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The Bhutanese have always lived in harmony with and full respect for nature. The kingdom is one of the world’s ten biodiversity hot spots, very unique, pristine and intact. The country's government wants to maintain a balanced natural ecosystem, with environmental conservation and sustainable development as her pillars. With her splendid scenic beauty surrounded by impressive mountains and many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, Bhutan is a nature lover’s dream.
Flora
Because of her geographical situation, the land of Druk Yul knows different climats. As an effect, you’ll find a wide variety of plants, flowers and trees here. Besides dense forestation, grazing lands, luscious green valleys, wild flowing rivers and crystal blue lakes, you also find alpine mountains with snowcapped peaks and impressive glaciers. Bhutan’s rich flora also contains over 5.500 species of vascular plants like beautiful rhododendron species, magnolias, over 600 orchid species, many medical plants, beard moss and the delightful blue poppy, Bhutan’s national flower.
National parks & wildlife sanctuaries
In order to protect the ecosystems, about 26% of Bhutan consists of national parks, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and conservation areas. The main ones are the Royal Manas National Park, Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park (also known as the Black Mountains), Thrumshing La National Park, Jigme Dorji National Park, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Kulong Chhu Wildlife Sanctuary, Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary, Toorsa Nature Reserve, Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary. In additon a further 9% of the country functions as a biological corridor, connecting protected areas. With 35% of the country being protected by some form of conservation management, the Bhutanese system for the conservation of biodiversity is globally unique.
Fauna
It's not only Bhutan's flora that will capture your heart. It's also the kingdom's wildlife that's impressive and wildy varied with over 165 species of mammals, many of them endemic to Bhutan. It is the land of tigers, elephants, golden langurs, butterflies, water buffalos, bluey sheep, rhesus monkeys and yaks which are the pets of many Bhutanese people. The high Himalayas are the domain of the snowleopard.
The royal kingdom is also a bridwatcher’s paradise with over 620 birdspecies. Many of them are endemic to Bhutan, like the palas osprey, the black necked crane and the hornbill. The Takin is Bhutan’s national animal, being very unique and holding strong associations with myths and religious history.
The history of Bhutan begins around 2000 BC when the Monpa migrated from Tibet. However, the first official recordings date back the the 7th century, with the arrival of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche, known as the second Buddha. He braught Buddhism to the kingdom and is deeply revered all over the country. Throughout the years he established several monasteries. The system of creating and building dzongs was continued by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This Tibetan lama arrived in Bhutan in 1616 CE, introducing the still current dual system of secular and religious government. It is graced to Shabdrung that Bhutan was unified. After Shabdrung’s demise, for two centuries Bhutan was characterized by feuding regions with frequent civil wars. It was then when the regional penlops (governors) got more and more powerful. It was only in 1907 the country became more stable. Bhutan’s chiefs and principal lamas unanimously choose Ugyen Wangchuck as Bhutan's first king. Like Namgyal in his times, it was Wangchuck who again unified the country. This is the starting point of the Wangchuck dynasty, still consisting nowadays.
The next four decades the monarchy directly controlled all of Bhutan, which was mostly isolated from the rest of the world. When China invaded Tibet, Bhutan wanted to avoid Tibet’s fate and strengthened its ties with India. It was in the 1960's when the kingdom abolished slavery and the caste system, undertaking social modernization and enacting land reform.
One of Bhutan’s most important and revered kings – Jigme Singye Wangchuck who was coronated in 1974, started controlled development. He also put a strong emphasis on the preservation of Bhutan’s unique culture and environment. He wanted Bhutan to be economically self-reliant and introduced ‘Gross National Happiness’ to Bhutan and the world. It was also under his reign that Bhutan opened up for the world.
In 1998 major political reforms were made in the kingdom. The Council of Ministers was dissolved by the king and the ministers who up till then were appointed by the Crown, had to be democratically elected. Bhutan experienced dark days in 1991 when 100.000 Nepali civil servants living in Bhutan, wanted more democracy. The Bhutanese government encouraged them to emigrate and even evicted many. Most of the Nepali living in Bhutan went back to Nepal. Nowadays they still live there in refugee camps, administered by the United Nations. They are still not allowedby the Bhutanese government to return.
Democratic reforms continued and King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1998 voluntarily curtailed his absolute monarchy. In March 2005 a draft constitution was released, outlining plans to shift to a two-party democracy. In December 2006, the king abdicated in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk. He still is Bhutan’s present ruler. Present prime minister is Jigme Thinley, belonging to the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party.
March 2008 all the events eventually led to a shift from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with its roots in the Tsa Thrim Chhenmo, a brand new supreme constitution which all citizens received in advance for opinion and feedback before it was radificated. Based on the constitution, Bhutan has a parliament with two chambers. The king is head of state.
Bhutan is the only Mahayana Buddhism Kingdom in the world, with Mahayana (tantric) Buddhism as its official religion. It is practised throughout the entire country by 75% of the inhabitants. Hinduism – closely related to Buddhism, is Bhutan’s second religion, practiced by about 25% of the population. Before Buddhism captured the heart of Bhutan, several forms of animistic religions were practiced. Minority groups still practice these traditions and rituals in some parts of the country.
Buddhims plays a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical and sociological development of Bhutan and its' people. You see this in the reverence Bhutan’s inhabitans have for their land, other people and animals. To ensure that Buddhism stays vividly alive, one son from every family usually attends a monastic school. The three main themes of Buddhism are detachment, ephemerality and change.
