Category: Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is an Asian country located in the eastern part of the Himalayas. The highest point is Gangkar Puensum (7,570 m). There are 750 thousand residents (2016). The capital is Thimphu. For most of its history, Bhutan has been divided into autonomous principalities. Unification took place in the 16th century, with a system of civil and spiritual government. The first Europeans to visit Bhutan were two Portuguese Jesuits, in the 17th century, Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral. These pioneers were also the first Westerners to describe the region. In the early 20th century, the British overthrew the government of the lamas and transformed Bhutan into a protectorate. Due to the difficulty of access, it remained a practically isolated nation, until the middle of the 20th century.