The meaning of Bhutan's national anthem / the English translation of Bhutan's national anthem

འབྲུག་ཙན་དན་བཀོད་པའི་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་།།
དཔལ་ལུགས་གཉིས་བསྟན་སྲིད་སྐྱོང་བའི་མགོན་།།
འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་པོ་མངའ་བདག་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་།།
སྐུ་འགྱུར་མེད་བརྟན་ཅིང་ཆབ་སྲིད་འཕེལ་།།
ཆོས་སངས་རྒྱས་བསྟན་པ་དར་ཞིང་རྒྱས་།།
འབངས་བདེ་སྐྱིད་ཉི་མ་ཤར་བར་ཤོག་།།

In the Kingdom of Bhutan adorned with cypress trees,
The Protector who reigns over the realm of spiritual and secular traditions,
He is the King of Bhutan, the precious sovereign.
May His being remain unchanging, and the Kingdom prosper,
May the teachings of the enlightened one flourish,
May the sun of peace and happiness shine over all people.

General Knowledge Collection on Bhutan

Q1. What is the constitution of Bhutan called in Dzongkha?

A: Tsa Thrim Chhenmo

Q2. When was the Civil Society Organizations Act of Bhutan passed in Bhutan?

A: 20th June 2007

Q3. How many articles are there in the constitution of Bhutan?

A: 35

Q4. A person applying for citizenship by naturalization must have lawfully resided for at least how many years?

A: 15 years.

.       Q5. In 2008, what was country’s per capita income?

 A: USD $2152

        Q6. How much was the total budget outlay of the 10^th Five Year        Plan

  A: Nu.201 billion  

  Q7.Which party was the first party in Bhutan to be registered by         Election Commission of Bhutan on 1^st September 2007?

   A: People’s Democratic Party 

         Q8.When Bhutan Telecom did was established?

   A: 1st July 2000

  Q9.Which authority or center is responsible for the licensing and         regulation of Media?

     A: Bhutan InfoCom and Media Authority

   Q10. Which is the first private newspaper in Bhutan?

   A: Bhutan Times.

A short brief history of our great kings.

On the 111^th national day celebration, I present you all a short history of our great kings.

Desi Jigme Namgyel was born in the year 1825 to Pila Goenpo Wangyal and Sonam Pelzom. He belonged to dungkar choje noble lineage and was born in dungkar village under Lhuentse dzongkhag. Desi Jigme Namgyel starts his career as tozep serving at the court of Trongsa Penlop and in the year 1849 he was appointed to the post of Trongsa Zimpon. Later in the year 1853 Jigme Namgyel became Trongsa poenlop and after 17 years Jigme Namgyel was enthroned as the 48^th Desi in the year 1870. Lama Jangchub Tsondru, his root teacher designed and consecrated the Raven Crown for Jigme Namgyel. Desi Jigme Namgyel passed away at the age of 56 in the year 1881 at Semtokha Dzong.

 The first king Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was born in the year 1862 to the family of Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel and Ashi Pema Chhoekey. He was enthroned as the first hereditary king of Bhutan on 17^th December 1907. At the age of 17, he was appointed as the Paro Poenlop in the year 1879. Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck was conferred the KCIE (Knight Commander of the Indian Empire) title in 1905 by the British political officer Sir John Claude White in Sikkim. Sir Ugyen Wangchuck visited India for the first time in the year 1906 and accompanied by Gongzim Ugyen Dorji visited for the second time in 1911 for the occasion of Coronation Durbar of King George V in Delhi. Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck sent six monks to Tibet in 1917 to study Zhungchen Chusum (the thirteen expository texts) and to be trained in the field of Allopathic medicine, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck sent some Bhutanese students to India. Ashi Rinchhen Pemo was the first wife of Trongsa Poenlop Ugyen Wangchuck followed by Ashi Ludrong Dolma, Ashi Ngodrup Pemo and in the year1903 he married to Ashi Tshuendu Lhamo (also known as Ashi Lemo). For the renovation of Phagpa Shingkum or the Swayambunath stupa in Nepal by Tobden Sakya Shri, Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck donated Rs 70,000 in 1917. King Ugyen Wangchuck passed away on 21^st August 1926 at the age of 64.

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck was born in the year 1905. King Jigme Wangchuck was appointed as the Trongsa Droenyer in 1921 and after 2 years he was appointed as Trongsa Poenlop. King Jigme Wangchuck was born to King Ugyen Wangchuck and Queen Tsundue Pema Lhamo. At the age of 21, King Jigme Wangchuck was crowned as the second Druk Gyalpo on March 14, 1927. In the year 1923, the royal wedding between King Jigme Wangchuck and Ashi Phuntsho Choden took place.    In the year 1931 King Jigme Wangchuck was presented the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (KCIE). He passed away in the year 1952.

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck known as the father and the founder of modern Bhutan was born in the year 1928 at Thruepang palace. The first official appointment given to His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck at the age of 15 was Trongsa Dronyer and was awarded the red scarf in the year 1943. In 1948, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck went to Kalimpong for a year to study with a private tutor named Mr. Frank Ludlow. At the age of 22 His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was appointed as the Paro Poenlop and in the year 1952, he was ascended to the throne as 3^rd king of Bhutan in Punakha Dzong. In the year 1969, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck issued a kasho(order) exempting the people from the woola system. King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck issued a royal command stating that all decisions of the Tshogdue (national assembly) shall be final and binding and will not need royal approval in the year 1968. The royal wedding between His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Her Majesty Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck took place in the year 1951 at Paro dzongkhag. His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck passed away at the age of 44 on 23 July 1972.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born on 11^th November 1955. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck received education from the educational institute called Ugyen Wangchuck Academy. His Majesty made his first visit to India in the year 1974 and first state visit to Bangladesh in 1974. His majesty is also known as the father of Bhutan’s development philosophy, popularly known as Gross National Happiness (GNH). In the year 1991 His Majesty relinquish the chairmanship of Planning Commission, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck commanded the establishment of the 39-member Constitution Drafting committee in the year 2001. His majesty married with 4 queens namely Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, Ashi Tshering Pem, and Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck attended the 5^th NAM summit (Which Non-Aligned Summit) in Colombo, Srilanka in 1976. One of the International magazine titled Time Magazine named His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk as one of 100 People Who Shape Our World in 2006. At the age of 17, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck became the world’s youngest king.

                   

The present king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was born on 21^st February 1980. On 9th December 2006, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned as the Fifth King of Bhutan. He became the Trongsa poenlop on 31^st October 2004. The royal wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema took place on 13^th October 2011at Punakha Dzong.

How many districts are there in Bhutan?

Starting with the Thimphu Dzongkhag (capital city), Bhutan is subdivided into 20 districts. The following are the 20 dzongkhag (districts) in Bhutan.

    1.      Bumthang

    2.      Chukha

    3.      Dagana

    4.      Gasa

    5.      Haa

    6.      Lhuentse

    7.      Monger

    8.      Paro

    9.      Pemagatshel

10.  Punakha

11.  Samdrup jongkhar

12.  Samtse

13.  Sarpang

14.  Timphu

15.  Trashigang

16.  Trashiyangtse

17.  Trongsa

18.  Tsirang

19.  Wangdue phodrang

20.  Zhemgang

Is Bhutan a developed country?

Bhutan is considered one of the least developed country in Asia. However, it is considered to be the fastest growing country with an 8.4% growth rate in 2017. As per the Asian development bank, Bhutan is the fastest growing economy in the developing Asian region and the outlook is for continued, strong and stable growth. The country is likely to experience a similar growth rate projection for the next two upcoming years.

Source:Tradingeconomics.com| RMA

Bhutan is ranked as the 3^rd fastest growing economy in 2017 as per World Bank. The factors behind the highest growth rate are said to be mainly because of the completion of three mega hydropower projects (punatsangchu -1, punatsangchu -2 and mangdechu)

Is Bhutan safe to visit?

Bhutan is a peaceful independent country on the Asian continent, situated between India, China, and Nepal. The kingdom of Bhutan known as the land of thunder dragon is a beautiful country to visit. 

Yearly around 40,000 to 50,000 plus tourist from all over the world visit Bhutan. Bhutan maintains 70% forest coverage and 60% is constitutional mandatory, different types of valleys, mountains, peaks, waterfall, birds, animals, cultures, tradition, foods, dance, and songs are found in Bhutan.

Visiting Bhutan has no risk at all, in place of risk you will get to explore unique and different cultures and traditions. The citizens of Bhutan are the followers of Buddhism and are very kind and fond of helping nature. Many beautiful places are there to visit, explore, research and learn about.

There are police and laws which prevent the crimes and criminals, there is no risk of chain snatcher, murderer, thief, cheater and other crimes as the law and the police are so strict plus people follow Buddhism which bounds people from all sorts of crimes and makes them kind and religious.

Which country is Bhutan in?

Bhutan is not a part of any country, Bhutan is an Independent country situated between its powerful neighbors, India and China. The kingdom of Bhutan is said to be the last independent country in the region to support Buddhism as the official state religion. Bhutan was a monarchy country but in the year 2008 the great 5^th druk gyelpo Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, signed the constitution which marked formally Bhutan as a democratic country.

Bhutan

Bhutan

I take immense pleasure in presenting my own country Bhutan to the world. Bhutan is an Independent country situated between its powerful neighbors, India and China. Bhutan established a hereditary monarchy in 1907 with the crowning of the first king Ugyen Wangchuk, but by 2008, Bhutan had become a parliamentary democracy. Bhutan is famously known as the land of thunder dragon (Druk yuel).

There are various theories about the origin of the name “Bhutan”. One idea is that it comes from the Sanskrit word Bhotant, which means the end of Tibet. Another idea is that old British maps named the country “Bootan” from the Sanskrit word Bhotia, which means “Tibetan people.” Regardless of the Western name for their country, the Bhutanese know their home as Druk yul- Land of the Thunder Dragon.

The great monarchs played vital and strong roles in keeping the country independent and happy. This independence has been fostered in part by the perpetually snow-capped mountains in the north and dense jungles in the south that have served as natural barriers, protecting the country from outsiders for generations.

As per the population and housing census report of Bhutan 2017, Bhutan’s total population is 735,553 out of which 380,453 are males (52.3%) and 346,692 are females (47.8%) excluding 8,408 non-Bhutanese/tourist.

The total land area coverage is 38,394 sq. km with 70% forest coverage. The total road connectivity as per 2016 is 12,348.7 km. The Bhutanese economy is based on agriculture, forestry, tourism, trade, and hydroelectricity.

Bhutan celebrates its national day on 17^th December, where all the people show their gratitude towards the great monarchs by celebrating the day and hosting the national flag on the windows and roofs of the house.

Bhutan is located in the Asian continent between India and China, the national language of Bhutan is dzongkha and the currency used is ngultrum. Takin is the national animal of Bhutan and blue poppy is the national flower followed by Raven as the national bird. Gho and Kira are the national dress of Bhutan and it is mandatory to wear it during occasions, office hours, visiting administrative office and dzongs.

Almost 90% of the Bhutanese follows the Buddhist religion and Bhutan is subdivided into 20 districts. Thimphu is known as the Capital city of Bhutan, where the main parliamentary assembly, Supreme Court, national referral hospital, central bank and many administrative offices with big shopping malls and different institutions are present.

Bhutan is not only rich of cultures and tradition but also languages such as Dzongkha, Tshangla, chali, merak Sakteng, kurtoep, sharshop, oleykha, nepali, Sherpa, mon, bumthap, kheng and many others.