Product Description
During the early 1990s, about 95,000 people arrived in eastern Nepal. They claimed to have come from Bhutan, and they alleged that they had been forced out of their homelands by the Bhutanese government. Very few believed them, and even now, not a single one of these refugees has returned to Bhutan. This book explains who these people are and why they left Bhutan. It also examines the broader implications of their story for a world awash with refugees. ... Read more

Product Description
Bhutan is the last intact Himalayan kingdom. Roughly the sizeof Switzerland but with a population of about 700,000 people, Bhutanmay be diminutive, yet it is home to one of the most astonishinglydiverse natural and cultural ecologies on earth.It is often called"the last Shangri-la" and with good reason.The pristine environmentand incomparably kindhearted people make this a truly extraordinaryplace.

The book, Bhutan, is a visual odyssey across the kingdom. Teamsfrom M.I.T. and Friendly Planet took over 40,000 photographs on fourextensive expeditions across the country. They flew by helicopter,rode mountain ponies, trekked with packhorses and yaks, and journeyedby caravan on farflung roads and foot trails across the BhutaneseHimalaya. Local students, like Choki Lhamo (a 14-year-old girl fromTrongsa who aspires to become a doctor) and Gyelsey Loday (the son ofthe head lama in the village of Phongmey), joined these ambitioustrips and helped with the photography in order to share a corner oftheir world.The stunning imagery in the book loosely follows thesejourneys.Portraits of people are lifesized (or bigger).Panoramasconvey some of the staggering sweep of the mountains and the awesomeancient architecture.

Bhutan begins appropriately with something veryspecial. Renowned artist and author, David Macaulay, created an atlasof the country expressly for this book.Masterfully drawn, the map issurrounded by sketches of some of Bhutan's most salient features:massive dzongs, Himalayan peaks, stupas and other impressionsdecorate the map, almost as if they were pages torn from the journalof a travelling artist.

Brilliantly photographed, Bhutan conveys some of thespecialness of that unique country.But the book is also sociallymeaningful, and a powerful reminder that we live in a big world.There are places and people whose beauty and grace are endlessly worthcherishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A window on another world
This book was given to me less than a month after I returned from a trip to Bhutan in the late fall of 2006.If you are seeking only a portable guidebook on your trip, look elsewhere (I used Lonely Planet).But if the objective is to find the best photographic portrait of a very special place, this is the book for you.This is a reduced version of a book that measures 5x7 feet, that weighs 150 pounds, and that holds a Guinness World Record.It is also a charitable project, intended to provide funds for university education of Bhutanese students.Although the book was published in 2004, I noticed that it includes several photos (such as those of Dochu La and Taktsang Gompa) that were taken before some recent and rather dramatic changes. I cannot help but conclude that many of the shots will become historically significant over time.But as an artistic collection, the photos are truly stunning.It is unusual to find not only intimate shots of a beautiful group of people, but majestic views of the incredible landscape.I look at my copy often, for it transports me to the other side of the world.

This is a great deal. but....
Let's face it. You'd be stupid not to get the "Better Together" deal, which includes an $8 map of Bhutan with the $15,000 book!

a visual odyssey
nous avons visiter le bhoutan l'année passer et vu le livre dans un suisse guest house et depuis on le cherchait. Tres heureux de l'avoir trouver de superbes photosles paysages, monastères, le peuple et coutume que nous avons pu rencontrer pendant notre voyage inoubliable, merci

Awesome pictoral of Bhutan
This book is amazing, it is just like you are there.Extremely well packaged and shipped 2nd day air via UPS.Worth every penny.

Overwhelmingly Breathtaking
The first time I walked into the West Chicago, IL library after the Bhutan book was placed on display, I thought I had been transported to the Himalayas. Standing in front of these gorgeous mountains, I could feel myself being pulled in. Subsequent days as the pages were turned, I was impressed with the beauty of the area, the beauty of the people, the vibrancy of their costumes. I make a lot of trips to the library-don't want to miss a page. Thanks Dr. George Hawley for donating your son's wonderful work to West Chicago. Worth a trip to view where ever it is on display. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Culture of Bhutan, Losar, National Library of Bhutan, Driglam Namzha, Cham Dance, Dramyin Cham, Women in Bhutan, Buddha Dordenma Statue, Raven Crown, Blessed Rainy Day, Kabney, Druk, Gho, Thongdrel, Polygamy in Bhutan. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 57. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Cradled in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan has relied on its geographic isolation to protect itself from outside cultural influences. A sparsely populated country bordered by India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan has long maintained a policy of strict isolationism, both culturally and economically, with the goal of preserving its cultural heritage and independence. Only in the last decades of the 20th century were foreigners allowed to visit the country, and only then in limited numbers. In this way, Bhutan has successfully preserved many aspects of a culture which dates directly back to the mid-17th century. Modern Bhutanese culture derives from ancient culture. This culture effected the early growth of this country. Dzongkha and Sharchop, the principal Bhutanese languages, are closely related to Tibetan, and Bhutanese monks read and write the ancient variant of the Tibetan language known as chhokey. Bhutanese are physically similar to the Tibetans but history does not record when they crossed over the Himalayas and settled in the south-draining valleys of Bhutan. Both Tibetans and Bhutanese revere the tantric guru Padmasambhava the founder of Himalayan Buddhism in the 8th century. Bhutanese society is centered around the practice of Tantric Buddhism. Religious beliefs are evidenced in all aspects of life. Prayer flags flutter on hillsides offering up prayers to benefit all nearby sentient beings. Houses each fly a small white flag on the roof indicating the owner has made...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=230914 ... Read more

Product Description
Cradled in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan has relied on its geographic isolation to protect itself from outside cultural influences. A sparsely populated country bordered by India to the south and China to the north, Bhutan has long maintained a policy of strict isolationism, both culturally and economically, with the goal of preserving its cultural heritage and independence. Only in the last decades of the 20th century were foreigners allowed to visit the country, and only then in limited numbers.ERECTION In this way, Bhutan has successfully preserved many aspects of a culture which dates directly back to the mid-17th century. Modern Bhutanese culture derives from ancient culture. This culture effected the early growth of this country. Dzongkha and Sharchop, the principal Bhutanese languages, are closely related to Tibetan, and Bhutanese monks read and write the ancient variant of the Tibetan language known as chhokey ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Countries and Their Cultures, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 1455 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.Covers the broad range of popular religious culture of the United States at the close of the twentieth century. Beliefs, practices, symbols, traditions, movements, organizations, and leaders from the many traditions in the pluralistic American community are represented. Also includes cults and phenomena that drew followers, such as Heaven's Gale and UFOs. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on February 17, 2002. The length of the article is 1313 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Bhutan earns praise for culture built on courage, values.(Travel)
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: February 17, 2002
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: L10

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Bhutan. History of Bhutan, Bhutanese refugees, Religion in Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan, Politics of Bhutan, Military of Bhutan, Foreign relations of Bhutan, Geography of Bhutan, Districts of Bhutan, Gewogs of Bhutan, Demographics of Bhutan, Outline of Bhutan ... Read more

Product Description
A survey of the countries of the Indian subcontinent coversgeography, demographics, agriculture, history, politics, culture, religion, arts, literature, and science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Introduction with photos, illustrations and facts
I was searching for a good book on India, with a historical bent, as a gift for a friend here in the US. This book provides a very good introduction with pictures, illustrations and relevant facts. The book provides a general outline of history and more importantly also introduces the reader to the general mindset & prevailing conditions ("cultural atlas") in India. It also provides some basic information on the states and neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan & Burma.

The special features sections focus on the things that people of India are most likely to be known about. Most people will not remember everything about a culture/nation. They will probably remember only the most interesting things and the special features of this book present these in a clear, understandable manner, i.e mostbly agreeable to people like me who have grown up in India.

Non-fiction books are hard to read for some people, these people are looking to escape from the ordinary. This book will interest the reader into reading & learning more about India. As for fantasy the readers might want to try tales, parables and comics like Jataka stories, Amar Chitra Katha...

Excellent reference book!
As an Indian, I'm wary when "outsiders" put together a book on my country, but this book is exceptional.It gives facts and general descriptions of anything and everything when one thinks of India.Lots ofpictures makes it an easy read.Worth every penny.This is the bookteachers in America should use when trying to give an overview on INDIA. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Although officially the government of Bhutan has encouraged greater participation of women in political and administrative life, male members of the traditional aristocracy dominate the social system. Economic development has increased opportunities for women to participate in fields such as medicine, both as physicians and nurses; teaching; and administration. By 1989 nearly 10 percent of government employees were women, and the top civil service examination graduate in 1989 was a woman. ... Read more

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Transporting the reader to the spiritual realm of lamas - most of it sequestered within the forbidding territory of the high Himalayas - Himalayan Buddhist Monasteries gives us a glimpse of the mystical, vibrant and serene world of Buddhist monasteries, locally known as gompas. Buddhist ceremonies, funeral and reincarnation rites, prayer rituals, festivals and dances re-enacting sacred historical events are captured in scintillating detail in this book with exquisite photographs and a vivid text. The historical evolution of the gompas in Tibetan art, architecture, education and their socio-religious functions in the life of the people are thematically examined. The sheer breadth and variety of images of monastic life in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Tibet, covering the entire gamut of Buddhist sects makes this book unlike any other. ... Read more