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Who Are the Lhotsampa? What Caused Their Flight from Bhutan?

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Abstract

Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is a tiny and ancient kingdom nestled at the base of the Himalayas; it is completely landlocked and surrounded by two emerging global superpowers—China in the north and India which is contiguous with the rest of the country. The country is home to only around 680,000 people (Hutt, 2005); the majority of the population resides in north, east, and west Bhutan. The southern part is known for its densely forested and historically uninhabitable terrain (Rizal, 2004). To read about Bhutan is to get a sense of a country almost hidden from the rest of the world, set back in time from the West, rich in history, with rugged landscapes, and a sense of mystery. Touted as the last Shangri-La, Bhutan has the power to fascinate the most seasoned traveler.

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Authors

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Venkat Pulla

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© 2016 Venkat Pulla

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Pulla, V. (2016). Who Are the Lhotsampa? What Caused Their Flight from Bhutan?. In: Pulla, V. (eds) The Lhotsampa People of Bhutan. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137551429_1

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