Cradled in the southern Himalayas is the sacred kingdom of Bhutan, closed to tourists until three decades ago it is fast turning into one of the major tourist hot spots in the world. To most visitors Bhutan may seem like time-travelling to a land from a lost century.
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Author: Fiza
Cradled in the southern Himalayas is the sacred kingdom of Bhutan, closed to tourists until three decades ago it is fast turning into one of the major tourist hot spots in the world. To most visitor’s Bhutan may seem like time-travelling to a land from a lost century. Under populated and heavily forested, automobiles are rare here; most of this country is connected only by walking trails. The Bhutanese way of life has changed little over the years. The natives continue to live in pastoral hamlets and their everyday lifestyle and traditions revolve around Buddhism. Traditional costumes, by law, must be worn by all Bhutanese citizens: the knee-length kho for men and ankle-length kira for women. Not marred by political conflict or extreme poverty, this is the only country where Buddhism seems to have survived.
Until 1972 tourists were not allowed to enter Bhutan, from 1974 the country began to admit a select few people. An increasing number of tourists travel to Bhutan for its history and culture, for trekking or for nature tours in the most protected forests in the Himalayas. Paro, situated in western Bhutan has the only airport and Druk Air, the national airline has only one plane (a sleek, 80-passenger British Aerospace 146 jet), as no other airplanes are allowed to land here. Every year thousands of people go trekking in Bhutan, however mountaineering is strictly forbidden since the Bhutanese believe that mountains are the homes of deities and therefore, considered sacred.
Thimphu – the capital Bhutan, an agrarian country, does not have cities as we know them. On first visit, Thimphu gives the impression of a frontier town. Located on the banks of the Thimphu River, it displays an abundance of the country’s’ culture. The Bhutanese love of colour is evident in the multi-coloured walls and roofs and elaborately decorated façades of houses and monasteries. One can visit the Trashi Chhoe Dzong (Fortress of the Great Religion), which was renovated in the 1960′s, now houses the King and the central monk body. The National Memorial Chorten contains numerous sacred religious paintings and tantric statues. The Weekend Market is an ideal place to experience a blend of the urban and rural culture as well as get some good bargains.
The Dzongs and Lhakhangs: Religion permeates this kingdom that the Bhutanese call Druk Yul (the Land of the Thunder dragon). Across the country can be seen tall prayer flags fluttering off ridges and buildings alongside trails and in settlements, impenetrable dzongs and Lhakhangs (monasteries) solemnly preside on wooded slopes and deep valleys and small temples called chorten dot the countryside. A narrow highway across the inner Himalayas from west to east connects most of the country’s major historic fortress towns. All fortress towns are open to travellers and cater to their every need. In the precincts of these fortress monasteries has survived Tantric Tibetan Buddhism with its flamboyant temples displaying erotic and sometimes intimidating statues. Although the inner temples of Bhutan’s monasteries are closed to tourists, Bhutanese allow foreigners to participate in religious festivals called tsetchu, which involve dramas and sacred dances held in the courtyard of the fortress monasteries. These festivals take place only once a year during spring or fall.
Food and Stay: Most Bhutanese restaurants offer Indian, Western and Bhutanese cuisine. But Bhutan’s mystical magnificence is best experienced in its cuisine. Chillies are an integral part of the cuisine, here chillies are not used as spice but eaten as vegetables, making most dishes very hot. Ema Datshi is a local speciality made with cheese and chillies. Yak meat is a staple diet for non- vegetarians. It is served in a variety of ways, sometimes in a curry with vegetables or Yak haunch, meat which is covered and preserved for two to three months and served during celebrations with strong local alcohol. Other specialities include momo (dumplings filled with cheese, vegetable or meat), fern fronds cooked like asparagus; pakshee paa, a sliced pork dish with chillies and radishes; hewa datsee, a combination of potatoes, cheese and chillies, shel roti made of rice flour and deep fried and zhasonpa, curry made with pieces of chicken. A number of prominent Bhutanese families have opened Bhutanese-style inns in Thimphu and on the edges of the capital region. These inns offer an opportunity to experience first – hand the culture of Bhutan. While trekking, on the trails tent accommodations are cheaper than hotels. Five – star hotels, resorts and spa-equipped lodges are now being built in Bhutan, giving the traveller a variety of options for a luxurious and spiritual holiday.
Places to visit: Bumthang, is the spiritual heartland of Bhutan and is home to its most ancient and precious Buddhist sites. It encompasses four major valleys, Choskor, home to the most important dzongs, temples and palaces. Jakar Dzong is the largest in Bhutan and was founded in 1549. The temple of Jampa Lhakhang was built in 659 and hosts one of the kingdom’s most spectacular festivals, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup.
Phobjika Valley (Black Mountain National Park), this is a glacial valley on the Western slopes of the Black Mountains and is a designated conservation area. It is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country, because of the large flock of rare, black-necked cranes that winter here. Other wildlife include muntjaks (barking deer), wild boars, sambars, Himalayan black bears and red foxes. It also has an impressive array of plant species and animals, such as tigers, red pandas, gorals, leopards, serows and golden langurs.
Paro Taktsang, it was established in the eighth century by Guru Rinpoche, built on the side of a mountain it is considered one of the most sacred places in the whole country. Tashichho dzong, a 17th-century in Thimphu known as ” fortress of the glorious religion”. Punakha dzong, Built at the Junction of Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers in 1637. It has survived four catastrophic fires and an earthquake.
Semtokha dzong, Five miles from Thimphu, it stands on a high ridge and was built in 1627. The oldest fortress of the Kingdom, it now houses the School for Buddhist studies. Trongsa dzong : It is the ancestral home of the Royal family and was built in 1648. On the walls of the shops and houses in Trongsa are painted scenes from Buddhist mythology by local artists.
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