The First Nonsmoking Nation Bhutan banned tobacco. Could the rest of the world follow? By Eric Weiner on Slate Posted Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, at 4:25 AM PT Smoke free by decree If you're indignant that your boss just shut the smoking room and outraged that you have to leave the bar to light up, take heart. Life could be worse. You could be Bhutanese. The tiny, trendy Himalayan kingdom recently became the world's first nonsmoking nation. Since Dec. 17, it has been illegal to smoke in public or sell tobacco. Violators are fined the equivalent of $232—more than two months' salary in Bhutan. Authorities heralded the ban by igniting a bonfire of cigarette cartons in the capital, Thimphu, and stringing banners across the main thoroughfare, exhorting people to kick the habit. As if they have a choice. [Read More ...]

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck
"The king of Bhutan is the world's youngest reigning monarch," says the Guinness Book of World Records. What it doesn't tell you is that he is a king of the people for the people... [more]

Why Is Everyone Going to Bhutan?

On the same day in 2002 as Germany and Brazil played in the World Cup Final in Japan, the national teams of Bhutan and Montserrat met in an official FIFA sanctioned, friendly match in Thimphu, the Bhutanese capital. Ranked at the very bottom of international soccer, they played strictly for the love of the game. The film (released in 2003) follows the two teams in their respective countries as they prepare for the match, travel to the stadium and play in the Other Final. 
In 2001, "Dutch filmmaker Johan Kramer pondered the quality of failure after one-time footie greats Holland never made it to the World Cup finals in 2002. What if... he thought. What if the two worst teams in the world had their own cup final? He checked the FIFA rankings on the internet and there they were - Bhutan 202nd and Montserrat 203rd. These countries could hardly be more different. Bhutan is a..." (Review by The Wolf on iofilm.co.uk) 
[ Read More About the Match and the Party Afterward ]

  Tsechus or Festivals
The busiest time of year in Bhutan is during the Tsechu seasons. Held in the Spring and the fall, these annual festivals reveal the history and religious aspects of Bhutan. The culmination of the Tsechu is the unfurling of a huge religious thongdrel. The exact moment of the thongdrel's revealing is held in secrecy.  [more]

Bird Lovers Paradise
Of the thousands of plant and animal species identified in Bhutan, over 1000 are found only in the kingdom. Bird watchers are fortunate in that there are over 620 types of bird varieties, many of which are extremely rare elsewhere. 60 percent of the bird species in Bhutan are endemic to the Himalayas. [more]
 

Architecture of Bhutan Culture and Traditions Text and Photographs by Robert Dompnier

 

Revisit the art of healing with this profile of Bhutan's chief indigenous medical expert.   [more]

Thimphu students produce 12 films for BBS.
"Our Bhutan" is a project providing 14 students the skills to produce a series of 12 - 15 minute narratives or documentaries for the Bhutanese Broadcasting Service (BBS). The objective of the program is to assist Bhutanese students in the mastery of basic critical thinking skills and media production... [more]

The Thrung Thrung Karm or the Black Necked Cranes arrive like clockwork with the onset of winter and leave in the spring. These endangered birds fly south from Siberia each fall to winter in the marshlands of Bomdeling and Phobjikha. The calls of the Thrung Thrung Karm have inspired folklore for generations. You too can see these magnificent water fowl in mid October to early November. The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature and the Phobjikha Community are now working together to protect the habitat of endangered Black Necked Cranes by hosting the second annual Black Necked Crane Festival.
Black Necked Crane Festival: November, 2007

Sakten Valley, World of the Brokpas
Eastern Bhutan is the Himalaya of legends. Along with the Yaks and monkeys, the high mountain passes are the wilderness home of the hearty and friendly Brokpas; and they wouldn't want it any other way... [more]

The Art of Healing
Bhutan, the Kingdom of the Peaceful Dragon, used to be called "Men Jong," Land of Medicinal Plants, ...[more]

Flowers of Bhutan
There are orchids of hundreds of varieties in Bhutan. Some haven't even been named yet. After the cold winter of the Himalayas, The glory of Bhutan can be seen in the first flowers of Spring... [more]

Yeti, The Abominable Snowman
The people of Bhutan believe to this day in the existence of the Snowman. Numerous yak-herders have claimed either to have seen the animal or to have discovered its tracks crossing high snow-bound mountain passes. [more]

Tourist Regulation Book
Tourist regulations, and recommendations are summarized in this publication from the TAB (Tourism Authority of Bhutan)....[more]