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.