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• Known as Druk Yul, land of the thunder dragon, Bhutan is a country in South Asia, nestled in the Himalayas between China and India. Known for its isolation, Bhutan carefully regulates tourism and outside influences in an attempt to "preserve its traditional culture."

  The Treaty of Sinchulu, signed in 1865, gave Bhutan an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British run India. With the help of British political influence a monarchy was set up in 1907. In 1910 a treaty was signed that agreed the British would not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan would allow Britian to direct its foreign affairs. This agreement was taken over by a newly independent India after 1947. The land annexed by Britian was also returned in a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord in 1949.

  In the 1990s, attempts to stress the majority Buddhist culture and the lack of any political representation led to deep resentment among the ethnic Nepali community in the south.

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital: Thimphu
  2. Government: Absolute Monarchy
  3. Population: 672,425
  4. Currency: Ngultrum
  5. Exchange Rate: 45.750
  6. Official Language: Dzongkha
  7. Began a transition to constitutional monarchy on April 22, 2007
  8. Upper house of legislature elected on December 31, 2007, January 29, 2008
  9. Lower house of legislature elected on March 24, 2008

• Democracy

  In March 2005, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck unveiled a draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. Elections were held for a national legislature on December 31, 2007, January 29, 2008, and March 24, 2008. Following a concomitant referendum on the draft constitution, Bhutan will have completed its transition to full democracy.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Bhutan Election 2008 | South Asia | Nepal | China | World Bank | Thimphu | Paro | Buddhism | Pakistan | India | Sri Lanka | Himalayas

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