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Bhutan, despite its small size, is a
country of geographic extremes. The official name of the country is
Druk Yul (The Land of the Dragon).
Internationally, however, it is known as the Kingdom of Bhutan.The capital
of Bhutan is Thimphu with roughly
35.000 inhabitants. The country is divided into 18 administrative
districts: Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa and Wangdi Phodrang.
Under British influence a monarchy was set
up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the
 country
became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949, with
India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid. A refugee
issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of these
displaced persons are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from
India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan,
have drawn Indian cross-border incursions.
Bhutan is a land of soaring snowcapped
peaks, alpine meadows and densely forested hills and ravines abounding in
exotic flora and fauna. From May to August, hills are covered with an
awesome variety of flowers decorated with waterfalls and streams gushing
in wild abandon.From the sub-tropical south of the country it is only a
few kilometers, as the crow flies, to the permanent ice of the
Himalayas. The lowest point of Bhutan,
Drangme Chhu, lies only 97 meters above sea-level. The
highest point is the Kulha Kari with 7553 meters.
 Bhutan
is an hereditary monarchy. Since 1972,
the fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, reigns. He is the head of state,
but as of recently, no longer the head of government. Although a name of
the country is the Kingdom of Bhutan, but Bhutanese says their country
"Druk Yul" themselves. Druk is a thunder dragon and is depicted to
national flag. The yellow of the upper part of a national flag is
expressing the politics of a right of a king. The orange color is
expressing a right of Buddhism. A national flag is expressing the harmony
of these powers. A white dragon which is depicted to central is derived
from country (Druk Yul) of a thunder dragon and is expressing country of
Bhutan itself. As for a white body of a thunder dragon, the treasure ball
that dragon is holding the ness without any dirt is expressing richness
and prosperity. There is not an established theory the origin of the name
of country Bhutan, although seem to be the theory that looks like the case
called the edge of Tibet and be made Sanscrit word or Hindhu word of
'Bhot-anta'. |
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