Interesting facts about Bhutan
Bhutan, a tiny country at the foot of the Himalayas, is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country is completely dependent on subsidies from its big neighbor - .
Lamaite Buddhism, which most Bhutanese practice, is more than just a religion: it is a whole life cycle, affecting and penetrating all spheres of life.
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Inheritance (land, house, and animals or livestock) is usually passed on to the eldest daughter rather than the eldest son. My husband often moves into his house new wife until he can “earn money and support his wife.” Bhutanese are prohibited from marrying foreigners.
Since absolutely all religions are prohibited in the country, except Buddhism, the king considers it his duty to make every citizen of the country happy. For this purpose, the “Commission for General People’s Happiness” was created in 2008. During the census, citizens are asked: are you happy? The majority of respondents systematically answer positively. Bhutan has a Ministry of Happiness. Happiness comes first national policy. The concept of GDP is replaced here by the concept of “gross national happiness”.
AND medical service, and education in Bhutan is completely free. There are almost no homeless people in Bhutan. Everyone has a roof over their head. Somewhat, but there is.
Center for religious, social and political life Bhutan is home to dzongs - impregnable fortress monasteries, which were built near steep cliffs for protection from the enemy. Bhutanese settlements tend to form in the valleys around these fortresses.
Bhutanese can enter Indian territory simply on production of their national identity cards and can work in India without restrictions.
Bhutan has a fairly strict dress code. During daylight hours and in public places, men wear traditional robes, and women wear a special rectangular cape, which is no less traditional.
State language officially considered Dzongkha. It, like Bumtang, a language used in the peripheral regions and in the east of the country, has no written norms. They have been used for these purposes since ancient times. Tibetan language.
Bhutanese people give the impression of being calm and unusually happy people, despite the fact that their life cannot be called easy. Here no one lacks food, and no one stands out from the rest of the residents. Thanks to the reform carried out in 1956, every citizen has the right to 12 hectares of field land, in addition, practically all families, in addition to farming, are engaged in some kind of craft.
The King of Bhutan handed over the crown to his eldest son in 2008, when he was 28 years old. King of the Kingdom of Bhutan - Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk Khesar became the youngest reigning monarch in the world.
Bhutan is one of the most closed countries in Asia - visiting as an independent traveler without a group and a guide is practically impossible. Prices for hotel rooms are approved by the government.
There are no traffic lights in the capital of Bhutan. Yes, none at all. Road signs in Bhutan are painted by hand! They are often signed, also by hand.
Bhutan is a world where countless fairy tales and legends have emerged. In the mythology of a small country, a huge role belongs to gnomes, demons, and, of course, dragons. Bhutan calls itself “the land of dragons”; this fabulous creature even adorns the flag of the dwarf state.
In the Kingdom of Bhutan, marijuana grows everywhere, but for a very long time it was used only as feed for pigs. It was only after 1999, when the ban on television was lifted in the country, that Bhutanese learned that it can be used as a drug. At the same time, an increase in the crime rate began to be recorded, although it remains one of the lowest in the world.
All Bhutanese dishes are vegetarian, and the most popular of them is steamed rice.
Bhutan practically does not have its own production. Everything is imported from India. It is thanks to this that the state does not pollute the environment.
Smoking is prohibited in Bhutan. Few tourists turn a blind eye to this issue, but in public places For example, you can’t smoke on the street anyway, and you will have to pay a separate duty for importing tobacco products into the country.
The Kingdom of Bhutan gained full independence in 1949, but did not 
had its own post office. When she appeared American businessman Bert Todd, who became the king’s advisor and contributed greatly to the modernization of this state, proposed to bet on stamps. Bhutan was the first in the world to issue many unusual stamps - stereoscopic, with a smell, on steel foil, bas-relief stamps and even gramophone record stamps. They were printed in quantities far in excess of domestic needs, and were intended for collectors around the world, among whom they enjoyed deserved popularity. In the 1970s, the sale of stamps was Bhutan's largest source of income.
The first car in Bhutan's history to travel over the newly opened high-altitude overpass was in 1962. Until then, the main vehicle There was a mule in the country, and the journey from the capital Thimphu to the southwestern border of the country lasted about 10 days.
There is no political party in Bhutan.
In the mid-seventies, the king ordered that all houses be painted. Therefore, Bhutan is often called a country gingerbread houses. The motifs mainly consist of ornaments. The addition includes images of animals and plants. Bhutanese people compete with each other to decorate their homes. By tradition, all houses consist of three floors. On the first there is a stable, on the second there is a bedroom, chapel and kitchen, and on the third there is a place for drying hay.
Television was banned in Bhutan until 1999.
In foreign policy Bhutan's interests are represented by India.
In Bhutan, entry into some nature reserves and religious centers is prohibited for tourists.
Dance plays important role V Everyday life countries: Bhutanese people dance in sadness, joy, love and hate, and even conflicts between families are resolved through dancing.
The people of Bhutan are, for the most part, very hospitable people. They can let you into the house completely stranger, where they will feed him, give him something to drink, and even put him to sleep. And most likely they won’t take money for it.
Bhutan's national day is celebrated on December 17th. On this day the first king of this country was crowned.
In the Kingdom of Bhutan, many houses and buildings have phalluses painted on them as a symbol of good luck. The origin of this custom is associated with the Buddhist Lama Drukpa Kunley, who lived in the 15th century. 16th centuries and went down in history as the “crazy Saint.” Kunley preached Buddhism in an unusual way, widely displaying his passion for women and wine and painting phalluses on the walls, assuring people that they would ward off evil spirits. In his honor, the Chimi Lakhang monastery was built, which houses several wooden phalluses and one silver one, which, according to legend, was brought by Lama Kunley from. This monastery is often visited by childless women, and the abbot, blessing them for conception, hits them on the head with an artificial phallus.
The name of Bhutan is Druk Yul, which means “land of the thunder dragon.”
Everything that grows on the soil of the Kingdom of Bhutan is environmentally friendly. Bhutanese people do not use chemical fertilizers.
The highest point of Bhutan, Mount Gangkhar Puensum, located on the border with, is the highest in the world separately standing mountain and the highest unconquered peak. In 2003, mountaineering in Bhutan was completely banned.
The Bhutanese are reluctant to do all the menial work, such as building roads, which is why Indians are hunchbacked at construction sites. There are practically no non-Indian trucks in the country.
In Bhutan, the custom of cremation is accepted. But, according to Tibetan tradition, the most the best way funeral is the giving of dead bodies as bird feed. It is believed that this is how bodies are sent straight to heaven. Therefore, small children are also buried in this way, since this is the most favorable rite for them. When a person dies in Bhutan, his relatives must place 108 white flags somewhere higher on the mountain within 21 days, and also make 108 mortars from his ashes (in case of cremation) and clay, burn them, paint them and place them in the gorges. When Bhutanese die, flags help them navigate the afterlife, do not inadvertently fall into the underworld and not be reborn in the lower worlds.
Bhutan is one of the very safe countries in terms of crime rates. There is practically no theft here, and in most villages and cities people do not even lock their doors at night.
Deforestation is strictly prohibited in Bhutan. The government of the country is heading towards expansion forest areas Therefore, trees are planted annually on the mountain slopes.
Anyone found guilty of killing the sacred black-necked crane could be sentenced to life in prison. 
The national sport is archery. This is a collective sport. Members of the opposing team ridicule the shooter, and his support group engages in altercations with them in order to divert their attention to themselves.
Tshachu is traditionally used in Bhutan to promote health. It is believed that bathing in them heals broken bones, heals joints, and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.
Tours to Bhutan - special offers of the day
There are almost 200 countries in the world - large and not very large, small and very tiny. Statistics say that 50 of them are visited annually by more than one million guests, and no more than 20 can be called touristic. I wonder how many countries are on your list that you have visited or want to visit? Our website “Travel with Pleasure” aims to introduce you to the most interesting countries. Today I invite you to take a trip to one of the most unusual and exotic countries. For greater intrigue, I did not include the name of this country in the title, but from the very first photo you will immediately guess which one it is. good for the country speech.This mysterious country of happiness is called Bhutan.
It has almost become a tradition for me, before choosing an unusual island or country for a story, I flip through the pages of my book. Today I settled on this brand
The stamp depicts a rare animal against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, and at the top is the price of the stamp in an unknown currency. With the Internet, it’s easy to deal with animals. This is Takin - a slow, heavy animal, with a large Romanesque nose and thick hair, somewhat similar to a musk ox and living in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas and Tibet. The price turned out to be more difficult.
CH - this is Chertum - the name monetary unit in Bhutan, equal to 1/100 ngultrum.
Since one ruble corresponds to approximately 1 Bhutanese ngultrum, then 4 CH corresponds to 4 kopecks at the official exchange rate. To my joy, the price of stamps is not determined official rate, but the rarity of a particular brand, i.e. its issue and the country where it was issued. Agree that Bhutan is not a very well-known country in the world, and for a population of 800,000 people, most of whom cannot read or write letters, there is no need for large circulations of stamps.
First Bhutanese Postal office came into effect in 1962, and stamps for Bhutan were printed in England, India and Japan, and not so much for the needs of the residents of the country, but mainly for philatelists around the world, thus replenishing the treasury of Bhutan! It is not surprising, therefore, that my 4-kopeck stamp is valued at 100 rubles.
With this, the philatelic part of the story, which served as the basis for getting to know Bhutan, can be considered exhausted, and now let’s get acquainted with the country itself.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is an Asian state in the Himalayas, located between India and China. The capital is Thimphu.
According to one version, the name “Bhutan” comes from Bhu-Uttan, which translated from Sanskrit means “highlands” or “mountainous country”. According to another version, the name comes from Bhots-ant, which means “edge (end) of Tibet” or “south of Tibet.”
The form of government here is a constitutional monarchy. The world's youngest head of state, the 5th king of the country of Bhutan, Jigme Kesar Namguel Wangchuk, turned 31 years old. He was educated at Oxford, and is very popular in his country. October 2011 will be remembered by many for the wedding of the ruler with an ordinary 21-year-old student. The ceremony was broadcast on local television.
Photo: His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and "Miss Bhutan" Jetsun Pema during a purifying marriage ceremony at the historic Punakha Dzong (Palace of Bliss)
In this protected country, hidden in the mountains, you can see beautiful paradise landscapes and find the purest mountain rivers. It is here that the pure form Tibetan culture. This is a country of Buddhism, purity and enlightenment, in search of which monks many centuries ago came to the slopes of the Southern Himalayas, settled there and live to this day.
The Kingdom of Bhutan had the status of a British protectorate until 1949, and since 1949 it has become independent. Since 1971 and as of 2016, Bhutan has been ranked among the least developed countries peace. However, this is a country of happy people!
How can this be, you ask. And everything is very simple.
Bhutan became the first country in the world to declare “Gross National Happiness” (GNH) rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the official metric of social development!
By the way, Bhutan’s GDP is about 2.5 thousand dollars per person per year, and by this indicator the country is indeed one of the poorest in the world. But in the VNS they introduced, Bhutan is in 8th place in the world, ahead of ALL Western countries. There is no answer yet to the question of what a happiness index is, or how to measure the unmeasurable, but this approach has turned out to be very attractive for many poor countries.
Here I will do small retreat from the topic of Bhutan, and I will share with you a note that appeared on the Internet yesterday, and from which it follows that the population of poor country in Europe turns out to be happier than in Russia. Here is an unedited note:
Moldova surpasses Russia and Romania in the ranking of the happiest nations
“The Danes are the happiest nation on the planet. They became leaders in the World Happiness Report ranking of the happiest countries in the world. Compared to last year's study, Denmark has surpassed Switzerland and Iceland, which came in second and third place respectively. Moldova took 55th place, Russia was one line lower. Romania took 71st place, Ukraine - 123rd.
The main criteria for determining a “happy nation” are the level of gross domestic product and average duration life. Environmental and social situation, level of corruption"
I agree that today more and more scientists are inclined to think that countries should be measured not by strength, not by wealth, but by the happiness of their inhabitants. As a resident and citizen of Moldova, I could be proud of such happiness, but as a scientist, I would really like to look at the formula by which the calculation was carried out. Of course, happiness is a matter too ephemeral and difficult to measure, but nevertheless it is interesting how the country with the lowest GDP in Europe and the most high level corruption (probably everyone is still hearing how 1 billion dollars were stolen from the country’s budget last year) occupies such an honorable place. Maybe in the case of Moldova, someone made a mistake and confused the numerator with the denominator, and even though we are not yet ahead of the rest, we are clearly not on par with Bhutan. Let’s analyze why.
It turns out that Bhutan is the only state in the world where the Ministry of Happiness exists. Thus, happiness is placed at the forefront of national policy. The government was instructed to produce the happiness of the people. Scientists say that happiness greatly depends on the small things in our lives. Psychologists advise smiling more often, sleeping at least 6 hours, finding a job close to home and doing something new every day. In addition, experts say that a person feels happier when he gives small gifts to others rather than buying something for himself.
This is true amazing country without hunger and crime, where people live in joy, not knowing wars and poverty. The Bhutanese themselves, of whom, unlike other countries in the region, are quite small, are open, hospitable, and not at all spoiled modern world and carefully preserve their unique culture.
Happy people
It is forbidden to kill animals here, and therefore almost everyone is vegetarian. The import of chemical fertilizers is prohibited here, and everything that grows on this land is itself environmentally friendly. More interesting feature This state can be considered to mean that forests in Bhutan are not cut down, but rather planted. It is not enough to say that this is a country of Buddhism, it is a country of purity and enlightenment. The country is still very little studied, and huge territories in the south and in the central part are completely undeveloped by people and represent huge reserves with amazing flora and fauna.
The Kingdom is completely self-sufficient environmentally clean products food and clothing.
The streets are very clean. Compared with neighboring countries- Just perfect cleanliness! Garbage is collected separately here! Food waste is collected in green containers, plastic, glass and metal in blue. (Let me make a small clarification. When compared with neighboring countries, they mean dirty India. China and Nepal. In many other Southeast Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore, South Korea This won’t surprise anyone - everything they have, and most importantly, has been perfectly clean for a long time!)
Unfortunately, tourism and mountaineering are limited in the country. Any movements around the country outside the capital, only as part of organized groups according to programs compiled by Bhutan tour operators, with an official guide.
Compared to neighboring Nepal, which remains at the peak of its popularity, Bhutan remains relatively untouched thanks to its government's fiscal policy of upscale tourism. In addition to processing numerous documents and visas, this is an expensive pleasure. Tourists are charged $250 for each day they stay in the country. Until the mid-1970s, foreigners could only enter Bhutan with a personal invitation from the king or queen. Now the country has a state tourism corporation, which oversees no more than a hundred private travel agencies. In 1974, 287 tourists visited Bhutan. Since then, the number of tourists visiting the country annually has been increasing and by 2000 reached 7,000. Compared to other countries, this is very little, but the country’s budget began to be significantly replenished from tourists.
The main tourist attraction of the country is Buddhist monastery Paro Taktsang, also known as Taktsang-lakhang (Tiger's Nest or Tiger's Lair). The first temple was built on this rock in 1692. Meditations have been carried out in these caves for a long time.
The rock on which the monastery is located has a height of 3,120 m and is located above the Paro Valley. To get here, you first need to travel by car, then on short, shaggy horses. The highlight of the trip is a multi-hour climb on foot along a stone staircase carved into the rock.
Bhutan has preserved many interesting and unusual things.
Until the end of the 20th century, television was banned in the country; in 1999, Bhutan became the last country on the planet that began television broadcasting - when the only state television channel began operating.
Since 2004, Bhutan has completely banned the sale and use of tobacco. Cigarettes cannot be brought into the country.
The most noticeable difference is that Bhutan carefully protects its age-old cultural traditions. Sometimes it’s funny, for example, one of the laws requires Bhutanese to wear national clothes.
Another curiosity is that one of the national symbols Butana, is a phallus. He also serves local souvenir. If a small “Eiffel Tower” is brought from Paris as a gift, then many people bring phalluses from Bhutan.
Souvenirs from Bhutan
The monks in the monastery use these wooden phalluses to bless the future children who come, tapping them on the head.
In Bhutan, phalluses are even painted on the walls of houses and shops, in the hope that the Divine phallus will ward off evil spirits.
Einstein was right that everything in this world is relative! In our country, such a drawing in public places is punished for hooliganism, but in Bhutan they are proud of it!
Like this unusual country this Bhutan
When working on the article we used various sources Internet
♦ Category: .Boutan is a small mountainous country. The capital is Thimphu. Many tourists wonder: where is the country of Bhutan? The answer is simple - in Asia, between two great powers: India and China. It is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas. The Black Mountains stretch right in the center of Bhutan. In Bhutan, the airport is the only flat place in the state.
The delightful and mysterious landlocked country of Bhutan. It is located on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas. Because of this, the country's terrain is mountainous and densely forested.
The head of state with a limited monarchy form of government is the king. The second administrator of the state after the king is the Supreme Lama. The Council of Ministers as well as the Royal Advisory Council play a role executive power. National Assembly, consisting of one chamber, represents the legislature.
Bhutan's history goes back thousands of years. Previously, the surrounding countries did not know about the existence of this state. The culture began here in 747 thanks to Rinpoche - spiritual teacher who arrived from Pakistan. He spread Buddhism among the inhabitants. In 1616, all the disparate parts of Bhutan were united thanks to Shabdrung Ngawang Namguelu, who came from Tibet. This is the most significant event in the history of the state. In the 17th century, Bhutan was attacked twice by the Mongols. However, thanks to Shabdrung, the attacks were repelled. After his death, Bhutan fell into turmoil. It ended in 1907, when the first king came to power. Since then, power has been inherited. The country ceased to be closed from the outside world and allowed tourist visits in 1974.
The people of this mesmerizing kingdom are no less beautiful than Bhutan itself. They are responsive and hospitable. They are peace-loving and not spoiled by poverty and the vices of the modern world. Bhutanese people love to have fun. Archery became a local sport. Fields for athletes have been built throughout the country. When a player hits the target, his cheerful support team runs out to him and sings a song of praise.
All Bhutanese people wear national costumes. The King and Queen of Bhutan are very concerned about maintaining traditions. If a resident does not put on a traditional costume, then he will not get an appointment at some authority that he really needs. If it were not for the care of the monarch, many residents could have long since become an alcoholic and suffered from smoking. It was the king who banned smoking throughout the country.
Bhutan - the land of happiness
Since absolutely all religions are prohibited in the country, except Buddhism, the king considers it his duty to make every citizen of the country happy. For this purpose, the “Commission for General People’s Happiness” was created in 2008. During the census, citizens are asked: are you happy? The majority of respondents systematically answer positively.
Bhutan has a Ministry of Happiness. Happiness is at the forefront of national policy. The concept of GDP is replaced here by the concept of “gross national happiness”.
Bhutan is a truly happy and bright country. She is open to others.
Dzongkha is officially considered the official language. It, like Bumtang, a language used in the peripheral regions and in the east of the country, has no written norms. The Tibetan language has been used for these purposes since ancient times. Over the past few years, schools have been studying English language, which is gaining momentum in its distribution in the country of Bhutan. An interesting fact is that road signs Here they draw by hand! They are often signed, also by hand.
Bhutan is an environmentally friendly country
Interestingly, at every step there are urns with the inscriptions “don’t forget about me” and “use me.” In this way, the authorities are fighting for cleanliness in the state.
It is prohibited in the state to kill animals and cut down forests. Trees, on the contrary, are constantly being planted. It is also prohibited to import chemical fertilizers into Bhutan, so all plants growing here are environmentally friendly.
Thanks to these bans, most of the country is nature reserves untouched by human hands.
There is practically no production in Bhutan. Everything is imported from India. It is thanks to this that the state does not pollute the environment.
Interestingly, television is banned throughout the country. Few residents have televisions and use them to watch videos.
Signs of various establishments do not differ in variety and creativity. They are all the same, regardless of the type of activity: wooden rectangular signs with blue stickers and white inscriptions.
Bhutan - the land of gingerbread houses
In the mid-seventies, the king ordered that all houses be painted. That’s why Bhutan is often called the country of gingerbread houses. The motifs mainly consist of ornaments. The addition includes images of animals and plants. Residents of Bhutan compete with each other to decorate their homes.
By tradition, all houses consist of three floors. On the first there is a stable, on the second there is a bedroom, chapel and kitchen, and on the third there is a place for drying hay.
The symbol of this mountainous state is a large beautiful butterfly called the Glory of Bhutan. Its wingspan is 12 cm.
Bhutan – the land of rice, tea and pepper
The staple of Bhutanese cuisine is rice. It is used everywhere and always. The majority of the population are vegetarians. The use of beans and chili peppers is common. After spicy feasts, the residents of this mountainous country They prefer to drink tea with butter and salt called souza. They drink both black and green tea.
If you are going to Bhutan, this will definitely not leave you indifferent. Here you will find yourself outside of time and space. Happiness and silence reign here. There's no fuss. In the forests on the slopes of the Himalayas a large number of Buddhist monasteries.
The time difference with Moscow is three hours. There are no direct flights from Russia to Bhutan. You can get to the kingdom with a transfer in Delhi, Singapore, Mumbai and Kathmandu.
In most cases, tourists travel around Bhutan on transfers pre-booked by tour operators. Local residents use buses to get around. You can often find Bhutanese voting. Despite the difficult terrain, the roads here are in excellent condition.
The official currency is BTN. IN central region countries, any world currency and checks of any companies are accepted. In peripheral areas, it is almost impossible to exchange foreign currency.
Tipping is not accepted in the country. Despite this, hotel workers and tour guides will be immensely grateful for even the smallest rewards from tourists.
The Bhutanese do not know how to bargain, and they do not want to. Prices are fixed everywhere.
Special attention should be paid to altitude sickness, which manifests itself when a tourist rises above 2500 meters.
To visit Bhutan you will need a visa. To do this, you need to fill out a declaration, which must indicate all imported photo, video and electronic equipment. If any of the imported items remain in the country as a gift or goods for sale, then the tourist is required to pay customs duty on these items. The export of local currency outside of Bhutan is prohibited. The tourist must declare the imported currency.
The small state of Bhutan is lost somewhere in the mountains of Tibet. Its structure, foundations and life in general are very interesting and unlike any other country. For example, almost all local residents wear national clothes called kho.
And they are almost all vegetarians: killing animals is simply prohibited in the country. There is no crime, no hunger, and people live in joy. The Bhutanese are hospitable, open, cherish their culture and are not at all spoiled by the modern world. Chemical fertilizers cannot be imported into the country, so all the products that grow on this land are environmentally friendly.
The only country where there is a Ministry of Happiness
And this is actually not a joke. Even in the Constitution of Bhutan there is a clause that the government strives for the happiness of every citizen, and they have a “Commission for General National Happiness”, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Moreover, the question “Are you happy?” asked during the population census. And do you know how local residents responded to it during the last signature collection process? 45.2% of residents answered “very happy”, 51.6% - “happy”, and some 3.3% said “not very happy”.
Bhutan is also different from everyone else in that they do not have a globally accepted concept of gross domestic product. Instead, back in 1972, the then-current king introduced another measure of quality of life - gross national happiness. And, as you understand, the main thing here is not at all material goods, but moral and spiritual values. So Bhutan can easily be called the most happy country.
The best country for enlightenment
In Bhutan, forests are not cut down, they are planted. And the country, despite its small area (38.5 thousand sq. km), is still poorly studied and not developed by people, so huge protected areas with amazing flora and fauna have been preserved here.
And also this the only country, Where official religion Tantric Buddhism is considered to be their “spiritual heritage”. So what is it the best place for meditation and enlightenment. True, tourists are not particularly welcome here: in order to visit the country, you need to confirm your financial solvency. And this is not a small amount: you need to spend at least $250 a day. This is how the government tries to preserve the country’s way of life and unique culture.
Some other interesting facts about Bhutan
Fact #1. Bhutan is the last country on the planet to lift the ban on television. This happened in 1999.
Fact #2. Marijuana in Bhutan grows like a bush, very for a long time it was used only for animal feed. The fact that this is a drug became known everywhere in the country when the ban on television was lifted.
Fact #3. Many buildings in Bhutan have a phallus on them. And this is not the machinations of hooligans, it is a symbol of fertility and good luck.
Moreover, the country even has a monastery called Chimi Lakhang, which houses several artificial phalluses. The temple was founded in honor of Lama Drukpa Kunley, who preached unusual Buddhism: he was fond of women, wine, and painted phalluses on houses to ward off evil spirits. Women who want to have children go to Chimi Lhakhang, and the abbot hits all those asking on the head with an artificial relic, blessing them for conception.
Fact #4. The Kingdom of Bhutan has prohibited smoking in public places since the 17th century, and in 2004 a ban on the sale of tobacco was introduced. You can get a considerable fine for smoking, with the only exceptions being tourists and diplomats. True, there is a black market for tobacco.
Fact #5. Bhutan has a unique funeral ritual: people are not buried or cremated, but... fed to wild animals or birds.
Fact #6. Friend Yul - this is what the Bhutanese call their country. It means "land of the thunder dragon."
Tsechu Festival
Fact No. 7. The crime rate in Bhutan is very low, rural areas locals generally don't lock their doors at night.
Fact #8. Education and medical care in the country are completely free.
Fact #9. Average age Bhutanese are 23 years old, and one third of the population is under 14 years old.
Fact #10. Thimphu is probably the last capital of Asia where there is not a single traffic light.
In fact, they once tried to install traffic lights here, but due to objections local residents they were removed, and traffic controllers returned to the roads.
Fact #11. There are special eating habits in Bhutan: you must refuse when food is offered to you. But after the second or third sentence you can give up)
Fact #12. Bhutan has banned the use of plastic bags since 1999.