Long Live The King

The last monarchy I visited, Nepal, was in the process of trying to overthrow its king. Bhutan is also a monarchy, but the scene here was very different.  My last day in Bhutan coincided with the king's birthday, a national holiday which the entire country was celebrating.  The Bhutanese seem to be genuinely fond of their king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who has been in power since 1974. When I asked people what was it about their king that they loved so much, the most common answer was: "He listens to us."

From what I can tell, the king's regime has much to be proud of. They have deliberately taken a cautious and thoughtful approach to tourism, restricting it so that the impact on Bhutanese culture would be minimal.  Their policy of environmental conservation is exemplary; it includes a decree which specifies that at least 60% of the country is to remain forested forever, in spite of pressure from timber companies who want to exploit the country's extensive forests for economic gain.  Unlike other countries which are losing their forests at an alarming rate, Bhutan is actually gaining forest cover.

Also to the king's credit is that he has voluntarily made the decision to transition Bhutan into a democracy, beginning in 2008. The king's son will remain as a figurehead, a role similar to that of the Queen of England.  This impending change is the cause of some trepidation for the Bhutanese, who fear that democracy will worsen the emerging problem of corruption.

Below, some scenes from the king's birthday celebration in the capital city of Thimphu.