Kingdom of Bhutan - Interesting facts.
Kingdom of Bhutan – Perched in the highlands of the eastern Himalayas, the pristine Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan becomes a special destination to enthusiastic travelers who want to see and experience an age old culture thriving with modernity at the same time. Bhutan could perhaps be one of the happiest countries, not simply because the country has adopted the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), but because of its ecological richness, the still thriving cultural heritage with valued tradition that has been preserved for ages.
The Iconic Tiger’s nest monastery in Paro.
The country is one of the last remaining bastions of Mahayana Buddhism as prophesied by Guru Padma Sambhava when he came to Bhutan in the 7th century. It’s also proclaimed by many as the last Shangri-La in earth. And yet it’s also the newest democracy in the world. In March 2008, Bhutan had its first election to elect the first ever parliamentarians and a new Prime Minister in accordance to the constitution.
A country with a population of just 750,000 that is sparsely scattered over 38,816 sq. km in the high mountains and valleys who live in harmony with nature. The towering mountains and hills of Bhutan are historically believed to be the abode of gods and goddesses. Visitors proclaim Bhutan is a rare intersection of modernity and age old cultural tradition. The country’s history proudly gives a special place to the fact that it was never colonized by any foreign power of any kind. Sandwiched between two classic Asian giants: India to the south, east and west and China to the north, Bhutan quietly follows and treads its own unique progressiveness towards the modern world of today.
Kingdom of Bhutan – The first carbon - neutral country.
In 2009, Bhutan pledged to remain a carbon-neutral country for all times to come; and though the country is still grappling with its acute economic demands, it wills to forgo rapid industrialization and exploration of minerals for the sake of emitting less and absorbing other countries’ carbon. It actually absorbs more carbon than what it emits as its constitution mandates a 70% green vegetation at all times. This is why Bhutan is ranked as one of the top ten biodiversity hotspots in the world. And of course, it is a new popular tourist destination.
Interesting facts:
- Tourism in Bhutan began in 1974 coinciding with the coronation of the 4th King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
- As most citizens don’t know their date of birth, the government listed them as born on new year’s day in their citizenship identity cards. As such, all citizens officially become one year older on new year’s eve.
- Gangkhar Puensum (24,840 ft.) is the highest point in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
- Plastic bags are banned in Bhutan.
The tallest statue of Buddha in the world (51.5 m).
- The only country in the world where there is a festival to welcome migrating birds.
- The university of Texas at El Paso, USA, has been built in traditional Bhutanese architectural style.
- Inheritance is generally passed on to the daughter rather than the son. And so, after marriage, a man often moves into the home of his new wife.
- Television and internet came to Bhutan only in 1999.
- The only country in the world that has no traffic lights.
- Chili is the main dish in Bhutan. All other dishes merely take up space along the edge of the plate.
- The first country in the world to ban tobacco.
- The only country in the world that is carbon negative. It means that Bhutan absorbs more carbon dioxide than it emits.
- Bhutan got its first paved road only in 1962.
- The Bhutanese believe that phalluses help ward off evil. Hence it is common to find phallus drawings in most houses.