Bhutan

Located in southern Asia, Bhutan is a small, landlocked country between Tibet and India.

The capital is Thimphu.

Dzongkha is a Sino-Tibetan language that is the official and national language of Bhutan.

Population, 797,153. Size, 38,394 km^2.

The official currency is the Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN).

Mahayana Buddhism is Bhutan's official religion and around 75% of the population are Buddhists. The remaining 25% are Hindus.

Major cities include Punakha, Tsirang, Phuntsholing, and Pemagatshel.

The national dish is Ema Datshi, a spicy stew made of chili peppers, onions and locally produced yak cheese. Principal crops include maize and rice.

The climate is diverse due to dramatic variations in elevation. The Duars Plain tends to be hot and humid; the Lesser Himalaya region is often cooler; while the areas in the Greater Himalayas are closest to that of alpine tundra.

Bhutan is roughly half the size of South Carolina. Druk Yul—the local name for Bhutan—means "Land of the Thunder Dragon." The dragon appears on the Bhutanese flag. In 2010, Bhutan became the first country to ban the production and sales of tobacco products. Bhutan was among the last countries in the world to adopt television. Bhutan has a mandatory national dress code. Men wear traditional, knee-length garments and women must wear ankle-length dresses. The colors give away someone's social class and status. Bhutan is the only country in the world to officially measure national happiness. The index is known as GNH (Gross National Happiness). Rather than placing emphasis on GDP, Bhutan attempts to track the satisfaction of its population. Inheritance (land, house, and animals) is generally passed to the eldest daughter rather than the eldest son. Bhutanese are forbidden to marry foreigners. Homosexuality is also prohibited by law. The national sport of Bhutan is archery. Basketball and cricket are also gaining popularity. Bhutan is one of the most closed countries in Asia. Visiting as an independent traveler is pretty much impossible—an official tour is compulsory. Bhutan is the only carbon negative country in the world. Animal slaughter is banned in Bhutan.