Did you know that in the mysterious and intoxicatingly beautiful Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the country’s success is actually measured by the happiness of its people, rather than by its economic growth? Surely we can all learn a crucial life lesson from this peace-loving nation, where the capitalistic Gross Domestic Product has been replaced with a more spiritual Gross National Happiness, a measure of the collective happiness of its people.
Actually, we can take a whole lot more than just a page from Bhutan’s so-called book of life. Blissfully remote and isolated, not to mention dominated by jaw-dropping natural beauty, this landlocked country sits between the mighty Himalayas, the powerhouse that is China and some of the most remote areas of India.
A harmonious Buddhist society shrouded in ancient tradition, Bhutan’s people are renowned for guarding their culture intensely, placing a strong emphasis on family, and fiercely protecting their pristine environment. The Bhutanese, who have clearly embraced modern life at a much slower stride than the rest of the fast-paced, technology-obsessed world, truly believe it is their fundamental birthright to live out a happy life in a healthy environment. If only the rest of the world could adopt the same values.
Here are 10 more things you didn’t know about beautiful Bhutan, one of the happiest, greenest and most sustainable countries in the world…
years