Nestled amongst the majestic and great, snow-capped Himalayan mountains, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ as Bhutan is popularly known, is a culturally diverse and picturesque country. Famous for its majestic fortresses called Dzongs and mystical monasteries, Bhutan opened its doors to the world in 1961 and has since then captivated visitors with its breathtaking natural beauty and stunning flora and fauna.

Bhutan’s early history still remains shrouded in mystery, though it is a well-known fact that it is steeped in mythology and that Bonism was the prevalent widely accepted religion. The earliest known occupation in ancient Bhutan is believed to have been that of herding animals.

Bhutan’s economy is of one the world’s smallest and least developed. However, it has been growing rapidly in recent years and is largely based on hydroelectricity, tourism, agriculture and forestry. In spite of the rugged terrain and diverse landscape, hydroelectricity and construction continue to be major contributors to Bhutan’s economy.

Art and Craft not only form an essential part of Bhutan’s culture and heritage, but also are intrinsically linked to religion. They represent the exclusive and unique ‘spirit and identity’ of this beautiful country.

Evolved and adapted by new generations over the ages, Bhutanese art forms have preserved the spiritual values and traditions.

Tshechu means ‘tenth day’ in Dzongkha. It is the biggest festival which is celebrated annually in autumn for three to four days, on the tenth day of the lunar calendar. It is a colorful celebration of the happy synthesis of changing nature with many moods of Bhutanese culture.

Bhutan can be generally categorized into three main ethnic groups, the Tshanglas, the Ngalops and the Lhotshampas. The official language is Dzongkha, though over two dozen languages and dialects are spoken across the country.

Bhutanese topography is a beautiful blend of rocky, rugged terrains, consisting of sky-punching mountains set amidst alluring landscapes and deep valleys.

Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. Bhutan used to be an absolute monarchy till the year 1907. Since then, the reigning bloodline of the Wangchuk Dynasty has steered the country towards economic self-reliance, regionally balanced development and environmental preservation and good governance.

Bhutan is a decentralized theocracy and has successfully completed its transition to a constitutional monarchy in 2008, and with it a parliamentary democracy was introduced. Shortly before King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in December 2006, he set the wheels in motion for the first ever country-wide general elections.

Bhutan’s foreign policy aims to continue to develop and maintain friendly relations with all countries in the region and beyond. Bhutan became a member of the United Nations in 1971, though it does not have diplomatic relations with any of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, including The United States.

Bhutan opened its doors to the rest of world only in the early 1960s and remained largely cut-off until then. Only two main entry points gave access to the country by foot, one in the North through Tibet and the second one through the plains of Assam and West Bengal. The high frozen mountain passes in the North were inaccessible during winters and the dense jungles in the south made it extremely difficult to enter the country.