Deadliest Roads | Bhutan: Happiness at All Costs

Nestled in the Himalayas lies Bhutan, one of the world’s most unique corners. Its constitution enshrined the “national gross happiness,” a measuring scale used by its inhabitants. Despite Bhutan being focused on happiness, there are concerns about its social protection, which imposes stringent measures against globalization.

However, with a population of only 750,000, Bhutan has managed to distance itself from the excesses of modern life. Until the 2000s, TV was not a part of everyday life, and it is the first country in the world to have banned the sale of cigarettes. With these measures in place, Bhutanese residents are encouraged to lead happier, healthier lives.

But are its citizens genuinely happy? This is the question that the upcoming documentary, “Searching For Happiness,” tries to answer. The film takes viewers on an extraordinary journey, as they travel through Bhutan’s dizzying mountains and bumpy tracks. During the monsoon period, people must juggle with mud and landslides, with traffic often jammed for several days on end.

To address this issue, the government has started to call on Indian workers known as Dankas, who live in precarious conditions, to help blast wider roads and tarmac them at over 3000 meters above sea level. But progress has been slow, and until 1961, there were hardly any paved roads.

Today, Bhutan’s government is focused on creating a comprehensive road network that will create access and open up the country. With such a unique approach to societal governance, who wouldn’t want to know more about Bhutan?

We encourage you to watch the documentary “Searching For Happiness” and explore Bhutan’s extraordinary journey towards a happier society.