A postcard from Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon

Postcard

Bhutan is a small country covering a little over 18,000 sq miles (47,000 sq km), its land is very varied. Snow peaks in the Himalayas, swamps and highlands are just some of the land conditions that are found in a short range from each other. Bhutan is an incredibly beautiful nation surrounded by mountain ranges, waterfalls, rivers, forests and green vegetation is an ideal tourist spot.

This legendary land was first settled in the 9th century by wandering migrants from the Tibet region of China. This small, landlocked country, lying in the Eastern Himalayas , literally surrounded by mountains, is most difficult to navigate as there are few roads and no air connectivity or trains. Long influenced by the culture of India it gained its independence from India in 1949. Bhutan is thinly populated with only 600,000 inhabitants.

On the postcard we see a Golden Langur, White bellied Heron with chick and a Black Necked Crane.

Stamp

“Visitors to the 42nd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will have the opportunity to purchase specialty items rarely seen for sale outside the remote Himalayan country of Bhutan.”

A stamp to commemorate this festival.