580 CHAPTER 25

A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE In the novel Lost Horizon, James Hiltondescribed an imaginary mountain valley called Shangri-La, hidden highin the Himalayas. He wrote, “The floor of the valley, hazily distant, wel-comed the eye with greenness; sheltered from winds . . . completely iso-lated by the lofty and sheerly unscalable ranges on the further side.”Shangri-La was an earthly paradise: a land of peace, harmony, and beau-ty, where hunger, disease, and war did not exist. Hilton located thismythical land somewhere in Tibet, but it could just as easily have beenin Nepal or Bhutan. Although neither of these countries is a paradise,both are remote lands of great beauty and peace.

Mountain Kingdoms Nepal and Bhutan share a number of important characteristics. Both arelocated in the Himalayas, a factor that has had a great impact on theirhistory and economic development. Both also are kingdoms with strongreligious traditions.

GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION The main geographic feature of Nepal andBhutan is their mountainous landscape. Each country consists of a cen-tral upland of ridges and valleys leading up to the high mountains, witha small lowland area along the Indian border. The towering, snow-capped Himalayas run along the northern border with China. They arecraggy and forbidding and have steep mountain passes and year-roundice fields. The world’s tallest mountain peak, Mt. Everest, is located there.

The rugged landscape of Nepal and Bhutan has isolated the twocountries throughout their histories. Their mountainous terrain andlandlocked location—neither country has access to the sea—madethem hard to reach and difficult to conquer and settle. China controlledBhutan briefly in the 18th century. In the 19th century, Great Britainhad influence over both countries because of its control of neighboringIndia. But Nepal and Bhutan generally remained independent and iso-lated. In fact, until the past few decades, foreigners rarely entered eithercountry.

EVOLVING MONARCHIES For much of their history, Nepal andBhutan were split into small religious kingdoms or ruling states. Hindukings ruled in Nepal, while Buddhist priests controlled Bhutan. In time,unified kingdoms emerged in both countries, led by hereditary mon-archs who passed the throne on to their heirs.

Today, the governments of both Nepal and Bhutan are constitutionalmonarchies—kingdoms in which the ruler’s powers are limited by a

Nepal and Bhutan Main Ideas• Nepal and Bhutan are land-

locked Himalayan kingdoms.

• Rugged terrain and an

isolated location have had a

great impact on life in Nepal

and Bhutan.

Places & Termsconstitutional monarchy

Sherpa

Siddhartha Gautama

mandala

Connect to the Issues

economic development

Decades of isolation and

difficult topography have

limited economic growth in

Nepal and Bhutan.

REGION Richly decorated cloths

that display Buddhist religious

symbols, such as the cloth shown

below, have covered the thrones of

Bhutanese rulers. Why might therebe religious symbols on a thronecloth used by secular rulers?

Nepal and Bhutan 581

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 richcultural traditionmake Kathmanduattractive to tourists?

constitution. In Bhutan, the king is still the supreme ruler, while inNepal the king shares power with an elected parliament. Both govern-ments face difficult political challenges, including the need to balancethe interests of their two powerful neighbors, China and India. Bothcountries also face difficult economic challenges.

Developing Economies Decades of isolation and difficult topography have limited economicdevelopment in Nepal and Bhutan. Now each country is trying to findeffective ways to promote economic growth.

LIMITED RESOURCES Nepal and Bhutan are poor countries witheconomies based mainly on agriculture. Because of the mountainousterrain, neither country has much land suitable for cultivation. Mostfarm plots are small, soils are poor, and erosion is a problem. Farmerscreate terraces on the mountainsides to increase the amount of farm-land and limit soil loss, a process you read about in Chapter 9. Commonfarm products include rice, corn, potatoes, and wheat. Common live-stock are cattle, sheep, and yaks—longhaired animals related to the ox.In Bhutan, the government has promoted the growing of fruit forexport and has tried to improve farming practices.

The timber industry is very important to both countries, althoughdeforestation is a problem. The forests of Nepal are being cut down ata rate of about 1 percent a year. But some valuable timberlands remain.Around 70 percent of Bhutan is still forested. A growing manufacturingsector of the economy includes wood products, food processing, andcement production. Most trade for both countries is with India.

INCREASING TOURISM One of the fastest growing industries in Nepalis tourism. Tourists come from around the world to visit the valley ofKathmandu, the capital, and to climb the Himalayas. Hotels and restau-rants, transportation, and other services have grown to meet the needsof the tourist industry. But tourism is a mixed blessing. It has

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MakingComparisons

What activities

are important to

the economies

of Nepal and

Bhutan?

582 CHAPTER 25

HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTINTERACTION The

Sherpa are known for

their mountaineering

skills and their ability

to carry heavy loads at

high altitudes.

Why might mountainclimbers seek outthe Sherpas asguides and porters?

damaged the environment, particularly on mountain slopes, whereincreased 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 impactof tourists on national life, Bhutan regulates the tourist industry. Itallows only limited numbers of visitors and keeps some areas of thecountry off-limits. Even so, tourism is providing increasing revenues toBhutan and offers significant economic potential for the future.

Rich Cultural Traditions Visitors to Nepal and Bhutan come not only for the spectacular moun-tain scenery but also for a glimpse of the rich cultural traditions of theHimalayan people.

A MIX OF PEOPLES Various ethnic groups inhabit the Himalayanregion. In Nepal, the majority of the people are Indo-Nepalese Hinduswhose ancestors came from India many centuries ago. These groupsspeak Nepali, a variation of Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language.Nepal also has a number of groups of Tibetan ancestry. Among themare the Sherpas. These people from the high Himalayas are the tradi-tional mountain guides of the Everest region.

The main ethnic group in Bhutan is the Bhote, who also trace theirorigins to Tibet. Most Bhotes live in two-story houses made of wood andstone. The families live on the second floor, while the first floor isreserved for livestock. Bhutan also has a sizable Nepalese minority inthe southern lowlands. The Nepalese have preserved their language andcustoms, even though the government of Bhutan has tried to assimilatethem into national life.

RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS Religion is a powerful force in both Nepal andBhutan. Although the great majority of Nepalese are Hindus, Buddhismalso has deep roots in Nepal. The founder of Buddhism, SiddharthaGautama, known as the Buddha, was born on the borders of present-day

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.

Mountains of Bhutan and Nepal

This illustration of the Himalayasshows the rugged terrain of both Nepaland Bhutan. Many of the world’s tallestpeaks are located there.

Nepal

India

Nepal

Bangladesh

India

Bhutan

country borders

Sherpa guides

Nepal and Bhutan 583

REGION Masked

dancers perform a

traditional Tibetan

ceremony during a

religious festival in

Bhutan.

Nepal and India in the sixth cen-tury B.C. Buddhist teachings ini-tially took hold in Nepal but werelater replaced by Hinduism whenHindu rulers came to power.Today, Hindu practices still showtraces of Buddhist influence.

Buddhism is the official religionof Bhutan. The people practice aTibetan style of Buddhism, whichincludes the use of mandalas—geometric designs that are sym-bols of the universe and aid in meditation. Early communities in Bhutanwere organized around large fortress-monasteries, which are still foundin many parts of the country. Also scattered around the countryside aresmall shrines that were built to house sacred relics and are excellentexamples of Buddhist architecture.

THE ARTS AND RECREATION Folk art and festivals are an importantfeature of Himalayan culture. Artisans make beautiful metal bells,swords, and jewelry, and carve intricate wooden sculptures. They alsoweave colorful textiles from silk, cotton, and wool. During festivals inNepal and Bhutan, musicians play traditional songs on flutes, drums,and long brass horns. At the same time, people in elaborate costumesperform 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 theHimalayas.

In this section, you read about life in South Asia’s mountainousnorth. Next, you will learn about life in the southern islands.

Places & TermsIdentify these terms

and explain their

importance in the

region.

• constitutional

monarchy

• Sherpa

• Siddhartha Gautama

• mandala

Taking Notes REGION Review the notes you

took for this section.

• What effect does the mountain-

ous terrain have on the

economies of Nepal and

Bhutan?

• What religions are practiced in

Nepal and Bhutan?

Main Ideas 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?

Geographic ThinkingDrawing Conclusions How

has the physical geography

of Nepal and Bhutan affected

their development? Thinkabout:

• the mountainous landscape

• their landlocked location

See SkillbuilderHandbook, page R5.

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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Seeing PatternsWhy might

archery have been

a particularly use-

ful military option

in Bhutan?