The Settings
Himalayan Zones
History
Environment
People and Lifestyle
Religion and Culture
Arts and Crafts
Bhutanese Traditional Arts
Festival and Dances
Language

The Settings
Bhutan is a country nestled in the south eastern Himalayan ranges bordered to the north by Tibetan region of china, to the east, west and south by Indian state of Sikkim, Arunachal and Assam and west Bengal respectively completely land-locked and cut off by the mighty mountains. The country remained a sealed book for many centuries known as the world’s last Shangri-La which inevitably led to the development of distinct languages and dialects, traditional culture and, religion practices and preservation of its ecology opened to the outside world only four decades ago with the construction of motor able road and introduction of motor vehicles with the initiative taken by third king.
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Himalayan Zones
Bhutan is the country of dramatic contrast, rising almost vertically from the warm, tropical plains of India to the crisps, rarefied atmosphere of the Himalayas. The country has three major land form features namely:

1. The southern foothills
2. Inner Himalaya
3. Greater Himalaya

The southern foot hills comprises of steep hills and dense forest; the inner Himalaya with broad river valleys where rice is grown in abundance. The greater Himalaya features snow capped mountains and alpine slopes covered with rhododendrons and magnolias.
These three landforms have distinctive climates. Heat and humidity characterize southern foot hills with annual rain fall of 2500-5000mm. In contrast, the inner Himalaya have a cool, temperate climate, with annual rainfall of 1000 mm: the greater Himalaya features a severe alpine climate and annual rainfall of only 400 mm. rain fall is concentrated in the summer months, with a south west monsoon accounting for 60% to 90% of total rain. Great diversity exist both between and within the regions, as climate and rainfall characteristics changes rapidly from one valley to the next, with consequent change I flora, fauna and cultivated crops. This has bequeath the country with a diversity of plants and animals life rarely seen anywhere and led to Bhutan’s inclusion as one of the Earth’s 10 biodiversity & Hot spot
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History
The history of Bhutan can be divided into ancient history which dates back to the Stone Age until the coming of Guru Rinpochhe to Bhutan in 746AD. The medieval period is the period between the coming of guru Rinpochhe to Bhutan and the period till the coming of Zhabdrung to Bhutan in 1616AD and the unification of the country under single authority.
We know that there were people living in Bhutan as far as the Stone Age that is the period between 8000-3000 B.C
Such a claim is supported by the discoveries of artifacts from different parts of the country like stone axes (locally known as Namchag, Monoliths. Although Namchags are believed by the Bhutanese as some kind of thunderbolt that crash down on the earth during thunder storm. They are in essence stone implements used by the people of those times for hunting animals and weapons in the time of warfare. Similarly, the Dorings were used by the people for demarcation of border and for performing certain religious rites. To that extent we have families even today who put up such stone pillars in worshipping local deities.
The later periods also saw many people living in Bhutan. The fertile valleys like those of the Indus, Niles and Euphrates valleys formed the cradle of the earthly civilization. Then there were also people fro near by countries visiting or taking refuge in Bhutan. While the Indian sages and sages sought Bhutan for meditation. Many Indian kings and princes escaped the hostile environment in their home country to settle down here I Bhutan. Of the most prominent among them was an Indian prince who came to Bhutan and settled here with his wife and children. His name was Drimed kuendhen or vasantara. The family is supposed to have traveled as far as the black Mountain in Trongsa then called Duri Harshang. History has it that the prince away his one of his eyes to an old blind man at the present day village called changra the name having been derived after this event of giving away the eyes or chenrey. Then there is yet another place in Trongsa called Bubja named after an incident during which the prince gave away his children to some people who requested for them. This original name of the place was Budrel literally meaning parting with children.
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Environment
Bhutan retains about 72% of its land covered by forest and serves as habitat for diverse flora and fauna. With high vegetation cover and unexplored natural resources Bhutan now stands as one of the tenth hot spot for global biodiversity conservation and besides serves as 221 global endemic bird areas.
So initiative measures have been taken by the government of Bhutan to conserve the existing endangered flora and fauna species by introducing various National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries in the possible areas. Like we have nine national parks and four wildlife sanctuaries which shelter the habitat for endangered species like black necked crane, Takin, golden languor, rhino, panda and several other floral species like herbal plants, cycas sp.
Few amongst other well know parks and sanctuaries in Bhutan are Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park, Black Mountain national Park, Manas Wild life Sanctuary, Sakteng Wild Life Sanctuary.
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People and Lifestyle
Made up primarily of indigenous Bhutanese known as the Drukpa, today’s Drupka is made of three main ethnic groups, the Ngalops, Sharchops and the Lotshampas. The Ngalops came from the Tibetan plains and brought Buddhism into Bhutan. The Sharchops stays predominantly in eastern Bhutan and their ancestors can be traced to the tribes of north Burma and north east India. The lower southern regions is where the Lhotshampas lives, who are mostly agricultural workers.
The strategic location of the land kept each ethnic group isolated until the middle of this century when roads were built across the country. The contrasting ethnic diversity has meant that a number of different languages and dialects are spoken throughout the kingdom

Not really far away from the creeping of modernization as of present, the Bhutanese people had been leading a typical rural and agricultural life which imposed terrible difficulties in managing the family. Unlike present the life had been very tough and challenging in the past. So with the introduction of modernization in the land of Drukpas, the impact has been enormous and it really made the life much easier like access to modern facilities such as internet, telecommunication, hydro power, road, television which opened the door to the outside world.
A very unique philosophy of our present beloved king Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Gross national Happiness has induced a feeling of oneness among the citizen of our country where the greater emphasis has been placed in achieving material, spiritual and emotional needs in individual level. It asserts that spiritual development cannot and should not be defined exclusively in material terms of the increased consumption of goods and services.
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Religion and Culture
Bhutan is the only country to maintain Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric Vajrayana form as the official religion. The main practicing schools are the state sponsored Drukpa Kagyupa and the Nyingmapa. Whereas Buddhism is the main religion in the northern and eastern Bhutan, Southern Bhutanese are mainly Hindus.
Bhutanese art reflects major Tibetan influences, though it has developed many of its own derivations. It has three main characteristics: it is anonymous, religious, and performs no independent aesthetic function. Intricate wall paintings and thankas (wall hangings), most historical writing and fine sculpted images all have a religious theme
Although both Buddhism and the monarchy are critical elements, it is the general extensive perpetuation of tradition that is possibly the most striking aspect of Bhutan’s culture. This is most overtly reflected in the style of dress and architecture. All Bhutanese continue to wear the traditional dress: the gho for men and the kira for women. Generally colorful apparel, the fabrics used range from simple cotton checks and stripes to the most intricate designs in woven silk.
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Arts and Crafts
Bhutanese art is similar to the art of Tibet. Both are based upon Vajrayana Buddhism, with its pantheon of divine beings.
The major orders of Buddhism in Bhutan are Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma. The former is a branch of the Kagyu School and is known for paintings documenting the lineage of Buddhist masters and the 70 Je Khenpo (leaders of the Bhutanese monastic establishment). The Nyingma order is known for images of Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism into Bhutan in the 7th century. According to legend, Padmasambhava hid sacred treasures for future Buddhist masters, especially Pema Lingpa, to find. The treasure finders (tertön) are also frequent subjects of Nyingma art.
Each divine being is assigned special shapes, colors, and/or identifying objects, such as lotus, conch-shell, thunderbolt, and begging bowl. All sacred images are made to exact specifications that have remained remarkably unchanged for centuries.
Bhutanese art is particularly rich in bronzes of different kinds that are collectively known by the name Kham-so (made in Kham) even though they are made in Bhutan, because the technique of making them was originally imported from the eastern province of Tibet called Kham. Wall paintings and sculptures, in these regions, are formulated on the principal ageless ideals of Buddhist art forms. Even though their emphasis on detail is derived from Tibetan models, their origins can be discerned easily, despite the profusely embroidered garments and glittering ornaments with which these figures are lavishly covered. In the grotesque world of demons, the artists apparently had a greater freedom of action than when modeling images of divine beings.
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Bhutanese Traditional Arts
In Bhutan, the traditional arts are known as zorig chusum (zo = the ability to make; rig = science or craft; chusum = thirteen). These practices have been gradually developed through the centuries, often passed down through families with long-standing relations to a particular craft. These traditional crafts represent hundreds of years of knowledge and ability that has been passed down through generations.
The great 15th century treasure finder (tertön), Pema Lingpa is traditionally credited with introducing the arts into Bhutan. In 1680, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal ordered the establishment of the school for instruction in the 13 traditional arts. Although the skills existed much earlier, it is believed that the zorig chusum was first formally categorized during the rule of Tenzin Rabgye (1680-1694), the 4th Druk Desi (secular ruler). The thirteen traditional arts are:

• Dezo (Paper Making): Handmade paper made mainly from the Daphne plant and gum from a creeper root.
• Dozo (Stonework): Stone arts used in the construction of stone pools and the outer walls of dzongs, goenpa (monasteries), stupas, and some other buildings.
• Garzo (Blacksmithing): The manufacture of iron goods, such as farm tools, knives, swords, and utensils.
• Jinzo (Clay arts): The making of religious statues and ritual objects, pottery and the construction of buildings using mortar, plaster, and rammed earth.
• Lhazo (Painting): From the images on thangkas (religious wall hangings), walls paintings, and statues to the decorations on furniture and window-frames.
• Lugzo (Bronze casting): Production of bronze roof-crests, statues, bells, and ritual instruments, in addition to jewelry and household items using sand casting and lost-wax casting. Larger statues are made by repoussé.
• Parzo (Wood, slate, and stone carving): In wood, slate or stone, for making such items as printing blocks for religious texts, masks, furniture, altars, and the slate images adorning many shrines and altars.
• Shagzo (Woodturning): Making a variety of bowls, plates, cups, and other containers.
• Shingzo (Woodworking): Employed in the construction of dzongs and goenpa (monasteries)
• Thagzo (Weaving): The production of some of the most intricately woven fabrics produced in Asia.
• Trozo (Silver and Goldsmithing): Working in gold, silver, and copper to make jewelry, ritual objects, and utilitarian household items.
• Tshazo (Cane and Bamboo Work): The production of such varied items as bows and arrows, baskets, drinks containers, utensils, musical instruments, fences, and mats.
• Tshemazo (Needlework): Working with needle and thread to make clothes, boots, or the most intricate of applique thangkas (religious wall hangings).

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Festival and Dances
Festival and dance in Bhutan goes hand in hand. The festivals are almost always religious in nature and the dances which can be performed by both monks and laymen are morally instructive. It represents the most faithful form of ancient Himalayan dances

The most famous religious festival is called Tshechu, which is celebrated in all the dzongs and many remotes to commemorate different events in the life of Guru Rinpochhe (The precious master). It is believed that one who attends the tshechu dance would be bestowed with merit by the deities who are invoked during the dance. Their powers are such that misfortunes can be eliminated, luck increased and wishes realized. Everyone comes out in his or her best clothes. The festival is also a joyous social gathering and an occasion for exchange of news and greetings. Tshechu are celebrated on different dates in different places.
Dances performed on secular occasions like the coronation of the king or the celebration of the national day also have a touch of religion. First of all the most auspicious day is chosen for the event. Monks are at hand to bless the day. In short, all events are religion-centered.
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Language
There are two main languages in Bhutan. Dzongkha (The language of the Dzong or the fort) is the national language of Bhutan spoken widely and Nepali is spoken by the people of southern Bhutan who are of Nepalese origin. In the central and eastern Bhutan, people speak their own dialects. English is commonly spoken in all towns and also it is the medium of instructions in schools throughout the Kingdom.
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