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About Bhutan The name ‘Bhutan’ appears to derive from the Sanskrit ‘Bhotant’ meaning ‘the end of Tibet’ or from ‘Bhu-uttan’ meaning ‘high land’. Though known as Bhutan to the outside world, the Bhutanese themselves refer to their country as Druk Yul or the Land of the Thunder Dragon. ‘Druk’ meaning ‘Dragon’ and extending from the predominant Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The documented history of the Kingdom
begins with 747 A.D. with Guru Padsambhava also
known as Guru Rinpoche who made his legendary trip
from Tibet across the mountains flying on a
tigress’s back. He arrived in Paro valley at
Taktsang Lhakhang also known as Tiger’s Nest. Guru
Rinpoche is not only recognized as the founder of
the Nyingmapa religious school but also considered
to be second Buddha. In the ensuing centuries,
many great masters preached the faith resulting in
full bloom of Buddhism by the middle ages.
Although sectarian at first, the country was
eventually unified under Drukpa Kagyupa sect of
Mahayana Buddhism by saint/administrator Shabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century. Ngawang
Namgyal codified a comprehensive system of laws
and built a chain of Dzongs which guarded each
valley during unsettled times and now serving as
the religious and administrative centre of the
region. Tourist Map
Map not to scale. |
During the next two centuries civil
wars intermittently broke out and the regional
Governors became increasingly more powerful. At
the end of 19th century, Trongsa Governor overcame
all his rivals and soon afterwards recognized as
the overall leader of Bhutan. The Governor of
Trongsa, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, was elected as the
first King of Bhutan in 1907 by an assembly of
representatives of the monastic community, civil
servants and people. The country has now the
system of democratic monarchy. The monarchy has
thrived ever since and the present King, His
Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the first
