The Hidden Country - Bhutan

The country of Bhutan doesn't get too much popularity compared to its larger neighbors of India and China. Bhutan is often shadowed, and people don't really get to see what it is really like. So in this blog I would like to show you... The Hidden Country of Bhutan.

Bhutan is a small and rural country sandwiched between China and India in the Himalayan Mountains. With a population of 771,000 people, and an area of around 15,000 sq miles, Bhutan is a fairly small country when it comes to population and size. The GDP of Bhutan at 3.7 billion is also very small although it is rising very fast.

Bhutan is a very isolated country and one of the least visited countries in the world. This is partly due to the tourism model "High Value, Low Impact" that Bhutan stands by. Bhutan implements a 100-250 U.S. dollars per day fee that tourists must abide to in addition to the fact that there is only one airport that only two airlines fly to and visitors must travel with a tour guide. The country of Bhutan is truly committed to preserve its unique heritage and pristine environment. Bhutan is also the only country in the world that uses a measurement called Gross National Happiness (GNH). Gross National Happiness is a measurement of the economic and mortal progress that Bhutan introduces.

Bhutan is a small and mountainous nation, as it is high up in the Himalayan mountains. Bhutan's highest mountain is Gangkhar Puensum, #40 in the World, Gangkhar Puensum is also the world's highest unclimbed mountain due to its jagged shape. Also, mountaineering is banned in Bhutan due to the belief that mountains are sacred. Bhutan is a very rural country with around 58% of the population living in rural areas. Bhutan has five national parks, which take up around 51% of the countries area. The largest national park is the Wangchuck Centennial Park. To the north of Bhutan is the province of Tibet in China, with its capital, Lhasa being the closest city to Bhutan. To the south of Bhutan are the provinces of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim in India, with Guwahati being the closest city to Bhutan. Other close countries include Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Because of Bhutan being such a rural country, cities don't appear everywhere you go, but provinces do. Bhutan comprises of 9 provinces: Trongsa, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Daga, Bumthang, Thimphu, Kurtoed, and Kurmaed. There aren't really many cities in Bhutan. The largest city is Thimphu, the capital city. Thimphu has a population of around 144,000 people. Here are a list of the 10 largest cities in Bhutan:

Bhutan has a very rich and unique culture and this culture has remained very intact due to isolation from most of the world. Bhutanese heritage is deeply steeped in Buddhist traditions. The national dress of Bhutan for men is called the "gho" which is knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the "kera". Women wear an ankle-length dress, the "kira", which is clipped at the shoulders by "koma" and tied at the waist with "kera". Jewelry is also commonly worn by women, especially during religious festivals and public gatherings. Dance dramas and masked dances such as the "Cham dance" are commonly traditional features at festivals usually accompanied by traditional music. At these events, dancers depict heroes, demons, animals, gods, and common people by wearing colorful wooden face masks and costumes. The dancers help preserve ancient folk and religious customs. The main cuisine of Bhutan includes rice, buckwheat, and corn. The local diet also includes pork, beef, yak, chicken, and lamb. The national dish is "Ema datshi", which is made with spicy cheese and chilies. Bhutan's national sport is archery. Competitions are held often in most villages. Bhutanese archery is a social event and competitions are organized between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There is usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing. Dzongkha, a Sino-Tibetan language is the national language of Bhutan and is only spoken there. While traditionally patriarchal, Bhutanese society has evolved and is evolving with women enjoying equal rights and opportunities. Some values of Bhutan include respecting elders, dressing modestly, removing shoes before entering temples, and maintaining silence at religious sites. Overall, Bhutanese culture is a captivating blend of tradition and modernity, offering a unique perspective on societal values and the pursuit of happiness.

1. Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is the only capital city in the world without any traffic lights.

2. Bhutan is the only country in the world where the sale of tobacco products are banned.

3. Television was introduced to Bhutan in June 1999, making the Himalayan nation one of the last in the world to do so.

4. Bhutan is one of only three carbon negative countries in the world, meaning more carbon dioxide is removed than emitted.

5. Over 70% of Bhutan is covered in forest, making Bhutan one of the most forested nations in the world.

So this wraps up the beautifully hidden gem of Bhutan! I would like to make this a series, so make sure to vote in the comments for which nation you would like me to do next.

The options are:

Armenia

Uruguay

Mongolia

Happy blogging!