BhutanBike & Culture

:: ARCHAEOLOGICAL TIMES
Archaeologists have dug out significant number of stone tools and megaliths in Bhutan. This testifies that Bhutan became man's residence in early age of history
Probably around 2000BC

:: ARRIVAL of BUDDHISM
Known history of Bhutan commences with the arrival of Buddhism in the country. People of Bhutan followed Shaman traditions before advent of Buddhism. Padmasambhava, who became popular as Guru Rimpoche, is credited with bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. Between 8th and 17th century AD, several Buddhist monks arrived in Bhutan from Tibet and its birthplace India
The religion played an important role in bringing the people of the country together

:: EMERGENCE as a COUNTRY
Till early 17th century, Bhutan was the battleground of warring tribes. Credit of unifying them goes to Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan lama and military leader. Chased by political adversaries in Tibet, he came to Bhutan in 1616. He busied himself with military fortification and built number of fortresses. He introduced cultural symbols and established the dual system of government
Under this system, the power was shared by an administrative leader and a spiritual leader together

:: FIRST KING
Ugyen Wangchuck, the Penlop of Trongsa, was the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan. He was unanimously elected by the regional governors, the clergy and the representatives of the people to end factional rivalries and unending strife
He came to power in 1907

:: STRIFE with the BRITISH
The Bhutanese occupied the Indian kingdom of Cooch Behar in the early 1700s. The Cooch Beharis appealed to the British for help. The British arrived and chased the Bhutanese out. They even attacked Bhutan in 1774 and forced the Bhutanese to sign a treaty
He treaty failed to bring peace between the two and border conflicts continued between them

:: BHUTAN as a modern NATION
King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third king of Bhutan, initiated landmark constitutional reforms in Bhutanese history. A National Assembly with 150 members was established
The country launched its first Five Year Development Plan in 1961 and opened itself to international community

:: TIMETABLE

7th century		Invasion of Buddhism from Tibet and India
mid 8th century		The Indian saint Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) initiate the Nyingmapa tradition of Buddhism
10-17th century		Existence of independent principalities
mid 12th century		Establishment of Dzongs (monastery fortresses) as seats of spiritual and secular power
13th century		Phajo Drugom Shigpo makes the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism to the dominant direction
since 1616		Unification of the country by the immigrant from Tibet's founder realm Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651), the state receives to the current name Druk Yul (Land of Dragons); the Mahayana Buddhism in a Tibetan-style gets state religion in the form of Drukpa Kagyupa school
1773/1774		Anglo-Bhutanese war (1865: Treaty of Sinchula; 1864/1865 Britain takes over the external representation of Bhutan)
end 19th century		Nepalese and Indian Hindu immigrants settled in the south
17.12.1907		Enthronement (with British support) of Ugyen Wangchuk as the first hereditary King; beginning of the Wangchuk dynasty
1910		Agreement of Punakha: Bhutan is under the protection of British India, at the same time on non-interference in internal affairs of Bhutan. In southern Bhutan has to give cession of territory
8.8.1949		Replacement of the protectorate treaty by a treaty of friendship with the now independent India; obligation of Bhutan, in foreign affairs the Council requested India
1952-1972		Reign of the reform King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (architect of the political and economic Institutions of the modern Bhutan)
1953		Creation of the National Assembly (Thsogdu Chenmo)
1956		Law on Land Reform
1959-1960		6,300 Tibetan refugees came into the country; closure of the border with Tibet (now China)
1961		the first five-year development plan comes into force; defence agreement with India
1962		Accession to the Colombo Plan
1971		Bhutan joins the UN
21.7.1972		Death of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, follower is Jigme Singhye Wangchuk
1974		Bhutan cautious opening to tourism, establishment of a separate currency (Ngultrum), the Indian rupee remains in the ratio of 1:1 legal tender
1981		Accession to the IMF and the World Bank
1984-2001		Negotiations about the Tibetan borders with the People's Republic of China, they lead only in the summer of 2001 to an interim agreement for peace and tranquillity in the disputed territories (Interim Agreement for Peace and Tranquillity)
1990		Unrest in southern Bhutan escalate to an open revolt: Thousands of demonstrators from camps penetrate from India to southern Bhutan. At the following acts of violence should be given numerous deaths
6.2.1999		By 25 Coronation anniversary of King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk begins Bhutan's first television broadcaster his programme
2001 - 2005		Work on the first constitution of Bhutan
2008		First parliamentary elections in Bhutan