Bhutan - a country
nestled in the eastern Himalayas officially
known as "
Kingdom of Bhutan".
The country has been visited by a great many
saints, mystics, scholars and pilgrims over
the centuries who not only came for their personal
elucidation, but blessed the land and its people
with an invaluable spiritual and cultural legacy
that has shaped every facet of Bhutanese lives.
Visitors and guests to the country will be surprised
that the culture and the traditional lifestyle
is still richly intact and at the degree to
which it permeates all strands of modern day
secular life. From the traditional woven garments
to the prayer flags on high mountain slopes,
from the built environment to the natural environment,
from the religious mask dances to the folk dances,
this cultural heritage is proudly evident and
offers a unique cultural setting.
The Bhutanies have treasured their natural
environment as it is seen as a source of all
life and the abode of the gods and spirits.
Buddhism has been the predominant religion
since the 7th century and has inculcated deeply
the value that all forms of sentient life,
not just human life, are precious and sacred.
Given such a prevailing ethos which respects
the natural environment, it is not surprising
that the Bhutanese have lived in harmony with
nature and that the nation has its environment
still pristine and intact today.
The country has been identified as one of
the 10 bio-diversity hot spots in the world
and as one of the 221 global endemic bird
areas. Its eco-systems harbours some of the
most exotic species of the eastern Himalayas
with an estimated 770 species of birds and
over 50 species of rhododendron, besides an
astonishing variety of medical plants and
orchids.
Bhutan also has a rich wildlife with animals
like the takin, snow leopard, golden langur,
blue sheep, tiger, water buffalo and elephant.
General Information about
Bhutan
Location : Located in Southern
Asia between India and China
Area : 47,000 sq kms
Population : Around 2,232,291
Latitude & Longitude :
26'12' and 30'27' North & 80 degree 4'
and 88 degree 12' East
Capital city : Thimphu
Political-System : Constitutional
Monarchy
Climate :
Climate ranges varies in all parts of country,
tropical in southern plains; cool winters
and hot summers in central valleys; severe
winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Languages :
The official language is Dzongkha which is
a Tibetan dialect mostly spoken by Bhotes.
Additionally three other languages are also
spoken (1.) Bumthangkha in the central region,
(2.) Sharchopkha in the eastern region and
(3.) Nepalese in the southern region. Many
educated Bhutanese are, in addition to their
native language, also fluent in Hindi and
English.
Religions :
The official religion is Lamaism, which is
a Tibetan form of Buddhism of the Mahayana
branch. Most Bhotes are Lamaists and Lamaism
accounts for around 75% of the population
while the remaining 25% following a form of
Buddhist influenced Hinduism.
Tourist Places of Bhutan
Thimphu,
the capital city of Bhutan and is the seat
of the royal government, housed in the mammoth
Tashichho Dzong. The Tashichho Dzong is also
the residence for the country's head abbot
and his central monastic body during the summer.
Like all the other valleys, Thimpu is essentially
a farming valley, but now a young bustling
downtown is growing modern by the day, alongside
deeply rooted spiritual and cultural traditions.
Thimpu has its share of historic sites, such
as the Semtokha Dzong, the first fort built
by the Shabdrung, Bhutan's first spiritual
and temporal ruler. Thimpu Domchey, the festival
of this valley usually takes place in the
month of September when the valley floor is
colored gold with ripening paddy. It is only
a 90 minutes drive from the airport in Paro.
Paro,
more popularly known as the visitor's
entry point into the kingdom when arriving
by air. The country's only airport lies amidst
the terraced fields and farmhouses of this
picturesque valley. Similarly, the national
museum is also here, housed in an ancient
watchtower by a hillside, overlooking the
Paro Dzong, the Ugyen Pelri Palace and the
valley. Paro also boasts of the 7th century
Kychu Monastery and the famed Taktsang, the
tiger's nest' monastery which clings precariously
by the side of high mountain cliff. On the
way to Taktsang lies the ancient fort of Drugyel,
now in ruins. The annual festival of Paro
Tsechu, which takes place in April, is a major
attraction. It is a religious, cultural and
social event lasting for a week. The people
of the valley dress in their finery and gather
at the Paro Dzong to watch religious and cultural
dances and other performances, day after day.
The festive spirit is strong and pervasive
and leaves many a visitor enchanted.
Punakha,
the old capital of the kingdom. The Punakha
Dzong built in 1637 sits massively at the
confluence of the Phochhu and Mochhu rivers.
In Bhutan's past, this dzong has been the
scene of many a fierce and victorious battle
with invading Tibetan armies, as well as the
signing of peace treaties with British India.
The three-hour drive to Punakha, eastward
from Thimpu, over the Dochu La pass, provides
a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bhutanese
Himalayan range. For the winter months the
central monastic body moves their quarters
from the Tashichho Dzong in Thimpu to this
dzong.
Bumthang,
lies at a higher altitude in central Bhutan.
It is a two-hour drive from Trongsa, and standing
watch over the valley's pink fields of buckwheat
is the Jakar Dzong. The sparsely populated
valley of Bumthang is noted for the two monasteries
of Kurjey and Jampey Lhakhang, and is therefore,
the destination for many pilgrims. Bumthang
is well known for its 'yatha' weaving. Out
of local wool from yak and sheep, local weavers
produce thick and colorful fabrics popularly
used in jackets and wall hangings
Trashigang,
represents one of the eastern most and populated
districts. Traditionally most of Bhutan's
colorful and finest weavings come from this
area. Echoing the government's policy of balanced
development, the nation's only college is
located here at Kanglung. The drive to Trashigang
from Brumthang is one of the longest, lasting
for 10 hours and crossing the highest point
from motorable roads in Bhutan
Trongsa,
situated in the central part of the country
and the 'dzong' here is, perhaps, the most
interesting. The first view of the 'dzong'
on the drive from Punakha is dramatic : the
'dzong' rides the steep green slopes of a
ridge with multiple elevations built at various
times in history. The Trongsa Dzong has been
the seat of power for the eastern region and
attained national significance, as in 1907
it was the Trongsa Penlop (Governer) who was
throned as the first hereditary ruler of the
kingdom
