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Any visitor to Bhutan will soon become acquainted with the term GNH or ‘Gross National Happiness.” This concept was invented by His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in the 1970s and quickly became known the world over.

A complex and multi-faceted concept, GNH emphasizes sustainable development. Its four pillars are good governance, sustainable socio economic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation.

For example, the promotion and protection of cultural traditions have been made easier by the high value, low impact tourist policy. This is also seen in the multitude of religious and cultural sites, as well as efforts to encourage local arts and crafts, music and literature. The goal of environmental conservation is seen not just in 71% forest coverage but in the five national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, nine biological corridors and one nature reserve.

At first, Gross National Happiness may be a difficult concept to wrap your mind around. At its most basic, it is borne from the Buddhist belief that although human desire and greed are limitless, we need very little to be happy. Visit Bhutan to see the principles of GNH in action and judge for yourself whether a country’s sustainable approach to development can result in truly happy citizens.