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Nepal and Bhutan
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Main Ideas
• Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked Himalayan kingdoms.
• Rugged terrain and an
isolated location have had a
great impact on life in Nepal
and Bhutan.
Places & Terms
constitutional monarchy
A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE In the novel Lost Horizon, James Hilton
described an imaginary mountain valley called Shangri-La, hidden high
in the Himalayas. He wrote, “The floor of the valley, hazily distant, welcomed the eye with greenness; sheltered from winds . . . completely isolated by the lofty and sheerly unscalable ranges on the further side.”
Shangri-La was an earthly paradise: a land of peace, harmony, and beauty, where hunger, disease, and war did not exist. Hilton located this
mythical land somewhere in Tibet, but it could just as easily have been
in Nepal or Bhutan. Although neither of these countries is a paradise,
both are remote lands of great beauty and peace.
Sherpa
Siddhartha Gautama
mandala
Connect to the Issues
economic development
Decades of isolation and
difficult topography have
limited economic growth in
Nepal and Bhutan.
Mountain Kingdoms
Nepal and Bhutan share a number of important characteristics. Both are
located in the Himalayas, a factor that has had a great impact on their
history and economic development. Both also are kingdoms with strong
religious traditions.
GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION The main geographic feature of Nepal and
Bhutan is their mountainous landscape. Each country consists of a central upland of ridges and valleys leading up to the high mountains, with
a small lowland area along the Indian border. The towering, snowcapped Himalayas run along the northern border with China. They are
craggy and forbidding and have steep mountain passes and year-round
ice fields. The world’s tallest mountain peak, Mt. Everest, is located there.
The rugged landscape of Nepal and Bhutan has isolated the two
countries throughout their histories. Their mountainous terrain and
landlocked location—neither country has access to the sea—made
them hard to reach and difficult to conquer and settle. China controlled
Bhutan briefly in the 18th century. In the 19th century, Great Britain
had influence over both countries because of its control of neighboring
India. But Nepal and Bhutan generally remained independent and isolated. In fact, until the past few decades, foreigners rarely entered either
country.
EVOLVING MONARCHIES For much of their history, Nepal and
Bhutan were split into small religious kingdoms or ruling states. Hindu
kings ruled in Nepal, while Buddhist priests controlled Bhutan. In time,
unified kingdoms emerged in both countries, led by hereditary monarchs who passed the throne on to their heirs.
Today, the governments of both Nepal and Bhutan are constitutional
monarchies—kingdoms in which the ruler’s powers are limited by a
580 CHAPTER 25
REGION Richly decorated
cloths that display
Buddhist religious symbols,
such as the cloth shown
below, have covered the
thrones of Bhutanese
rulers. Why might there
be religious symbols on
a throne cloth used by
secular rulers?
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constitution. In Bhutan, the king is still the supreme ruler, while in
Nepal the king shares power with an elected parliament. Both governments face difficult political challenges, including the need to balance
the interests of their two powerful neighbors, China and India. Both
countries also face difficult economic challenges.
Developing Economies
Decades of isolation and difficult topography have limited economic
development in Nepal and Bhutan. Now each country is trying to find
effective ways to promote economic growth.
Making
Comparisons
What activities
are important to
the economies
of Nepal and
Bhutan?
PLACE A blend of
the old and the new is
evident in the
architecture of this
square in Kathmandu,
Nepal’s capital city.
Why might this rich
cultural tradition
make Kathmandu
attractive to tourists?
LIMITED RESOURCES Nepal and Bhutan are poor countries with
economies based mainly on agriculture. Because of the mountainous
terrain, neither country has much land suitable for cultivation. Most
farm plots are small, soils are poor, and erosion is a problem. Farmers
create terraces on the mountainsides to increase the amount of farmland and limit soil loss, a process you read about in Chapter 9. Common
farm products include rice, corn, potatoes, and wheat. Common livestock are cattle, sheep, and yaks—longhaired animals related to the ox.
In Bhutan, the government has promoted the growing of fruit for
export and has tried to improve farming practices.
The timber industry is very important to both countries, although
deforestation is a problem. The forests of Nepal are being cut down at
a rate of about 1 percent a year. But some valuable timberlands remain.
Around 70 percent of Bhutan is still forested. A growing manufacturing
sector of the economy includes wood products, food processing, and
cement production. Most trade for both countries is with India.
INCREASING TOURISM One of the fastest growing industries in Nepal
is tourism. Tourists come from around the world to visit the valley of
Kathmandu, the capital, and to climb the Himalayas. Hotels and restaurants, transportation, and other services have grown to meet the needs
of the tourist industry. But tourism is a mixed blessing. It has
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Mountains of Bhutan and Nepal
country borders
Nepal
Sherpa guides
Bhutan
Nepal
This illustration of the Himalayas
shows the rugged terrain of both Nepal
and Bhutan. Many of the world’s tallest
peaks are located there.
HUMANENVIRONMENT
INTERACTION The
Sherpa are known for
their mountaineering
skills and their ability
to carry heavy loads at
high altitudes.
Why might mountain
climbers seek out
the Sherpas as
guides and porters?
India
India
Bangladesh
damaged the environment, particularly on mountain slopes, where
increased trash and pollution have been most noticeable.
Bhutan, which offers many of the same natural attractions as Nepal,
has taken a different approach to tourism. Concerned about the impact
of tourists on national life, Bhutan regulates the tourist industry. It
allows only limited numbers of visitors and keeps some areas of the
country off-limits. Even so, tourism is providing increasing revenues to
Bhutan and offers significant economic potential for the future.
Rich Cultural Traditions
Visitors to Nepal and Bhutan come not only for the spectacular mountain scenery but also for a glimpse of the rich cultural traditions of the
Himalayan people.
A MIX OF PEOPLES Various ethnic groups inhabit the Himalayan
region. In Nepal, the majority of the people are Indo-Nepalese Hindus
whose ancestors came from India many centuries ago. These groups
speak Nepali, a variation of Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language.
Nepal also has a number of groups of Tibetan ancestry. Among them
are the Sherpas. These people from the high Himalayas are the traditional mountain guides of the Everest region.
The main ethnic group in Bhutan is the Bhote, who also trace their
origins to Tibet. Most Bhotes live in two-story houses made of wood and
stone. The families live on the second floor, while the first floor is
reserved for livestock. Bhutan also has a sizable Nepalese minority in
the southern lowlands. The Nepalese have preserved their language and
customs, even though the government of Bhutan has tried to assimilate
them into national life.
RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS Religion is a powerful force in both Nepal and
Bhutan. Although the great majority of Nepalese are Hindus, Buddhism
also has deep roots in Nepal. The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha
Gautama, known as the Buddha, was born on the borders of present-day
582 CHAPTER 25
Background
Another Nepalese
people, the
Gurkhas from the
valleys west of
Kathmandu, are
known as fierce
fighters. They have
been recruited
since the mid-19th
century to serve in
the British and
Indian armies.
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Nepal and India in the sixth century B.C. Buddhist teachings initially took hold in Nepal but were
later replaced by Hinduism when
Hindu rulers came to power.
Today, Hindu practices still show
traces of Buddhist influence.
Buddhism is the official religion
of Bhutan. The people practice a
Tibetan style of Buddhism, which
includes the use of mandalas—
geometric designs that are symbols of the universe and aid in meditation. Early communities in Bhutan
were organized around large fortress-monasteries, which are still found
in many parts of the country. Also scattered around the countryside are
small shrines that were built to house sacred relics and are excellent
examples of Buddhist architecture.
THE ARTS AND RECREATION Folk art and festivals are an important
Seeing Patterns
Why might
archery have been
a particularly useful military option
in Bhutan?
feature of Himalayan culture. Artisans make beautiful metal bells,
swords, and jewelry, and carve intricate wooden sculptures. They also
weave colorful textiles from silk, cotton, and wool. During festivals in
Nepal and Bhutan, musicians play traditional songs on flutes, drums,
and long brass horns. At the same time, people in elaborate costumes
perform dances based on religious stories. Bhutan is also famous for
its archery competitions. This tradition goes back to ancient times,
when Bhutanese warriors were known as the finest archers in the
Himalayas.
In this section, you read about life in South Asia’s mountainous
north. Next, you will learn about life in the southern islands.
Places & Terms
Identify these terms
and explain their
importance in the
region.
• constitutional
monarchy
• Sherpa
• Siddhartha Gautama
• mandala
Taking Notes
Main Ideas
REGION Review the notes you
took for this section.
Nepal and Bhutan
South Asia
• What effect does the mountainous terrain have on the
economies of Nepal and
Bhutan?
• What religions are practiced in
a. What kind of government
do Nepal and Bhutan
have today?
b. How is tourism affecting
the economies of these
two countries?
c. What are some of the
important features of
Himalayan culture?
REGION Masked
dancers perform a
traditional Tibetan
ceremony during a
religious festival in
Bhutan.
Geographic Thinking
Drawing Conclusions How
has the physical geography
of Nepal and Bhutan affected
their development? Think
about:
• the mountainous landscape
• their landlocked location
See Skillbuilder
Handbook, page R5.
Nepal and Bhutan?
EXPLORING LOCAL GEOGRAPHY Review the information about arts and recreation on this
page. Then do research about a festival, athletic competition, or craft that is unique to your city,
state, or region. Write a letter to a friend in another city, state, or country describing the event
or product.
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