[86] Jigme Thinley served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. The Eastern Himalayas have been identified as a global biodiversity hotspot and counted among the 234 globally outstanding ecoregions of the world in a comprehensive analysis of global biodiversity undertaken by WWF between 1995 and 1997. Another popular sport is basketball. Although uncommon, polygamy is accepted, often being a device to keep property in a contained family unit rather than dispersing it. The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, Tibetan wolf, antelope, Himalayan musk deer and the takin, Bhutan's national animal. [187][188], Basic healthcare in Bhutan is free, as provided by the Constitution of Bhutan. They are Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan (RICB), National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF), and Bhutan Insurance Limited (BIL). [14] The wildlife of Bhutan is notable for its diversity, including the Himalayan takin. [51] A central plank of the Bhutanese government's policy since the late 1980s has been to strengthen the role and status of Dzongkha in national life. Because of its largely unspoiled natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has been referred to as The Last Shangri-La. [67], More than 770 species of bird have been recorded in Bhutan. Flocks of stunning migratory birds visit the park every winter and unwind by the lake – an eye-catching view. Around 50 species of the known birds are winter migrants. It has since expanded relations with 55 countries, including Bangladesh,[16] Israel,[17] Kuwait,[18] Brazil,[19] Japan,[20] Thailand,[21] and Turkey;[22] as well as the European Union. These are the Royal University of Bhutan and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, respectively. Thus, 43 retired teachers who had served for the longest length of time were personally invited to Thimphu, Bhutan during the Teachers' Day celebrations in 2018, where they were honored and individually thanked by His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. (Pew 2010)[184], It is estimated that between two-thirds and three-quarters of the Bhutanese population follow Vajrayana Buddhism, which is also the state religion. In certain thromdes (urban municipalities), a further municipal administration is directly subordinate to the Dzongkhag administration. Tell us whether you accept cookies. [53][54][55] The evicted Lhotshampas became refugees in camps in southern Nepal. Traditional architecture uses no nails or iron bars in construction. It incubates startups via the "Bhutan Innovation and Technology Center" (BITC). Another traditional sport is the Digor, which resembles the shot put and horseshoe throwing. Women have begun to participate more in the work force and their participation is one of the highest in the region. Dance dramas and masked dances such as the Cham dance are common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. [170][171][172], Since 2014, road widening has been a priority across Bhutan, in particular for the north-east–west highway from Trashigang to Dochula. The earliest Western record of Bhutan, the 1627 Relação of the Portuguese Jesuits Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral,[43] records its name variously as Cambirasi (among the Koch Biharis[44]), Potente, and Mon (an endonym for southern Tibet). Bhutan is also well known for mountain adventure trekking and hiking. Bhutan's democratic transition in 2008 is seen as an evolution of its social contract with the monarchy since 1907. Such political demonstrations were forcefully suppressed by Bhutanese security forces. Other countries maintain informal diplomatic contact via their embassies in New Delhi and Dhaka. [95] An Indian intelligence officer said that a Chinese delegation in Bhutan told the Bhutanese they were "overreacting". [117], The kingdom has a history of banning religious proselytizing,[118] which critics denounce as a violation of freedom of religion[119] and a policy of ethnic cleansing. Violators are fined the equivalent of $232—a month's salary in Bhutan. The 2008 Constitution establishes a parliamentary government with an elected National Assembly and a National Council. The match was held in Thimphu's Changlimithang National Stadium, and Bhutan won 4–0. Entry is free for citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, but all other foreigners are required to sign up with a Bhutanese tour operator and pay around US$250 per day that they stay in the country, though this fee covers most travel, lodging and meal expenses. The national dress for Bhutanese men is the gho, a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the kera. [113] After many years in refugee camps, many inhabitants are now moving to other host nations such as Canada, Norway, the UK, Australia, and the US as refugees. Likewise, geog elect headmen called gups, vice-headmen called mangmis, who also sit on the Dzongkhag Tshogdu, as well as other members of the Geog Tshogde. In the temperate zone, grey langur, tiger, goral and serow are found in mixed conifer, broadleaf and pine forests. Dzongkha is partially intelligible with Sikkimese and spoken natively by 25% of the population. [74], Although Bhutan's natural heritage is still largely intact, the government has said that it cannot be taken for granted and that conservation of the natural environment must be considered one of the challenges that will need to be addressed in the years ahead. It lies between latitudes 26°N and 29°N, and longitudes 88°E and 93°E. Cacella, Estêvão. [156][157], The country currently has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but it has eight declared tentative sites for UNESCO inclusion since 2012. Relations with Nepal remained strained due to Bhutanese refugees. Bhutanese people primarily consist of the Ngalops and Sharchops, called the Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese respectively. Bird Watching . [93] On 13 November 2005, Chinese soldiers crossed into the disputed territories between China and Bhutan and began building roads and bridges. It also has no air force or army aviation corps. Such arrangements have caused immense difficulties to both guests as well as this office. [73] Bhutan had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.85/10, ranking it 16th globally out of 172 countries. The country has a population of over 754,000[12] and a territory of 38,394 square kilometers (14,824 sq mi) which ranks 133rd in terms of land area. [195], While Bhutanese citizens are free to travel abroad, Bhutan is viewed as inaccessible by many foreigners. [70] This is reflected in the decision to maintain at least sixty percent of the land area under forest cover, to designate more than 40%[71][72] of its territory as national parks, reserves and other protected areas, and most recently to identify a further nine percent of land area as biodiversity corridors linking the protected areas. Since 2008, many Western countries, such as Canada, Norway, the UK, Australia, and the US, have allowed resettlement of majority of the Lhotshampa refugees. Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan. On 14 December 2006, he announced that he would be abdicating immediately. The Early Bird Brief is a daily roundup of military and defense news stories from around the globe curated by Military Times and Defense News. [87], In the early 20th century, Bhutan became a de facto protectorate of the British Empire under the Treaty of Punakha in 1910. Commercial production includes coal, dolomite, gypsum, and limestone. Bhutan signed the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity on 11 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 25 August 1995. [82], Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. [215] Importantly, land ownership does not necessarily equate to economic benefits - despite the eldest daughter having control of the house, it is the husband that is in charge of making decisions. Fruit-bearing trees and bamboo provide habitat for the Himalayan black bear, red panda, squirrel, sambar, wild pig and barking deer. Before the 1980s, the Lhotshampa (Nepali-speaking community), mainly based in southern Bhutan, constituted approximately 30% of the population. [149] Power is supplied to various states in India. The first general elections for the National Assembly were held on 24 March 2008. It was the first country to recognize Bangladesh's independence in 1971. Bhutanese citizens may also work in India without legal restriction. On 6 November 2008, 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned king. [92], Bhutan's border with China is largely not demarcated and thus disputed in some places. These sites include: Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong,[158] Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary,[159] Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Trongsa Dzong and Dagana Dzong),[160] Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP),[161] Royal Manas National Park (RMNP),[162] Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants,[163] Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS),[164] and Tamzhing Monastery. This was mainly due to the commissioning of the gigantic Tala Hydroelectric Power Station. These include ducks, waders, birds of prey, thrushes, finches and buntings. [165] Bhutan also has numerous tourist sites that are not included in its UNESCO tentative list. The chief contestants were the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT) led by Jigme Thinley and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sangay Ngedup. A peace treaty was signed in which Bhutan agreed to retreat to its pre-1730 borders. [117] Bhutan considers political parties associated with these refugees to be illegal and terrorist. [179] The Ngalops primarily consist of Bhutanese living in the western part of the country. [202] The University of Texas at El Paso in the United States has adopted Bhutanese architecture for its buildings on campus, as have the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and other buildings in the city of El Paso.[203]. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other." The key manufacturing sectors in Bhutan include production of ferroalloy, cement, metal poles, iron and nonalloy steel products, processed graphite, copper conductors, alcoholic and carbonated beverages, processed fruits, carpets, wood products and furniture. The Bhutan Postal Museum, Evolution of Communications Systems in Bhutan was established in 2015 to celebrate the 60th Birth Anniversary of Fourth Druk... Bhutan welcomes everyone! This is a rare extant report of the Zhabdrung. [56], In 1999, the government lifted a ban on television and internet, making Bhutan one of the last countries to introduce television. What Costs The Most", Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Dzongs: the center of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Trongsa Dzong and Dagana Dzong) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Tamzhing Monastery – UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Mask dance of the drums from Drametse – intangible heritage – Culture Sector, "DYT Approves Quarry Without Community Clearance", "Drukair to launch scheduled operations to Gelephu", "North-East-West highway widening progressing under pre-financing", "Welcome to Embassy of India Thimphu, Bhutan", "International tourists bemoan bad road conditions in Bhutan | Asia News Network", "Isolated Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan to get its first railway link", https://www.citypopulation.de/Bhutan.html, Pew Research Center – Global Religious Landscape 2010 – religious composition by country, "International Religious Freedom Report 2007–Bhutan", "Pastor Sentenced to Three Years in Prison", "Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | Data", "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations", "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan", "What's past is prologue: history, current status and future prospects of library development in Bhutan", "Indian teachers who served in Bhutan honoured", "New MICE hardware on the cards for Bhutan", "Four individuals conferred Bura Maap - BBS", "His Majesty awards red scarf and medals - BBS", "Country profile – Bhutan: a land frozen in time", "Bhutan Winter Solstice Reminders for Winter Solstice . Bhutan won its first two FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, beating Sri Lanka 1–0 in Sri Lanka and 2–1 in Bhutan, taking the aggregate at 3–1. Their culture is closely related to that of Tibet. In the vast majority of constituencies, rural geog (village blocks) are administered by bodies called the Geog Tshogde. Although the Sharchops are slightly larger in demographic size, the Ngalops dominate the political sphere, as the King and the political elite belong to this group. The sleeves of the wonju and the tego are folded together at the cuffs, inside out. Bhutan's exports, principally electricity, cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones and spices, total €128 million (2000 est.). The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to the snow leopard, blue sheep, marmot, Tibetan wolf, antelope, Himalayan musk deer and the takin, Bhutan's national animal. [214] Some Bhutanese communities have what is referred to as matrilineal communities, where the eldest daughter receives the largest share of the land. Fungi form a key part of Bhutanese ecosystems, with mycorrhizal species providing forest trees with mineral nutrients necessary for growth, and with wood decay and litter decomposing species playing an important role in natural recycling.