Bhutan is a tiny, remote and impoverished kingdom nestling in the Himalayas between its powerful neighbours, India and China.The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means "Land of the Thunder Dragon" and it only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s.
The Wangchuck hereditary monarchy has wielded power since 1907. But Bhutan became a two-party parliamentary democracy after elections in March 2008. This gave a landslide victory to the pro-monarchy Bhutan Harmony Party of former prime minister Jigme Thinley. The opposition People's Democratic Party also supports the monarchy.
Bhutan's ancient Buddhist culture and breathtaking scenery make it a natural tourist attraction.
Tourism is restricted; visitors must travel as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour. Backpackers and independent travellers are discouraged.
The monarchy says it seeks to promote a balance between material and spiritual happiness
National dress is compulsory - the knee-length wrap-around "gho" for men and the ankle-length dress known as the "kira" for women.
The Bhutanese monarchy has also promoted the philosophy of "Gross National Happiness" (GNH), which strives to achieve a balance between the spiritual and the material.
But by the 1990s, attempts to stress the majority Buddhist culture and the lack of any political representation had led to deep resentment among the ethnic Nepali community in the south.
Refugees Violence erupted and tens of thousands of Nepali speakers fled to refugee camps in Nepal.
Some 100,000 refugees live in UN-supervised camps in Nepal. Out of this refugee population have sprung a number of insurgent groups - the Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist), the Bhutan Tiger Force and the United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan.
The Bhutanese security forces believe they are behind the wave of bombings that rocked the kingdom in the run-up to the 2008 parliamentary elections.
The leaders of Nepal and Bhutan had promised to try and repatriate the refugees before the elections. However, there has been little progress on this front.
India does not allow the refugees onto its territory which lies between Bhutan and Nepal, and although the US and some other countries have agreed to accept tens of thousands of the refugees, some refugee leaders say that the only acceptable path is complete repatriation to Bhutan.
Facts:
- Full name: Kingdom of Bhutan
- Population: 708,500 (UN, 2010)
- Capital and largest city: Thimphu
- Area: 38,364 sq km (14,812 sq miles)
- Major language: Dzongkha (official)
- Major religions: Buddhism (official), Hinduism
- Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 70 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum
- Main exports: Electricity, timber, cement, agricultural products, handicrafts
- GNI per capita: US $1,880 (World Bank, 2010)
- Internet domain: .bt
- International dialing code: +975
Television did not come to Bhutan until 1999.
For years, the country cut itself off, fearing that outside influences
would undermine its monarchy and culture.
Radio broadcasting began in 1973 and the internet arrived in 1999. Media freedom is restricted. Reporters Without Borders says the monarchy "makes few allowances for pluralist news".
State-funded BBS is the only TV station to broadcast from Bhutanese soil. But cable TV thrives, with rival services offering dozens of Indian and international channels.
There were nearly 99,000 internet users by December 2011 (Internetworldstats.com).
The press
- Bhutan Today - private, daily
- Kuensel - established title
- The Bhutan Times - private, bi-weekly
- Bhutan Observer - private, weekly
- The Bhutanese - private, bi-weekly
Television
- Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) - state-owned
Radio
- Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) - state-owned
- Kuzoo FM - private
- Radio Valley - private
1907 - Ugyen Wangchuck is chosen as hereditary ruler.
1910 - Treaty signed with British giving them control over Bhutan's foreign relations.
1949 - Treaty signed with newly-independent India guaranteeing non-interference in Bhutan's internal affairs, but allowing Delhi influence over foreign relations.
1952 - Reformist monarch Jigme Dorji Wangchuck succeeds to throne.
1952 - National assembly established.
Modernisation 1958 - Slavery abolished. Other social reforms follow in subsequent years.
1959 - Several thousand refugees given asylum after Chinese annex Tibet.
1964, 1965 - Prime minister killed in dispute among competing political factions. Unsuccessful attempt to assassinate monarch.
1968 - First cabinet established.
1971 - Bhutan joins United Nations.
1972 - King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck dies and is succeeded by his son, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who continues policy of cautious modernisation.
1974 - First foreign tourists allowed in.
Ethnic tension 1986 - New law granting citizenship on basis of length of residence in Bhutan.
1988 - Census leads to branding of many ethnic Nepalis as illegal immigrants. New measures adopted to enforce citizenship law. Government also introduces other measures to stress Tibetan-based Bhutanese culture, antagonising minority ethnic Nepali community.
1989 - Nepali ceases to be a language of instruction in schools.
1990 - Violent ethnic unrest and anti-government protests in southern Bhutan pressing for greater democracy and respect for Nepali rights. Bhutan People's Party begins campaign of violence. Thousands of ethnic Nepalis flee to Nepal.
Democracy and human rights 1992 - Leader of illegal Bhutan People's Party sentenced to life imprisonment.
1993 - Bhutan and Nepal try to resolve refugee problem.
1996 - Nepal demands all 80,000 or so refugees should be accepted back by Bhutan.
1997 - Amnesty International raises serious concerns over human rights situation in southern Bhutan.
1998 - King cedes some powers to national assembly, giving up role as head of government; cabinet now elected by assembly; famous "Tiger's Lair" Buddhist monastery damaged by fire.
1999 - Limited television and internet services allowed; several dozen political prisoners released.
2000 - First internet cafe opens in Thimphu; Bhutan hit by landslides following severe flooding in region, causing at least 200 deaths.
Refugee issue
Ethnic Nepali Bhutanese refugees live in UN-supervised camps in Nepal
2002 January - Indian state of Assam says two rebel groups still have camps in Bhutan, despite Bhutan's deadline for them to leave the country by the end of 2001.
2003 December - Bhutanese soldiers fight Indian separatist rebels in an attempt to drive them from their bases in the south of the country.
2005 March - Proposed constitution is unveiled. It envisages a parliamentary democracy and will be adopted or rejected in a referendum.
Succession 2005 December - King Jigme Singye Wangchuck says he will abdicate in 2008, when democratic parliamentary elections are held. The crown prince will take over as monarch.
2006 June-August - Bhutanese refugees in Nepal demonstrate over several weeks to press for third-country resettlement.
2006 September - Preparations start in earnest for first ever elections in 2008. Officials begin training for the polls which will appoint a government to take over from the absolute monarchy.
2006 December - King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicates; Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the crown prince, assumes the throne. The former monarch had been expected to stay in power until 2008.
2007 February - Bhutan signs a landmark agreement with India which revises ties with its neighbour, giving Bhutan more say over its foreign and defence policies.
2007 April - Mock elections are staged to familiarise voters with the concept of parliamentary democracy ahead of planned polls in 2008.
2007 July - Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuck resigns so he can compete in elections planned for February and March 2008.
2008 January and February - A string of bomb blasts hits the country ahead of elections set for March 24. The attacks are blamed on groups fighting for the rights of ethnic Nepalis exiled in 1991.
2008 March - Pro-monarchy Bhutan Harmony Party wins 44 out of the 47 seats in the country's first parliamentary elections. Another pro-monarchy party wins the remaining seats.
2008 November - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is crowned king.
India alleges links between Assamese separatists and Bhutan dissident Druk National Congress.
2009 April - Huanglongbing virus wipes out much of orange crop. Oranges are an important export for Bhutan.
2011 October - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck marries 21-year-old student Jetsun Pema.
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