Bhutan

Introduction to Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked South Asian nation situated between India and China.The landscape ranges from the subtropical plains to the Himalayan heights, an elevation gain of more than 7000 m.

Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture (emphasizing corn and rice) and animal husbandry. Small, terraced farms predominate. Forestry, hydroelectricity, cash crops, tourism, and development aid (the latter mostly from India) are also significant. Population estimates range from 750,000, to 2.23 million. Thimphu is the capital and largest town.

Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world; foreign influences and tourism are heavily regulated by the government to preserve its traditional Buddhist based culture. Most Bhutanese are Buddhists and adhere to either the Drukpa Kagyu or the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism . The official language is Dzongkha (lit. "the language of the dzong"). Bhutan is depicted as the last surviving refuge of traditional Himalayan Buddhist culture in most of the literature on the country. There have been allegations of human rights abuses with regard to the minority ethnic Nepali population, who are primarily Hindu.

Bhutan has been a monarchy since 1907. The different dzongkhags were united under the leadership Trongsa Penlop. The current king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, has made some moves toward constitutional government.

In 1999, Bhutan began allowing television (mostly Star TV, a cable channel). Many Bhutanese now blame TV for what they see as a swift rise in crime, materialism, and nontraditional values.

Cultural notes about Bhutan

Cradled in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan has relied on its geographic isolation to protect itself from outside cultural influences. A sparsely populated country bordered by India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan has long maintained a policy of strict isolationism, both culturally and economically, with the goal of preserving its cultural heritage and independence. Only in the last decades of the 20th century were foreigners allowed to visit the country, and only then in limited numbers. In this way, Bhutan has successfully preserved many aspects of a culture which dates directly back to the mid-17th century.

Bhutanese culture derives from ancient Tibetan culture. Dzongkha and Sharchop, the principal Bhutanese languages, are closely related to Tibetan, and Bhutanese monks read and write the ancient variant of the Tibetan language known as chhokey. Bhutanese are physically similar to the Tibetans but history does not record when they crossed over the Himalayas and settled in the south-draining valleys of Bhutan. Both Tibetans and Bhutanese revere the tantric guru Padmasambhava the founder of Himalayan Buddhism in the 8th century.

Official Canadian government advisories for travelling to, in and around Bhutan

You are advised against non-essential travel to Pemagatshel, Samdrupjongkhar, and Sarpang districts on the southeast border with India, and the southern areas of Zhemgang district, due to security problems. Canadians should also be aware that travel to these regions requires a special permit. Travel to southern dzongkhags (districts) on the Indian border is restricted.

Most Canadian visitors to Bhutan do not experience problems. However, isolated terrorist activity has occurred in the southeast border area with India. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times.