Bhutan has a population of about seven hundred thousand people. Bhutanese call themselves the Drukpas, the thunder dragon people. Three broad ethnic groups, the Ngalops, the Sharchops, and the Lhotsampas (of Nepalese origin), comprise today’s Drukpa population.

The Sharchops or the people of the east reside in eastern Bhutan. They are believed to be the first inhabitants of the country and are of Indo-Mongolian type. The Ngalops, who are of Mongoloid origin, migrated from the Tibetan plains. The Lhotsampas arrived in the country at the end of the 19th century. They brought the Hindu religion with them as well as the Nepalese language, which is still spoken today over much of Southern Bhutan.

People speak three languages (Dzongkha, English and Nepali) and eight native dialects excluding Hindi and Tibetan. Bhutanese people wear the traditional dress. Bhutanese men wear a gho, a long robe tied around the waist by a sash called kera. The women's ankle-length dress is called a kira.

Life Style in Bhutan

Almost 80 percent of the people are farmers depending on agriculture for their daily subsistence. They are, however, fun loving hospitable, courteous, and amiable lot. The Bhutanese celebrate very many religious festivals and holidays with traditional sports such as archery, khuru (a dart game), and degor (a game of flat stones thrown from one target to another). Sporting is always accompanied by much fun and frolic. Dancing abounds and social gatherings are replete with drinks and meat.