Health & Education:-Bhutan has made significant strides in enhancing its healthcare and education systems. Free healthcare is provided to all citizens, resulting in nearly 100% child immunization and the elimination of iodine deficiency. Additionally, 50% of the population now has access to clean water. Life expectancy has risen from 47.4 to 66 years between 1984 and 1998, while infant mortality rates have halved from 142 to 70.7 per thousand births. Education has transitioned from primarily monastic to a blend of monastic and Western-style, ensuring basic education as a fundamental right for all Bhutanese. Literacy rates have increased from 28% to 54% by 1998, further bolstered by adult education programs.

Economy:-Agriculture and livestock remain the primary economic drivers, supporting 85% of Bhutan’s population. Industry and mining are nascent but growing. Hydroelectric power, a sustainable resource, contributes 25% of government revenue. Other exports include calcium carbide, wood products, cement, and agricultural goods like apples, oranges, cardamom, potatoes, asparagus, and mushrooms. Despite its importance in earning foreign exchange, tourism and airlines constitute a small portion of the gross national product.

History:-“Bhutan,” possibly derived from Sanskrit, meaning “the end of Tibet” or “high land.” Locally known as Druk Yul, or Land of the Thunder Dragon, it reflects the Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche’s arrival in 747 A.D. marked the beginning of documented history. Unified under Drukpa Kagyupa in the 17th century, Bhutan elected Sir Ugyen Wangchuck as its first King in 1907, evolving into a democratic monarchy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, reigning since 1974, prioritizes balanced development while preserving cultural and natural heritage. The fifth and the present King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, ascended to the throne on December 9, 2006, after his father, the fourth King of Bhutan, abdicated the throne in his favor. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has made several contributions to Bhutan during his reign

Government:-Bhutan was governed by a dual system called “chhosi” until the 20th century, initiated by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651. King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the head of state since 1974, prioritizes economic self-reliance, cultural promotion, balanced development, environment preservation, and good governance. Governance involves the National Assembly, Royal Advisory Council, Judiciary, Council of Ministers, and local participatory mechanisms.

Bhutan transitioned to a democratic constitutional monarchy relatively recently. The Constitution of Bhutan was adopted on July 18, 2008, formally establishing Bhutan as a democratic constitutional monarchy.

Geography:-Bhutan, a princely kingdom, is landlocked with the total area of approximately 38,394 square kilometers (14,824 square miles)Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, it borders India to the south and southwest, and the Tibetan autonomous region of China to the north and northwest. Its mountainous terrain ranges from 100m to 7,554m, with landscapes transitioning from sub-tropical to arctic climates.

Physiographic

Talking in geomorphologic terms, Bhutan is distinctively divisible into three lateral zones from South to North. Incidentally, this zonation is more or less applicable to meteorological, ethnographical and geographical divisions of the country.

The Great Himalaya

Extending from Mt. Jomolhari (7,314m) in the West to Kulha Gangri (7,554m) near the center point of the northern border between Tibet and Bhutan, this region is virtually a snow-wilderness zone where almost 20% of the land is under perpetual snow. This zone is represented by alpine meadows and perpetually snow bound high summit of the Great Himalayan range.

The Inner Himalaya

This is the largest physiographic region of Bhutan and lies among broad valleys and forested hillsides from 1,100m to 3,000m in elevation. All the major towns of Bhutan are situated in this zone such as Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, in western Bhutan, Trongsa and Bumthang in central Bhutan and Mongar, Trashigang in eastern Bhutan.

The Southern foothills

Also called as Himalayan foothills, this zone occupies the southern most part of the country. The plains in the south of the country are part of the region known as Terai, which extends from Kashmir, through Nepal, to Bhutan. The average annual rainfall in this region generally reaches up to 200 inches resulting to luxuriant vegetation particularly tropical forests rich in wildlife, while at times hot, steamy and unhealthy tracts are other features of this zone.

Drainage

Rivers play an important role in Bhutan’s physical, economic, social and cultural geography. Their enormous potential for hydroelectric power has helped in shaping  the national economy. Since the central Himalayas of Bhutan receives the full brunt of the monsoon so the rivers are larger and have created much broader valleys than rivers further to the west in Nepal and India. In their upper reaches, most Bhutanese rivers have created large fertile valleys such as those of Paro, Punakha,  Thimphu and Bumthang. As the rivers pass through the center of Bhutan, the valleys become steeper and narrower, and roads have to climb high on the hillside. The principal rivers of the country are; Am-mo-chhu, Paro Chhu, Wang Chhu, Puna-Tsang Chhu, Mangde Chhu, Pho Chhu, Mo Chhu, Dangme Chhu, Manas Chhu and Changkhar Chhu.

Meteorology

Bhutan’s climate varies widely depending upon elevation. In the southern region it is tropical, with a monsoon season and eastern part is warmer than the west. The central valleys of Punakha, Wangduephodrang, Mongar, Trashigang and Lhuntshi enjoy a semi-tropical climate with cool winters, whereas Paro, Thimphu, Trongsa and Bumthang have relatively harsher climate including snowfall in winter.

In the valleys where most tourist activities are concentrated, the winters (mid-November to mid-March) are dry with daytime temperatures of 16 – 18 degree centigrade while evening and early morning are cold with night time temperature sometimes falling below zero.

Spring lasts from mid-March to the beginning of June, with temperatures warming gradually to 27 – 29 degree centigrade by day and about 18 degree centigrade at night. However, cold spells are possible up until the end of April, with a chance of new snow on the mountains above the valleys. Strong, gusty winds start blowing almost every day from noon to early evening. The first storms break, and they become more and more frequent with the approach of the monsoon which arrives in mid-June.

The country receives abundant rain especially in the south, as it gets full face of monsoon coming from the Bay of Bengal. To which its mountains form a barrier. At the end of September, after the last of the big rains, autumn suddenly arrives and sky gets clear, a brisk breeze picks up and temperature starts falling towards freezing at night although bright sunshine continues to keep the days warm.  Autumn is the magnificent season that lasts until mid-November and it is the best time to visit this fascinating mountain Kingdom.

Cultural Heritage –Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage, deeply influenced by Buddhism, shapes its national identity and policies. Rooted in compassion and mindfulness, Bhutanese culture emphasizes the interconnectedness of beings and the environment. This unique identity, cherished by the populace, serves as a vital safeguard for the kingdom’s independence and sovereignty. Amidst its geopolitical positioning between India and China, preserving its distinct cultural identity remains paramount for Bhutan’s survival and prosperity.

Population:-The current population of Bhutan is 792,382, a 0.63% increase from 2023.  The country is still predominantly rural and about 85% of the people live in villages.

As of my last update in January 2022, Bhutan’s population was estimated to be around 771,608 people.

Three main ethnic groups constitute its population:

Sharchops : live in eastern part of country are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan and are Indo Mongoloid origin.

Ngalops :  Ngalops are descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from 9^th century and settled in the west of country.

Lhotshampas : this Nepalese group, began settling in the south of Bhutan in the late 19^th century. The Lhotshampa represents different Nepali speaking ethnic groups primarily Brahman, Chettri, Gurung, Rai and Limbu.

Natural Heritage –Bhutan boasts unparalleled natural diversity, earning the moniker “Valley of Medicinal Herbs” with 72.5% forest cover. Treasuring its environment as the essence of life, Bhutan prioritizes sustainable development, preserving its rich biodiversity and cultural values. Recognized globally for its bio-diversity, Bhutan signed key environmental conventions, committing to uphold its obligation to future generations through a balanced development approach known as the “Middle Path. Bhutan is also celebrated for its unique status as a carbon-negative country.