Now infamous as the country that brought Gross
National Happiness to the world, Bhutan shows that at a mere 18,147km2, small
can sometimes be better. So what can you expect in the land of roaring dragons?
A landlocked nation on the southern slopes of
the Eastern Himalaya, the Kingdom of Bhutan is surrounded by the Tibet
Autonomous Region of China to the north, and the Indian states of Sikkim,
Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to the west, south and east.
Bhutan’s considerable variation in altitude,
from subtropical in the south to temperate in the highlands and year-round snow
in the north, forms five distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and
spring.
Bhutan’s
great geographical diversity, combined with equally diverse climate conditions,
contribute to the country’s outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems.
More than 120 species of butterflies, 28 of
which are endemic to the Eastern Himalayas (they occur only in this region) ,
and as many as 750 plant species endemic to the Eastern Himalayas are found in
the country. Providing a home for this diversity are sub-tropical forests, warm
and cool broad-leaved forests, evergreen oak forests, chir-pine forests, and
alpine meadows among others.
Tigers, one horned rhinos, golden langours,
clouded leopards, the sloth bear, the Himalayan black bear and the red panda
are some of the species that have found a relatively safe refuge in Bhutan.
POPULATION & RELIGION:
Ngalops, Sharchops and Lhotsampas are the major
ethnic groups. At least 24 languages are spoken in the country, many of which
have yet to be recorded.
About three fourths of the population practices
Vajrayana Buddhism, followed by Hinduism.
ECONOMY & DEVELOPMENT:
Agriculture, forestry, and the export of
hydroelectric power to India are the foundations of Bhutan’s economy. More than
80% of the population is involved in agriculture, mostly subsistence farming
and animal husbandry. Crops include rice, chili, dairy products (from yak),
barley, apples, and citrus and maize at lower elevations.
***For The Spirited Traveler
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