Bhutan, a country the size of Switzerland, lies tucked away between Asian giants India and China. For a century the primarily Buddhist citizens lived under absolute rule. Recently, however, Bhutan’s King made the choice of converting his government into a constitutional monarchy.

Before the 1960s, Bhutan lacked roads, electricity, automobiles, telephones, and a postal service. Its people were segregated from the rest of the world by both geography (Himalayas) and political policy. To visit Bhutan is to take a step back in time, an experience dominated by mist-laden cliffs and the gravity defying temples which cling to them.

The culture of its people remains as colorful as the garb they wear and the busily decorative designs which adorn their architecture. Without destroying this culture, King Wangchuck is attempting to thrust his citizens into the 21st century. The phrase his father coined to describe his approach is: Gross National Happiness, a holistic twist of Gross National Product. Following the “four pillars of Gross National Happiness”–environmental protection, sustainable development, cultural preservation, and good governance–Bhutan has quickly erased the poverty which afflicted many of its citizens. Remarkably, this has come without wasting natural resources. Almost 75% of the country remains forested, more than a quarter of that designated as national parks or protected areas; few nations could boast similar numbers.

This odd mix of Middle Age culture (serfdom was present until the 50’s) and progressive thinking make Bhutan a unique and welcoming place for visitors. It will be interesting to see what this country looks like a quarter century from now. Hopefully, places and people, as pictured below, will endure the myriad of changes sure to accustom Bhutan’s shift into a constitutional monarchy.

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