BHUTAN AT A GLANCE:
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, land-locked mountainous nation in Asia, located in the eastern Himalaya Mountains north of India and south of China. It is a country with a strong ancient Buddhist culture and almost completely cut off for centuries to avoid foreign influences. Bhutan began to open up very slowly to outsiders in the 1970s. Tourism today is privatized by the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1991 but still restricted; travel is only possible as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour.
BHUTAN AT A GLANCE:
Official Name: Druk Tsendhen, “land of the thunder dragon”
ISO Country Code: bt
Time: UTC +6h
Currency: Ngultrum (BTN) = Indian Rupee (INR)
Country Calling Code: +975
Population: 721,000 (2012)
Capital City: Thimphu
Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy. Previously, various laws and Buddhist values guided the relationship between the state and the people. Constitution enacted 18 July 2008.
National Day: 17 December
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India.
Area: 38,394 km² (14,824 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Mountainous, from the Himalayas to lower-lying foothills to plains with semi-tropical forest, savannah grassland and bamboo jungles
Climate: Alpine to temperate to subtropical with monsoon season from June to September.
Nationality: Bhutanese. Note: The Bhutanese refer to themselves as Drukpa people.
Ethnic groups: Bhutan has three main ethnic groups, Sharchops, Ngalongs (50%) and Lhotsampas, one of several Nepalese ethnic groups (35%), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%.
Religions: The tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism (Drukpa Kagyupa) is state religion, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%.
Languages: Dzongka (official language), English (medium of instruction), Tshanglakha, Lhotsamkha ( Nepali) and Khenkha, Sharchop.
Literacy: 54% (est.). Women’s literacy (est. 20%).
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, timber, gypsum, calcium carbide.
Agriculture products: Rice, corn, root crops, citrus, food grains, dairy products, eggs.
Industries: Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide.
Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, timber, gypsum, calcium carbide.