About Bhutan

ABOUT

Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked country located in the southern foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, sandwiched between the China in the north and India in the south. 

It is a sovereign nation, with a total land area of 38,394 km² and a total population of around seven lakhs.

Brief History of Bhutan

Through the ages our Country assumed different names which kept on changing over the period. The oldest name assumed by the country is believed to be Ri Drag Gi Yul (The Country of mountainous terrain) then, Menjong Norbui Ling (Precious land of medicinal herbs) followed by Tshenden Jong and Mon Kha Zhi. Then later, in 13th century, the country came to be called Druk Yul (-Land of the Thunder Dragon). This has emerged from the fact that the Drukpa Kagyud school of Mahayana Buddhism has been the country’s state religion. The people are then called Drukpas, the followers of Drukpa Kagyud and the native people of Druk Yul.

In 1907, Ugyen Wangchuk was unanimously elected as hereditary ruler of Bhutan, crowned on 17th Dec, 1907 and appointed as head of state Druk Gyelpo (Dragon King). In 1926, his son Jigme Wangchuk became next ruler (2nd King of Bhutan). Succeeded in 1952 by his son Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (3rd King), Bhutan began to slowly emerge from its isolation and began a program of planned development. Bhutan became a member of the United Nations in 1971. In 1972, Jigme Singye Wangchuk (4th King) ascended the throne at the age of 20. He emphasized modern education, decentralization of governance, the development of hydroelectricity and tourism and improvement in rural developments. He was perhaps best known internationally for his philosophy of “Gross National Hapiness”. In 2006, his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk became the 5th King of Bhutan.

Today, our country is known to the outside world as Bhutan (derived from Sanskrit words ‘Bhu-uttan’- meaning high land) and its people are known as Bhutanese. Bhutan is the only country which has been independent throughout the history, never conquered, occupied, or governed by an outside power.