People & Life Style

Bhutan has a population of about seven hundred thousand people. Bhutanese call themselves the Drukpas, the thunder dragon people. Three broad ethnic groups, the Ngalops, the Sharchops, and the Lhotsampas (of Nepalese origin), comprise today’s Drukpa population.

The Sharchops or the people of the east reside in eastern Bhutan. They are believed to be the first inhabitants of the country and are of Indo-Mongolian type. The Ngalops, who are of Mongoloid origin, migrated from the Tibetan plains. The Lhotsampas arrived in the country at the end of the 19th century. They brought the Hindu religion with them as well as the Nepalese language, which is still spoken today over much of Southern Bhutan.

People speak three languages (Dzongkha, English and Nepali) and eight native dialects excluding Hindi and Tibetan. Bhutanese people wear the traditional dress. Bhutanese men wear a gho, a long robe tied around the waist by a sash called kera. The women's ankle-length dress is called a kira.

History

Historically, Bhutan is said to have derived its name from the Sanskrit Bhotant, meaning 'the end of Tibet', or from Bhu-uttan, meaning 'high land'. Historically too, Bhutan was referred by many names, including "Hidden Holy Land," "The Land of Four Approaches," "The Southern Valley of Medicinal Herbs," and "the Lotus Garden of the Gods." The Bhutanese have always referred to their country as Druk Yul, 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'.

Bhutan's history begins at about 747 AD, when Guru Padma Sambhava, the most revered Buddhist saint in Bhutan and believed to be second Buddha, came from Tibet and introduced Buddhism to the country. He is supposed to have come riding on the back of a flying tigress to subdue the evil spirits who hindered the spread of Buddhism.

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan warrior-monk of the Drukpa School, arrived in Bhutan in 1616. He unified the country, and established himself as the country's supreme leader and introduced the present dual system of religious and secular government. It was in 1907 when an assembly of representatives of the monastic community, civil servants, and the people, elected Ugyen Wangchuck as the first King of Bhutan.

Aministrartive Division

The country is divided into twenty administrative units called dzongkhags. The larger dzongkhags are further divided into sub-district called dungkhag. A group of villages are grouped to form a constituency called gewog and administered by a gup, who is elected by the people.

• - Bhutan at Glance
• - Travel Information
• - Flight Schedule
• - Bhutan Festival
• - Visa Information

• Druk Path Trekking
• Renown Laya Gasa Trek
• Jolmohari Base camp Trek
• Bumthang Festival and Culture Trek
• Bhumthang Dur Tsechu Spring Tour Trek
• Bhumthang Festival Tour
• Bhutan Festival Tour