Sandwiched between India and Tibet, we all know that Bhutan is a tiny landlocked national tucked neatly in the laps of the Himalayans. But did you know that it only recognition from the United Nations as a country in 1974? Here we have presented five interesting facts about Bhutan on what makes the country so compelling and captivating.
Always a sovereign nation
Given its size and stand in the world as a tiny landlocked country, it may be hard to believe that Bhutan is one of the twenty-two countries in the world to have never been conquered or colonized. This is partly due to its inaccessible geography of high mountains and lush forests, but also thanks to the smart negotiations made by previous kings and gurus with the British India that have helped in carving an independent status. Due to the lack of intermingling with the foreign culture, Bhutan today stands as one of the finest examples of what a nation can build with self-reliance and individuality.
Index for measurement of happiness
Sure, you all might have guessed that Bhutan is not an economic powerhouse. But, what’s so peculiar and special about the country is that Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product. His Majesty JingmeSingyeWangchuck, the former king of Bhutan, created this parameter of happiness to ensure all of his subjects are happy and content. This goes on to show that the Bhutanese government is more concentrated on uplifting the quality of life in comparison to economic progress.
A capital with no traffic lights
What’s the capital city like in your country? Bustling traffic and always living in the fast lane? Bhutan is the only country in the world that doesn’t house a single traffic light in its capital. Instead, Policemen in Thimpu guard in major intersections and direct traffic. Well, it helps that there aren’t as many cars around and that the citizens are well-behaved, drive peacefully, and are patient.
Home to the highest unclimbed mountain in the world
Tucked in the laps of the Himalayans, Bhutan is home to some of the most iconic ranges and peaks in Asia. But don’t get too excited if you’re a mountaineer. Bhutanese people believe these mountains to be a holy abode of gods and spirits and thus are barred from climbing. This religious belief makes Mt. Gangkar Puensum the highest unclimbed mountain in the world at an elevation of 7,570m. In 1994 AD, the Royal Bhutanese Government banned climbing of mountains above 5400 meters (18,000 feet) as a respect to Bhutanese notion of them being sacred.
The only carbon-negative country in the world
One of the most impressive and enviable facts about Bhutan is that it is the world’s only country with negative carbon footprint, which means it produces less Carbon Dioxide that it absorbs. To some extent, the milestone can be credited to Bhutan’s practically nonexistent industries, but also because they take their sustainability and environmental laws quite seriously. According to the constitution, at least two-thirds of the country must be covered by forests and that figure stands at 72% today.