BHUTAN-The Fascinating Himalayan Jewel

Bhutan's early history is steeped in Buddhist tradition and mythology. It's said that a saint who had the ability to appear in different forms visited Bhutan and left the imprint of his body and his hats on rocks. The Kingdom's more recent history is no less amazing, with intrigue, treachery, fierce battles and extraordinary pageantry all playing an important part. Developments efforts have now been evolved in different areas. Despite the speed of modernization, Bhutan has maintained a policy of careful, controlled growth in an effort to preserve its national identity.

With an area of 46,500 square kms Bhutan is comparable to Switzerland both in its size and topography. It was the mighty Himalayas which protected Bhutan from the rest of the world and left the Kingdom blissfully untouched. The Drukpa Kagyupa school of Mahayana Buddhism provided the essence of a rich culture and a fascinating history. The Bhutanese people protected this sacred heritage and unique identity for centuries by choosing to remain shrouded in a jealously guarded isolation.

The Kingdom is peopled sparsely by a population of 0.6 million (Not Fixed). Three main ethnic groups constitute Bhutan's population; the Sharchopas, who are held to be indigenous inhabitants, the Ngalogps whose descendent is traced to neighboring Tibet and the Lhotshampas, recent immigrants of Nepalese origin. The inhabitants of Bhutan are gracious gentle and very hospitable, they are peace loving and possess lively sense of humor.