Bhutan Birding and Heritage Travels

The people

Bhutan is a rich mosaic of cultures, lifestyles, languages and belief systems. In a country with a population of just over half a million, as many as 19 different dialects and several languages are spoken. This is attributed to the fact that in the past, Bhutanese communities settled in the valleys with limited communication.

It is for the same reason that the sense of individuality and independence emerges as a strong characteristic of the people.
The Bhutanese are, by nature, physically strong and fiercely independent with an open and ready sense of humor. Hospitality is a built-in social value in Bhutan. People wear colorful clothing. Men wear a Gho, a long robe tied around the waist by a slim fabric belt, or Kera. The Kira, the main women's garment, is an ankle-length wrap- around dress secured by a belt around the waist and fastened at the shoulders with silver brooches called Korma.

There is no rigid class system in Bhutan, and social and educational opportunities are not affected by rank or birth. Bhutanese women enjoy equal rights with men. Both men and women are free to choose their partners for marriage and both can initiate a divorce.

Monks are held in great respect and play an active part in community life. Representatives of the monk body are present at all important occasions. In the past, it was common for one son from each family to enter the monastic order, a custom that is less prevalent today.

History

Bhutan's early history is steeped in the Buddhist tradition and mythology. Mystery surrounds Bhutan's distant past, because books and papers were lost in consecutive fires at the national printing works and at Punakha Dzong in 1828 and 1832. Then a massive earthquake in 1896 and a fire in Paro Dzong destroyed all but a few of the records that outlasted the first disasters. Despite the loss of these records, we know that Bhutan's history parallels the following of Buddhism in the Himalayas. To properly understand Bhutan's history, one also needs to understand its religion, because Buddhism has occupied a predominant role in shaping the social, political, economic and cultural evolution of the country.

Although Bhutan was not unified under a central authority until the 17th century, the religious presence in the country had been acting as a spiritual cohesion for many years. In 747 A.D the Buddhist sage, Padmasambhava, popularly revered in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche or the precious Master, visited the country and introduced Buddhism. Since then,. In the century that followed, Lamas or Buddhist teachers and local nobility established their own separate domains through out the country.

In 1616, another saint called the "Shabdrung," meaning, "at whose feet one submits," came from Tibet and unified Bhutan under a central authority. He is responsible for building all the Dzongs (fortresses) in the kingdom and also set up a dual system of government that intertwines the religious and secular authorities. To the present day, these Dzongs serve as a center for religious and civil authority.

The country's recent history begins with the establishment of a hereditary monarchy in the early 20th century. However, it was only during the reign of the third king (the present King's father) that Bhutan emerged from its medieval past of serfdom and reclusion. Until the 1960s the country had no national currency, no telephones, schools, hospitals, postal services or tourists. Development efforts have now produced all these plus a national assembly, airport, roads, and a national system of health care. Despite the speed of modernization, Bhutan has maintained a policy of careful, controlled growth in an effort to preserve its national identity. The government has also limited its acceptance of tourism

High in the mysterious and majestic eastern Himalayas, nestled between Tibet and India, lies the small Kingdom of Bhutan, increasingly renowned as one of the Earth's last precious unspoiled spots. In this magical place, an intact Buddhist culture is integrated into every aspect of daily life, and spectacular mountain scenery provides a backdrop to pristine forests and picturesque valleys. The breathtaking landscape is dotted with fluttering prayer flags, colorful farmhouses amidst the terraced fields, and impressive monasteries clinging to impossible cliffs.

The inhabitants themselves call this "Druk Yul", the land of the peaceful dragon. The Kingdom's low population and its wise and farsighted leadership have propelled Bhutan into the 21st Century with much of its natural heritage intact and its unique culture undiluted.

Location

Longitude 88 45' and 92 10' East

Latitude 26 45' and 28 15' North

Size

Total Area: 46,000 square kms.

150km.North to South

300 km.East to West

Terrain

It can be divided into three major geographic regions from North to - South: the high Himalayas of the North, the hills and valleys of the - Central and the foothills and plains of the South

- Forest Area 72.5 per cent of the land area

- Cultivated Area 7.8 per cent of total land

- Altitude 100m. above sea level in the South to over 7,500 m. above sea level in the North

Climate

The country can be divided into three distinct climatic zones corresponding broadly to the three main geographical divisions. The southern belt has a hot, humid climate while central Bhutan has a cool temperate climate. The northern region has severe alpine climate and is perpetually under snow.Rainfall can differ within relatively short distances due to rain shadow effects.

Natural resources

Minerals : Dolomite, limestone, gypsum, slate, coal, talc, marble, zinc, lead, copper, tungsten, quartzite

Crops : Rice, maize,wheat, potato, millet, buckwheat, orange, apple, cardamom

Hydropower : According to survey reports the potential is 30,000MW (2001 Estimate)

Population (Updated data from 2005 PHCB)

Total : 634982 Males : 333595
Female : 301387
Urban population : 30.9
Rural population : 69.1 per cent
Population density : 16 persons per sq. km
GDP (2000) : US $ 712.8

Religion

Drukpa sect of Kargyupa, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism.

Ethnic Groups

While there are several language groups and communities, the country is composed of two broad ethnic groups. The Drukpas, who are Mongoloid and of the Buddhist faith, make up 80 per cent of the population; people of ethnic Nepalese origin, who are mainly Indo-Aryan and of Hindu faith, make up 20 percent.

Language

Bhutan's offical language is Dzongkha, English is the medium of instruction in secular schools, and Choekey (classical Dzongkha) is used in traditional and monastic schools.

Currency

Ngultrum (Nu.) - at par with the Indian Rupee)

100 Cheltrum =1Nu

US $ 1 = Nu. 48 (approx.)

Arts and Crafts

The most exciting and vital aspects of the Bhutanese tradition and heritage are found in its arts and crafts. Much of Bhutan's spiritual and intellectual life is manifested through its arts and crafts. Bhutanese arts are not primarily concerned with abstract concepts of "beauty" (that may appeal to a few), but rather with an interpretation of values and beliefs that are held by the vast majority and that embody the eternal stream of life or consciousness. It is a subjective process deeply imbued with a strong sense of morality, with many art forms epitomizing the eternal struggle between forces of good and evil.

Bhutanese art and crafts, particularly those that are religious in their thematic content, follow strict iconographic rules. Merit can be earned only if the prescribed rules are strictly followed. The use of creative energy is used mostly in secular artistic ventures. Zorig Chosum or the 13 aspects of Bhutanese arts and crafts includes shinzo (woodwork), dozo (stonework), jinzo (clay crafts), lugzo (bronze casting), parzo (wood, slate and stonecarving, lazo (painting), shagzo (wood turning), garzo (blacksmithy), troeko (sliver and goldsmithy), tsharzo (bamboo and cane crafts), dhezo (papermaking), thagzo (weaving) and tshemzo (tailoring).
The skill of Bhutan's craftsmen's working with bronze, silver and other fine metals is seen in myriad ways: statues of deities, doors and pillars of temples, bells, trumpets, swords, tables, candlesticks, rice boxes and jewelry. Wooden crafts include a wealth of items from bowls to finely worked bamboo hats, baskets, butter containers, and bows and arrows.

Architecture

Architecture is also a significant feature of the Bhutanese identity. Dzongs (fortresses). Lhakhangs (temples), Goenpas (monastries), Chortens (stupas), palaces, bridges, and housing that can be seen across the countryside form diverse but harmonious architectural expressions of the cultural heritage and living traditions of the Bhutanese people. The unmatched combination of engineering skill and aesthetic beauty is reflected in all structures. Traditional shapes, color, patterns, and "motifs" on walls, doors, and windows place Bhutanese architecture in a class of its own.

Among the diverse architectural expressions of the country are the castle- like Dzongs, with their massive stone walls, large courtyards, and beautiful architecture. These impressive monasteries, set in commanding positions on hilltops or at the confluence of rivers, are the administrative centers of their regions. The Dzong represents a unique architectural marvel. Hundreds of wooden planks are joined together without a single nail, and no formal architectural plan goes into its construction.

Secular architecture in Bhutan finds its main form in traditional farmhouses. Bhutanese houses have a distinct character from those of other Himalayan countries. Because of the steep terrain, they are usually built as scattered houses or in clusters, rather than in rows.

Most traditional houses are relatively spacious and take advantage of the natural sunlight. Family dwellings are often three storied, with room for livestock on the ground floor, storage and sometimes living quarters on the second floor, while the third floor houses living quarters and a Choesham (shrine). Between the third floor and the roof an open space is usually kept for open-air storage. Boulders over the lath are used to hold down wooden shingles on the roof truss. Windows and doors are normally painted, giving the house a very festive appearance. Floral, animal, and religious motifs are mainly used as themes for colorful paintings. The typical construction materials used in traditional Bhutanese houses are timber, stone, clay and bricks.

Textiles

Vibrant fabrics and intricate weaves are an inseparable part of Bhutan's rich culture. The colors, weaves and designs have evolved over centuries together. A specific design cannot be attributed to a particular village alone but also to a home and a family. Textiles are an evolving art, changing their role as Bhutanese life evolved. They represent prestige, commodity, wealth, and capital as well as expressions of religious devotion.

Textiles, Bhutan's premier art, is the product of centuries of individual creativity and transmitted in fiber preparation, dyeing, weaving, cutting, stitching, and embroidery. Wild silk, cotton, nettle, wool, and yak hairs are the fibers basic to the country. However, imported fibers and dyes have become widely available and weavers have adopted these with enthusiasm, altering the palette, textures, and surface qualities of the cloths produced. Bhutanese intricate brocades and complex warp-striped patterns are unmatched anywhere in the world.

Bhutanese textiles are a national treasure, and the government's policy along with people's appreciation will ensure the preservation of this creative art and its tradition.