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The Dragon Kingdom or more aptly, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is probably the closet one can get to a legendary Himalayan Kingdom, one of the last Shangri-Las on earth. Bhutan possesses an amazing landscape and the strange and beautiful monasteries and forts add and aura of mysticism to this land. Although the traditions of its neighbors which include Tibet, Sikkim and India have had some influence on Bhutan, it has generally remained isolated for a long time. With it is heavily protected borders, it still remains as a traditional and blissfully unspoilt land.
Background:
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was setup in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined Indias responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions.
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