Not much is known about Bhutan prior to the 9th Century A.D. when Tibetan Monks began to flee here because of conflict in the region. In the 12th Century, the Buddhist monks began the Drupa Kagyupa school and since that time, much of Bhutan's political history has been based in it's religious history.

Prior to the 16th Century, Bhutan was not headed by one person or family, but various families and clans ruled their own separate territories. These families often fought amongst themselves and with Tibet. In 1616 Ngawang Namgyal a Buddhist Monk from Tibet came and gave himself the title Shabdrung Rinpoche and became the religious ruler of Bhutan. He fought off Tibetan forces and unified the country, calling it Druk Yul, or Land of the Thunder Dragon. Upon his death in 1705, conflict among the Bhutanese began again and thus followed over 200 years of conflict.

In 1907 Ugyen Wangchuk became the hereditary ruler of Bhutan by a unanimous vote of Bhutanese chiefs and lamas. The first Druk Gyalpo (or Dragon King) implemented many changes within Bhutan, including Western-style schools, improving trade relations with India, and reviving the Buddhist monastic system. Jigme Wangchuk succeeded him in 1926. He reigned until 1952. During his tenure as King, he , signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with India. During the reign of the third King Jigme Drji Wangchuk, Bhutan began to come out of isolation and became a member of the United Nations. He also developed the Royal Bhutanese Army and High Court.

Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the fourth King in the dynasty, promoted the ideas of economic independence and "Gross National Happiness" His coronation in 1974 was the first time that the international media was allowed to enter his kingdom. Tourists began to pour into Bhutan later that year. In 1998 King Wangchuk announced that we was ending the Council of Ministers and that there would now be open elections for those positions. In 1999 television and the Internet were first brought to this country. In 2006, he abdicated his throne to his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk.

Current Government System

Bhutan is a newly created democracy. In 2008 the Constitution was ratified by Parliament. Thus ended a 100 year reign of a monarchy system, headed by the Wangchuk dynasty. Bhutan now has a three pronged system of government. The King, the National Council, and the National assembly all share the governmental responsibility. The current King is his majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck. The National council consists of 25 members, 5 of whom are appointed by the King and 20 of whom are elected, one from each of the 20 districts. The National Assembly has 47 members, all of whom are elected, one from each of the country's 47 constituencies.

Bhutan has managed to retain its values and culture, as well as the purity of its environment. Through careful planning and well thought out execution, this country, based on "Gross National Happiness" is thriving.

For more information about Bhutan, please visit the Tourism Council of Bhutan website.