Introduction:
Nepal is a tiny Himalayan kingdom landlocked between China (Tibet) to the north and
India to the south, west and East. It is about 880km long and 240km wide. It spans terrain from subtropical jungle to the icy Himalayas and contains eight of the ten highest mountains of the world. Although it is a poor country, it is rich in scenic splendor and cultural treasures, hosting some of the best walking trails in the world. Nepal is a fairytale land of cultural complexities, colorful, friendly people, medieval villages and temples, shrines, palaces and ancient religions. It is the kind of country that
Bhutan, 'the land of thunder Dragon' and 'the last Shangri La' on earth, is situated in the lap of Eastern Himalayas between India and the People's Republic of China. Covering an area of 18000 sq miles, the tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world.
Spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and unique ancient Buddhist monasteries have made Bhutan an exemplar tourist destination, it is bestowed with rich bio-diversity harboring around 300 medicinal herbs and 165 endangered species. Each part of Bhutan has its own, historical, geographical, cultural, traditional and religious significance.
A conscious policy of isolation complemented by formidable geographical barriers has enabled the Kingdom to maintain its independence throughout its history. Ancient stone implements and other archaeological findings indicate that there were settlements in Bhutan dating back to 2000 B.C. The chronicled history of the kingdom however begins with the advent of Buddhism in the eighth century.
