Bhutan is a Buddhist country in south east Asia. The official language is Dzongkha with Nepali and English also spoken. The religion is predomiantly Buddhist with a Hindu minority.
Bhutan was ruled by Tibet from the 16th century and then by China from 1720, coming under British influence during the later part of the 18th century and in 1907 a hereditary monarchy was established, and in 1910 Bhutan was granted internal autonomy by Britain, becoming independent in 1947. Bhutan is ruled by a coalition of a council of Buddhist ministers and a semi-democratically elected national assembly.
The terrain consists of rugged and loffy mountains, abounding in sublime and picturesque scenery. Although mountainous and in many parts extremely cold, much of the country is productive and well cultivated, the mountain slopes being cut into terraces for this purpose. Streams are numerous and rain abundant, and there are extensive forests of fine timber, among the trees being beech, ash, oak, birch, maple, with pines and firs on the higher elevations. Wheat, barley, millet, and various kinds of vegetables are grown, including even potatoes.
Irrigation is commonly employed. Wild animals were very numerous, including elephants, tigers, leopards, deer, wild hogs, etc. The chief domestic animal is a kind of pony peculiar to this region, strong and active, as well as handsome. The traditional manufactures were confined to some common articles of home consumption: woollens, cottons, wooden ware, weapons, and implements of iron, etc. Research Bhutan
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Bhutan