Bhutan is an independent kingdom in the eastern Himalayas. It borders India, to the south and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China to the north. King Jigme Singe Wangchuck is the present monarch and the fourth ruler of the dynasty founded by his great-grandfather in December 1907. Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom and practice Mahayana Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyupa sect. Because of its strict regulations and monitoring system, it was always difficult for outsiders to enter this Himalayan Kingdom. Centuries of isolation have kept the Bhutanese religion and culture to its original state. It is the most isolated country in the Himalayas, which opened up to tourism only in 1974. Two and a half decades have not brought much of a Western or industrialized influence into the Bhutanese society. Most of its natural resources have not been exploited for commercial development as yet. Ancient Dzong fortresses and monasteries, unspoiled landscape, lush green hills and valleys, turcoise blue mountain lakes, clean rivers, and sharp snow-capped mountains are among the attraction here. The highest mountain in Bhutan is Mount Chomolhari 7,200 meters.