15 facts that make Bhutan one of Asia's most mysterious countries
1. Surrounded by the Himalayan Mountain Range in South Asia, Bhutan is squeezed between India and China.
2. A little smaller than the state of Rio de Janeiro, the country has around 800, 000 inhabitants
3. Since 2008, the nation is ruled by King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck - the youngest ruling monarch in the world.
4. His father, King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck, in 1972 declared that the happiness of his people was more important than the sum of the wealth produced there.
5. In practice, Bhutan became the first country to measure national happiness through an index known as GNI (Gross Domestic Happiness); instead of emphasizing the GDP, the local government began to advocate the yearnings of the population
6. Despite focusing on the welfare of the inhabitants, in recent years Hindu minorities have been forced to leave the country by order of the Buddhist government.
7. Rivers of crystal clear water, untouched forests, rich fauna and paradisiacal landscapes make it considered "the last Eden in the world"
8. Traveling there, however, can cost a small fortune: to conserve nature and local traditions, tourism is limited.
9. By the way, the pretext of preserving culture made the country slow to receive a series of consumer goods: TV, for example, only arrived during the 1998 World Cup and the Internet, at the end of the following decade.
10. The national sport is archery
11. Neighboring India, because of good diplomatic relationship, allows Bhutanese to cross border showing only ID
12. It is said that for decades ranchers have given marijuana to cattle on the grounds that the herb helped to whet the animals' appetites
13. In addition to the unique nature, cultural festivals - such as the Thimpu held in October - are among the small nation's most popular attractions.
14. With tropical climate, Bhutan's average temperature is around 28 ° C
15. At the foot of a mountain, 3, 000 meters above sea level, is the main Bhutanese postcard, the Takshang Monastery - built in the 16th century by Buddhist monks.