Secluded high in the eastern Himalayas with
unique customs and people with deeply held
beliefs. Bhutan is a land of dzongs and monasteries;
monks, majestic mountains and a rich heritage;
and an architectural style like no other on
earth and a land full of warm-hearted, friendly
people who go to unusual lengths to preserve
each element of Bhutanese life. Today as a
visitor picks up a telephone to call home or
travels over a wide network of roads, it may
be difficult to imagine that as recently as
the 1960's telecommunication was non-existent
in Bhutan and travel within the kingdom could
only be made by horseback or on foot...there
were no roads.
Beyond building a telecommunication network
and roads, Bhutan has been integrating the
process of modernization with the rich heritage
of its past. Bhutanese, go to unusual lengths
to preserve each element of their life; from
environment to dress to language to religion
Bhutanese have managed to keep their centuries-old
culture and traditions alive. Besides learning
as much as from the past, Bhutanese.
The official estimate of Bhutan's population
in 1990 was about 600,000 but other sources
estimate the population for 2000 was just
under 2 million. Those living in Bhutan of
Nepali origin have been excluded from the
official census since 1990 which results
in such a large discrepancy in population
numbers.
Bhutan has four major ethic groups: Bhutia,
Sharchops, Nepali, and other indigenous groups.
The Bhutia, who are descended from Tibetans,
live in the central and northern regions
of Bhutan. This ethnic group basically dominates
politics in Bhutan particularly with it's
contribution of government officials and
monks that come from it. Believed to be Bhutan's
earliest settlers, the Sharchops live in
the southeastern and eastern region. They
speak both Tibeto-Burman languages as well
as Hindi.
The Nepali people are the latest immigrants
to Bhutan. Living in the southwestern and
south central section of Bhutan, immigration
of Nepali's has been forbidden by the Bhutanese
government since 1959. Fear of Bhutan becoming
too heavily populated with Nepalese brought
about this and the ban on living in the central
Himalayan region. Bhutan traditions and culture
are to be retained and not dilute Bhutanese
distinctiveness. There are small groups of
ethnic minorities that live all throughout
Bhutan with the largest group living in the
Duars. This group is related to those groups
living in India's Assam and Bangla states.
Bhutan is a heavenly abode in the heart
of the vast Himalaya. But it is little known
to the outside world just being wedged between
giant neighbors and secluded by some of the
highest mountain ranges. Bhutan-the last
paradise on the earth reflects age-old religion,
culture, arts & architecture in its golden
peaks in the background of deep green valley
and hillside.
