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If you are keen on art and culture, Bulgaria is the ideal destination for you. Churches dating back centuries, Greek and Byzantine ruins, lovely mountain villages, the seaside resorts of the Black Sea, museums full of priceless treasures, walks in the fragrant Rose Valley and cities with lovely old houses spread out over cliffs - there's more to Bulgaria than words can conjure.

Sofia, the capital city, has something for everyone. A vibrant nightlife, the best East European architecture, excellent museums and even a ski resort - little wonder that there are hordes of tourists in the city throughout the year. As far as economy and politics go, Bulgaria has slowly managed to make the transition from a centralized economy to a free market one. There have been hitches, and there are still problems, including a rising crime rate and unemployment.

Non- verbal means of communication is a big no-no when you are in Bulgaria as when they waggle their heads Indian style, it means yes, and when they nod the actually mean no. So to avoid any confusion it is always better to talk!

Historically Speaking

Bulgaria was initially under the rule of the Macedonian Empire, until the Romans invaded the area. They were, in turn, followed first by Thraco-Illyrian tribes and then the Slavs. In 679, the Turkic tribe of the Bulgars- after whom the country is named - arrived. They swiftly conquered the entire area even extending into Macedonia. As time passed, the Bulgars were absorbed into Slavic society.

By 1014, Bulgaria had been attacked again- this time by the Byzantine Emperor, Basil II, who made it a part of his domain. The Bulgarian nationalists gathered forces, and in 1185, succeeded in evicting the Byzantine ruler, setting up instead the Second Bulgarian Empire. This too lasted for less than two centuries; first the Tatars and then the Turks attacked, and by the end of the 14th century, the country had passed wholly into the hands of the Ottoman Turks who ruled it for the next 500 years.

By the early 19th century, resentment against Turkish which till now had been largely dormant started building up. In the late 1870s, assisted by European allies (chiefly Russia), Bulgaria launched an offensive against the Turks. About 60% of the land was ceded to Bulgaria in 1878, and amidst political and international disputes, Bulgaria became an independent nation. The years between World War I & II were years of trouble. When World War II began, the king of Bulgaria, Boris III, allied with Germany - but the opposition soon organized support for the Allies, more specifically for Russia.

In the aftermath of WWII, Bulgaria became a communist country and one of the most prosperous in the region. However, the collapse of communism in 1989 brought drastic changes to the country - changes which are still ongoing. The transition from communism to democracy has been difficult, and the problems- economic, social and political - which resulted, have still not been completely resolved.

Habitat

Bulgaria lies in South Eastern Europe, between Romania and Turkey, on the shore of the Black Sea, at an extremely strategic location near the Turkish Straits. It is surrounded by Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Turkey, and consists almost completely of mountains, the highest point in the country is the peak of Musala, at 2925 m. Lowlands form much of the north and the south-east of the country, and the 380-km long coastal strip has around 16 beaches. The country is also home to a number of mineral springs - reputedly curative - and about 2000 caves, excellent for exploring.

Bulgaria faces a number of environmental problems, one of the greatest of which is that caused by the Kozloduj Nuclear Power plant, 200 km from Sofia- despite pressure to get it closed down, and it still remains a very real threat to life for hundreds of miles around. In addition, severe air pollution, water contamination, deforestation and acid rain are also major worries for the country.

Flora & Fauna

For a European country, Bulgaria is surprisingly densely forested- about 38% of the land is covered with forests, which vary considerably across the country’s terrain. Higher reaches in the mountains of the country are covered with sub-Arctic vegetation (the main species being juniper); elsewhere, there are pines, spruce and other conifers. Bulgaria, in fact, has more than 3000 plant and tree species in all- quite an impressive figure. Among the cultivated plants, the two most lucrative are tobacco and oleaginous rose from which Bulgaria’s prime export - rose oil - is produced.

The thick forest cover also has a wildlife list enough to warm the cockles of any naturalist’s heart. The white stork, the black vulture, bears, deer, rabbits, and a whole horde of rodents, insects and birds fill the forests. Bulgaria has about 13000 animal species and sub-species, about 14% of all those which are native to Europe. Many of these have, however, succumbed in the struggle for survival- and many are virtually on the brink of extinction.