Bhutan - General
Bhutan is the world's only carbon-negative country, prioritizes Gross National Happiness over GDP, and is the only capital city without traffic lights. It's known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," has a ban on tobacco sales, and archery is its national sport. The country also offers free healthcare and education, and its highest mountain, Gangkhar Puensum, remains unclimbed.
Economy and environment
- Carbon negative: Bhutan is the only country in the world that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it produces.
- Gross National Happiness: The government measures its success through the four pillars of sustainable development, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and good governance, rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Tobacco ban: Bhutan was the first country in the world to ban the sale of tobacco products, which is a federal law.
- Plastic bag ban: Plastic bags have been banned in Bhutan to help the environment.
Culture and society
- No traffic lights: Thimphu is the only capital city in the world without a single traffic light. Traffic is directed by police officers at intersections.
- National sport: Archery is the national sport, and it's deeply ingrained in Bhutanese culture.
- National dress: Citizens are required to wear traditional national dress in public, with men wearing the "gho" and women the "kira".
- Free services: The government provides free healthcare and education to all citizens.
- "Land of the Thunder Dragon": The name "Druk Yul," the local name for Bhutan, translates to "Land of the Thunder Dragon" due to the sound of thunder from the Himalayas.
Geography and history
- Highest unclimbed mountain: Gangkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in Bhutan and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
- Isolated history: Bhutan was isolated from the rest of the world for centuries and only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s.
- Television and internet: The country was one of the last to introduce television and the internet, which were only permitted in 1999.