In the eastern part of the Himalayan mountains, dragon kingdom ("Druk Yul") - Bhutan's official name - is located. Bhutan was first united to become a state under the rule of a monk in the 17th century. Civil wars made the provinces turn against each other over and over again, though, until Ugyen Wangchuck was elected to be King in 1907. The current King of Bhutan is a direct descendant of his. Today, the country is a constitutional monarchy with a representative national assembly.

The mountainous landscape of Bhutan which rises from an altitude of 100 metres in the South to 7,550 metres in the North leaves little room for agriculture. The river valleys and Southern lowland plains offer enough arable land, however, to feed the whole population. More than 90 percent of the working population are employed in agriculture. Wet rice, wheat and potatoes are mainly cultivated by farmer families. Several hydroelectric power stations along the mountain rivers supply sufficient energy for the small industrial companies in the country. Textiles, household goods and wood processing are the most important products.

Nature, which is particularly diverse due to the difference in altitude and climate, enjoys special protection. One fourth of the country was turned into national parks. Any kind of lumbering requires a special license and it must not lead to a reduction of forest lands below 60 percent of the country's overall area.

Bhutan has also always worked hard towards preserving its culture. Observing Bhutanese architectural styles is as much an obligation when constructing a building as is wearing traditional clothing in public. For the slow opening towards other countries shall not lead to a loss of Bhutanese identity in the dragon kingdom in the South of which the descendants of Nepalese immigrants form an important minority.