A very little is known about the early inhabitants in Bhutan. A few evidence states that the civilization in Bhutan existed as early as 2000 BC. Some Historians believe that the early inhabitants were fierce mountain tribes and the religion practiced was the shamanistic Bon religion, which emphasized worship of nature and the existence of good and evil spirits.

Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan, when the Tibetan King Srongtsen Gembo ordered the construction of the Kichhu Lhakhang in Paro and the Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang in the 7th Century. In the 8th Century, the Great  Guru Padmasambhava came to  Bumthang. The great Guru was invited by the King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang to cure him from the harm caused  by evil spirits. The great Guru subdued the demons and converted the King to Buddhism. Thus the Nyingmapa Buddhism  started to spread in Bhutan with the construction of many Buddhist temples and monasteries around the country.

Following this the Indian influence played a temporary role in Bhutan. Then the turmoil in Tibet and wars between Tibet and Bhutan gave a good ground for Tibetan migrations, which brought new cultural and religious contributions in Bhutan.

Until the coming of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1616, there was no central government in Bhutan.The country was divided into many small provinces and each province was ruled by Deb (King).Bumthang was the most prominent among these provinces. Many Tibeten Buddhist monks and members of joint Tibetan –Mongol forces had teir place in Bumthang.

Bhutan’s political history was heavily influenced by different Buddhist sects. By the time many Buddhist subsects emerged in Tibet. The Gelugpa school became powerful in Tibet resulting in migration of many monks of other minor sects to Bhutan. The Kayupa school led by Phajo Drugom Zhipo continued to proselytize until the seventeenth century.
In 1616, the turmoil in Tibet forced Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, one of the head of Drukpa School in Tibet to flee to Bhutan. He became famous in Bhutan. He formed the a central government. He headed the government with Desi, penlops and dzongpons to assist him. He also built most of the Dzongs in Bhutan to protect the people and fight the wars with the Tibetans. After Zhabdrung, the Desi became powerless and rivalries developed among the penlops and the dzongpons and there was a civil conflict. The British intrusion, ended with a few wars and treaties. The Trongsa penlop became the most powerful until the establishment of the Hereditary Monarchy in 1907.