It is the Kingdom which has given a new value for development- Gross National Happiness. Studies have shown that it has one of most happy people on the planet, just a mere 3% unhappy. The sustainable development that Bhutan has adopted with strong traditions and value has generally helped it obtain this enviable status. Tropical jungles in the south with elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers, coniferous forest in the mid region with leopards, mountain goats, bears, and variety of bird life, and blue sheep and snow leopards in the high temperature zones. Through centuries of self-imposed isolation Bhutan has been able to preserve its spectacular environment and nurture its unique culture. Drawing inspiration from its neighbour, Tibet, Tantric Buddhism has flourished and influenced art, crafts, architecture for hundreds of years, and has shaped the Bhutanese way of lifeThe breathtaking mountains and the tapestry of Buddhist culture make Bhutan unique. Life moves at a leisurely pace in these parts of the world. The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'. The landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the Himalayan heights in the north, with some peaks exceeding 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The distinctive, elaborately decorated facades are a memorable sight here. Shopping for traditional handicrafts in the many markets and emporiums is a visitor's delight with exotic papier-mâché masks, prayer wheels, handmade paper and silk or woolen apparel on display. Two must-do sites are the Trashi Chhoe Dzong or the fortress of Glorious Religion, and the Memorial Chorten. Much of Bhutanese history is lost in legends as most of the evidence in manuscripts or otherwise was lost in a great fir in 10th century. Belief is that the first major event was the arrival of Guru Rinpoche, believed to have brought Mahayana Buddhism from Tibet in the eighth century. Bhutan, the world's last Mahayana Buddhist kingdom, became a coherent political entity around the 17th century and has never been conquered or ruled by another foreign power. The state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism, and the population is predominantly Buddhist, with Hinduism being the second-largest religion. The capital and largest city is Thimphu. After centuries of direct monarchic rule, Bhutan held its first democratic elections in March 2008. Bhutan is like a picture for you to explore and discover. A visit to this fabled land will ever remain in your memories.
Bumthang the four valleys - Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura together make Bumthang located just to the east of the centre of Bhutan. With altitudes varying from 2,600 to 4,000 meters, the area is renowned with rich and fertile high lands. Known for their buckwheat and apple production, sturdy stone houses, and plethora of monasteries, Bumthang is the ideal place for trekking with U-shaped valleys and sloping mountains. Being one of the coldest parts of the country, it snows heavily in winters
Paro Home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries, Paro also has the country's only airport. Located at 2200 metres, the town offers panoramic views of the beautiful alpine valley and the towering peak of Mt. Chomolhari at a height of 7,300 metres. Wrapped in myths and legends, the town tells many stories through its temples and monasteries. The deep gorges made by the Paro River is scenic and so it the fertile valley producing the bulk of Bhutan's famous red rice from its terraced fields. The National Museum showcases the culture and heritage of the land.
Phuentsholing The centre for cross border trade with India, Phuentsholing is a burgeoning business centre. Located in the southwest of the country, it is the gateway to the Kingdom of Bhutan, by the foothills of the Himalayas. The town is Indian in character and modern in architecture. It is mainly an entry point and a good place to do some shopping.
Bhutan’s oldest monastery is in the ancient hamlet of Punakha. It takes a 3 hours drive from capital Thimpu to reach this enchanting place. Blessed with a temperate climate, Punakha is located at an altitude of 1,300 metres. The Buddhist monastery, PunakhaDzong is placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) rivers. Built in 1637 by ShabdrungNgawangNamgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, it was damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake and has been fully restored in recent years by the present monarch.
Bumthang The four valleys - Chumey, Choekhor, Tang and Ura together make Bumthang located just to the east of the centre of Bhutan. With altitudes varying from 2,600 to 4,000 metres, the area is renowned with rich and fertile high lands. Known for their buckwheat and apple production, sturdy stone houses, and plethora of monasteries, Bumthang is the ideal place for trekking with U-shaped valleys and sloping mountains. Being one of the coldest parts of the country, it snows heavily in winters
Gangtey Phojikha Valley which lies in central Bhutan is commonly referred to as Gangtey. It is one of the kingdom's few glacial valleys. The valley is the winter haunt of the Tibetan black necked crane. These beautiful birds fly south to Bhutan from Tibet to escape the harsh climate there. These elegant and shy birds can be seen from the end of October to the end of March. The altitude of Gangtey is 3,000 metres.
Mongar marks the beginning of eastern Bhutan. The journey from Bumthang to Mongar, crossing the 4,000m high Thrumsing-la pass, is a memorable experience. The spectacular scenery around makes one dumbstruck.The second largest town in the subtropical east, Mongar is built high on a gently sloping hillside.
Paro Home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries, Paro also has the country's only airport. Located at 2200 metres, the town offers panoramic views of the beautiful alpine valley and the towering peak of Mt. Chomolhari at a height of 7,300 metres. Wrapped in myths and legends, the town tells many stories through its temples and monasteries. The deep gorges made by the Paro River is scenic and so it the fertile valley producing the bulk of Bhutan's famous red rice from its terraced fields. The National Museum showcases the culture and heritage of the land.
Phuentsholing The centre for cross border trade with India, Phuentsholing is a burgeoning business centre. Located in the southwest of the country, it is the gateway to the Kingdom of Bhutan, by the foothills of the Himalayas. The town is Indian in character and modern in architecture. It is mainly an entry point and a good place to do some shopping
Bhutan’s oldest monastery is in the ancient hamlet of Punakha. It takes a 3 hours drive from capital Thimpu to reach this enchanting place. Blessed with a temperate climate, Punakha is located at an altitude of 1,300 metres. The Buddhist monastery, Punakha Dzong is placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu (male) and Mo Chu (female) rivers. Built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region, it was damaged over the centuries by four catastrophic fires and an earthquake and has been fully restored in recent years by the present monarch.
Thimphu At an altitude of 2,400 metres, Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is a mix of old and new. Being the capital it is growing haphazardly in all directions. Mainly a tourist entry/exit option, Thimphu has few attractions. The weekend market is a real interesting place to be and so is the artistically arranged Textile Museum and Folk Heritage Museum housed in a traditional farmhouse. The Thimphu dzong or monastery is a good way to start off the study on dzongs which you can see across Bhutan
Trashigang is the usual base to explore eastern Bhutan. Once the centre for a busy trade with Tibet, Trashigang is perched on the hillside overlooking the Gamri Chu (river). Today it has gained more importance as it has new road connections to Samdrup Jongkhar and further into the Indian state of Assam. An important junction of the east-west highway, the town is the principle market place for the semi-nomadic people of Merak and Sakteng, whose way of dress is unique in Bhutan.
Trongsa Mist covered, Trongsa in central Bhutan is a magical place to be. A stopover since in ancient times for people travelling across the country, Trongsa is situated at 2450 metres. The most admirable sight of the town is the sprawling white dzong with its distinctive yellow roof perched on the edge of a mountain ridge. As the mist and fog traverse across, it seems to hang suspended above the plain. The sight of the whole valley and steep forest covered hills wrapped in mist with the dzong that appears to float in the clouds makes one spellbound.
Samdrup Jongkhar Completed in the 1960s, the road from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar joins the east part of the country to the south. Samdrup Jongkhar is a convenient exit/entry town for tourists who have arranged to visit the neighbouring Indian state of Assam. The busy market place of little border town is chaotic.
Simkotra Tsho Located at an altitude of 4,110 metres, Simkotra Tsho is a favourite camp site. trekkers on the Druk Path often camp overnight here. the lake here is renowned for its large trout. There are some ruins nearby to explore
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