The Kingdom of Bhutan (also Bootan) ( ) is a landlocked South Asian nation situated between India and Tibet, the People's Republic of China. The entire country is mountainous except for an 8-10 mile (13-16 km) wide strip of subtropical plains in the extreme south which is intersected by valleys known as the Duars. The elevation gain from the subtropical plains to the glacier-covered Himalayan heights exceeds 23,000 feet (7,000 m). Its traditional economy is based on forestry, animal husbandry and subsistence agriculture however these account for less than 50% of a GDP now that Bhutan has become an exporter of hydroelectricity. Cash crops, tourism, and development aid (the latter mostly from India) are also significant. An extensive census done in April, 2006 resulted in a population figure of 672,425. Thimphu is the capital and largest city.

Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world; foreign influences and tourism are heavily regulated by the government to preserve its traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture. Most Bhutanese follow either the Drukpa Kagyu or the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The official language is Dzongkha (lit. "the language of the dzong"). Bhutan is often described as the last surviving refuge of traditional Himalayan Buddhist culture. Non-Buddhists complain of human rights violations. Approximately 100,000 ethnic Nepali (who are generally Hindu) left the country in the 1980s because they were unhappy with new government policies designed to reduce the growing illegal immigration from Nepal.

Bhutan has been a monarchy since 1907. The different dzongkhags were united under the leadership of the Trongsa Penlop. The current king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, has made some moves toward constitutional government.

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RT @creativetechs Free Art Wolfe Talk: India, Myanmar and Bhutan Tuesday with @creativetechs. http://bit.ly/419Tfk
Jenniferliz19 (Jennifer Landry) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:30:08 -0000
RT @creativetechs Free Art Wolfe Talk: India, Myanmar and Bhutan Tuesday with @creativetechs. http://bit.ly/419Tfk
Bhutan Times Journalists Resign Due to Management Interference http://bit.ly/41PDX
maldot (maldot) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:26:10 -0000
Bhutan Times Journalists Resign Due to Management Interference http://bit.ly/41PDX
@staticinourskin I'm tryin to go to Bhutan next October, so I say if you've got the chance to go to Nepal, get there
plaidskaca (Eric Richter) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:15:20 -0000
@staticinourskin I'm tryin to go to Bhutan next October, so I say if you've got the chance to go to Nepal, get there
GNH, Gross National Happiness, was created by the 4th King of Bhutan as their development model & it has been in place for 35 years.
GNHWorld (Anjani M) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:56:35 -0000
GNH, Gross National Happiness, was created by the 4th King of Bhutan as their development model & it has been in place for 35 years.
@neilhimself South Korea, South Africa, and Bhutan :)
swimmingeagle (Chris Wente) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:48:47 -0000
@neilhimself South Korea, South Africa, and Bhutan :)
Please disregard any messages you may have gotten from me regarding the smoking ban in Bhutan, and the Turkish city of Istanbul. Don't ask!
rosspelton (Ross Pelton) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:47:20 -0000
Please disregard any messages you may have gotten from me regarding the smoking ban in Bhutan, and the Turkish city of Istanbul. Don't ask!

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