state religion in Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The Je Khenpo is the head of the state religion. His primary duty is to lead the Dratshang Lhentshog, Commission for the Monastic Affairs of Bhutan, which oversees the Central Monastic Body, and arbitrates on matters of doctrine, assisted by Five Lopen Rinpoches.

The Je Khenpo is also responsible for many important liturgical and religious duties across the country. The sitting Je Khenpo is also formally the leader of the southern branch of the Drukpa Kagyu sect, which is part of the Kagyu tradition of Himalayan Buddhism. 

27. Bhutan maintains its own military units

The Royal Bhutan Army is a branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Bhutan responsible for maintaining the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty against security threats.

It was customary, but not obligatory, for one son from each Bhutanese family to serve in the army. In addition, militia may be recruited during emergencies. It may, from time to time, be called on to assist the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) in maintaining law and order.

28. The national emblem of Bhutan has elements symbolizing Bhutan’s protective power

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The national emblem of Bhutan maintains several elements of the flag of Bhutan, with slightly different artistry, and contains much Buddhist symbolism.

The official description of the emblem is as follows: The national emblem, contained in a circle, is composed of a double diamond thunderbolt placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power. The lotus symbolizes purity; the jewel expresses sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female, stand for the name of the country which they proclaim with their great voice, the thunder.

29. Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves for hydropower in the world

Hydropower, also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. Hydropower is a method of sustainable energy production. Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves for hydropower in the world.

30. Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan. It is considered one of the world’s most challenging airports, and only a very small number of pilots are certified to land at the airport. Flights to and from Paro are allowed under visual meteorological conditions only and are restricted to daylight hours from sunrise to sunset. 

From this article, we have established that Bhutan has its own unique culture. Its beautiful scenery and people鈥檚 commitment to happiness and well-being are one of Bhutan鈥檚 most interesting attributes. While it still faces challenges as a small unique country in an ever-evolving world, the way Bhutan is working to preserve its identity in the face of modernization is admirable.