Page 3 - Bhutan Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

POPULATION HISTORY Bhutan has a population of Bhutan has its own distinct history, although it shares Nepal's Himalayan approximately 700,000 (2011), most geography and neighbors. of which live in villages. Previous estimates of Bhutan's population put PAGE 3-7 The precursor of Bhutan, the state of Lhomon or Monyul, was said to it at more than three times as many. Population | Time | Visas have existed between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. At the end of that period, History | Religion Buddhism was introduced into the country; a branch of Mahayana TIME PAGE 8 Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan. Religious rivalry among various Bhutan is five hours, 45 minutes Language ahead of GMT. 30 Minutes ahead of Buddhist subsects also influenced political development; the rivalry began in the tenth century and continued through the seventeenth Indian Time. PAGE 9 century, when a theocratic government independent of Tibetan political Climate VISAS influence united the country. From that time until 1907, the Kingdom of PAGE 10 Bhutan, or Drukyul (literally land of the Thunder Dragon), had a dual Visas are required for Bhutan and not The Land system of shared civil and spiritual Buddhist rule. In 1907 the absolute issued by Embassies abroad. Visa is monarchy was established, and the hereditary position of Druk Gyalpo, PAGE 11 issued by the Ministry of Foreign The People | What to Pack | Affairs, Thimphu. Visas must be or dragon King, was awarded to the powerful Wangchuck family. obtained before departing for PAGE 12 Bhutan. Actual visa is stamped on The Druk Gyalpo controls the executive, legislative, and judicial branches Currency | Credit Cards arrival in Bhutan, visa is cleared in of the government. The monarchy is absolute, but the king is admired Changing Money | Tipping Insurance advance and a visa clearance number and respected and is referred to by the people as "our King." The Council issued. Extension of visa, for up to 6 of Ministers and Royal Advisory Council are part of the executive branch PAGE 13 months can be obtained in Thimphu of government. The legislative branch is made up of the unicameral Etiquette | Safety & theft processed by your local operator. National Assembly, or Tshogdu, whose members are either indirectly PAGE 14 elected or appointed by the Druk Gyalpo. The 1953 royal decree on the Communications | Media Constitution of the National Assembly is the primary legal, or constitutional, basis for that body and sets forth its rules and procedures. PAGE 15 The Supreme Court of Appeal, in effect the Druk Gyalpo, is the highest Shopping | Customs Bartering level court; judges are appointed by the Druk Gyalpo on recommendation by the Chief Justics. The civil and criminal code are PAGE 16 based on seventeenth-century concepts which have been amended. But Food & Drinks still this remains the basis and pillars of the Judicial system. PAGE 17-21 Culture & The Arts | Religion The 4th Druk Gyalpo at present is on the verge of retirement and in the process of discussing the Constitution with the people. In 2008 Bhutan will have a new King and also the first general election to elect its new democratically elected Government. Origins and Early Settlement, A.D. 600-1600 Although knowledge of prehistoric Bhutan has yet to emerge through archaeological study, stone tools and weapons, remnants of large stone structures, and megaliths that may have been used for boundary markers or rituals provide evidence of civilization as early as 2000 B.C. The absence of Neolithic mythological legends argues against earlier inhabitation. A more certain prehistoric period has been theorized by historians as that of the state of Lhomon (literally, southern darkness) or Monyul (dark land, a reference to the Monpa aboriginal peoples of Bhutan), possibly a part of Tibet that was beyond the pale of Buddhist teachings. Variations of the Sanskrit words Bhota-ant (end of Bhot, an Indian name for Tibet) or Bhu-uttan (meaning highlands) have been