The country's population of 600, 000 is composed of three main ethnic groups. The Sharchopas, who are considered to be the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan, live mostly in Eastern Bhutan and they are of Indo-Mongoloid origin. The Ngalops populate mostly Western Bhutan migrated from the Tibetan plains and are the importers of Buddhism to Bhutan.

Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan in the 7th century by Guru Padma Sambhava. in the centuries that followed, Bhutan was home to many sages and saints including the great saints-scholars like Longchen Ramjam, also known as Kuenkhen Longchen Raamjam, (1308 - 1363).

Tourist Visas which are now valid for 6 months are issued only to those foreigners who have no residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective in visiting India is recreation, sight-seeing or casual visits to friends and relatives. Tourist visas count from the date of issue and cannot be extended or converted into any other category in India.

There are overall five documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel freely in Tibet.
  -  One is the Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your country (If you go to Tibet via mainland China).
  -  One is Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB), which you have to obtain in order to enter Tibet.
  -  One is the Alien Travel Permit, when you are planning to travel to the 'unopened' areas in Tibet.
  -  The other two are Tibet Public Security Permit (PSB) and the Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas.

Tibetan Buddhism derives from the confluence of Buddhism and yoga which started to arrive in Tibet from India briefly around the late eighth century and then more steadily from the thirteenth century onwards. Indian Buddhism around that time had incorporated both Hindu yogic and tantric practices along with the classical teachings of the historical Buddha who lived around 500 BC. It acknowledged that there were two paths to enlightenment ( complete transcendence of identification with the personal ego ).

Traditional Tibetan food consist mainly barley, meat and dairy products. Vegetables are scarce in the high altitude. Tsampa is the staple food of Tibetan people, which is consumed daily.