This self –sufficient population was never colonized and had limited contact to the outside world. Buddhism was established in the 8th century by the Indian saint Padmanabha, popularly known in the Tantric Tradition as a Guru Rinpoche, Perhaps the most Dynamic era in Bhutanese history came in the 17th century with the arrival 1616, of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the great leader of the Drukpa School of Mahayana Buddhism. He unified the Country and established the foundations for national governance and the Bhutanese identity.
In 1907, a historic Assembly of the clergy, the official administration and the people unanimously elected Gong Sar Ugyen Wangchuck as the first hereditary king of Bhutan thus beginning the glorious era of the Wangchuck dynasty. In 2006, the Fourth king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck announced that they would abdicate in favor of a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy in 2008, the year that market 100 years of the monarchy saw two important events; the first democracy elections and the coronation of the fifth king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Facts and figures
Land Area: 38,394 square kilometers
Forest area: 72.5%
Altitude: Between 240 meters and 7541 meters above sea level
Inhabitants :700000
Language: official Language "Dzongkha”, English widely spoken
Religion: Vajrayana stream of Mahayana Buddhism (Also known as Tantric Buddhism)
Currency: Ngultrum (equal to Indian Rupee)
Capital: Thimphu
National Tree: Cypress
National Bird: Raven
National Sports: Archery
National Animal; Takin
Local Time: Six Hours ahead of GMT and half an hour ahead of Indian Standard Time