Bhutan

GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

For over a century, the wise leadership of Kings has ruled Bhutan. With Bhutan being one of the newest democracies, the democratically elected government receives invaluable guidance from the King. The King of Bhutan is the ultimate guardian of its sacred constitution, bestowed upon its people by the fourth King because nobody knows the needs of the people like the King does. Bhutan has so far seen five Kings and the current and fifth King of Bhutan is His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.

GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS (GNH)

Bhutan believes putting happiness first than its economic achievements is of paramount importance to its developmental philosophy. And so far it has worked out perfectly. While its people are happy and content, its economic advancement is not bad either: growing at a very fast pace.

GNH is the brainchild of the fourth King of Bhutan. GNH is now etched into the every day aspect of every Bhutanese.

BUDDHISM - STATE RELIGION OF BHUTAN

Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan. Vajrayana Buddhists consist of the majority of its population. The Je Khenpo heads the central monastic body of Bhutan called the Dratshang Lhentshog. He arbitrates on the matter of religion.

Buddhism is deeply rooted in the lives of Bhutanese. In every part of the country, any visitor will be thrilled to find sacred temples and monasteries for its people to offer prayers and receive blessings from the spiritual guardians of Buddhism.

BLUE POPPY - NATIONAL FLOWER OF BHUTAN

This exotic flower has a reputation of being the symbol of peace to Bhutanese, and it is the national flower of Bhutan. Meconopsis gakyidiana, the name inspired by the concept of Gross National Happiness (gakyid=happiness) is a new species of blue poppy discovered and named in 2017, which was originally thought to be meconopsis grandis.

NGULTRUM - CURRENCY OF BHUTAN

The Bhutanese currency is called the Ngultrum. Bhutanese ngultrum has banknotes from one to one thousand. One ngultrum is equal to 100 chetrums.  Each banknote has a different and unique story behind it. Ngultrum is pegged at par with the Indian Rupee.

DZONGKHA - NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF BHUTAN

Dzongkha is the official and national language of Bhutan. It is the language of palace or fortress (dzong=palace or fortress, kha=language). The Tibetan alphabet is used to write Dzongkha. Nearly every Bhutanese speaks Dzongkha.

It is the form of communication in both oral and written in all the offices of Bhutan although English was the main form of communication in offices a few years ago.

Dzongkha can now be written using personal computers because Dzongkha keyboard is now available in personal computers and smart phones.

TAKIN - NATIONAL ANIMAL OF BHUTAN

This epic animal bearing a head of a goat and a body of a cow is the national animal of Bhutan. Its creation is mythical. It is believed that the 16th century saint Drukpa Kuenley, informally also known as the divine madman, created it in a miraculous performance. It is believed he created it from the heap of cow and goat bones in a magical performance as was asked by his followers.

His footprints are still seen in the form of famous phallus sculptures and gift sets found in various handicraft shops across the country.

GHO AND KIRA - NATIONAL DRESS FOR BHUTAN

Gho and kira are the national dress of Bhutan. Gho is a robe like dress worn by the men, which is pulled up to the knee and tied at the waist with the cloth belt called kera. The women wear Kira, which is an ankle length dress that is tied at the waist with kera and pinned at the shoulders with brooches.

Bhutanese are required to wear gho and kira when they are in offices, schools, monasteries and official gatherings and meetings. The national dress of Bhutan was introduced by the founding father and an important religious figure of Bhutan in the 17^th century, Zhanbdrung Ngawang Namgyal.