Bhutan : Land of the Thunder Dragon, it has remained sequestered from the rest of the world and is unspoiled by modern culture.

Bhutan Trip

October 2008

The kingdom of Bhutan (a country the size of Switzerland) is bordered by Tibet on the North and by India on the South. It has been called the crown jewel of the Himalayas. It has an incredible natural beauty and is surrounded by mountains, lakes, valleys and lush forests; it has the freshest air I have ever breathed. Covered with 72% dense forests, it is known to the Bhutanese as the land of the thunder dragon (Drukyl), remaining a country of age-old customs and traditions.

The population of approximate 634,982 has 90% farming. People live in small villages spread over the rugged mountain terrain. Time has stood still for these people who maintain traditional dress, beliefs and life-style; they are Buddhists and perform sacred mask dances, wearing colorful costumes.

During the 60s, Bhutan slowly opened its doors to change and modernization; they built a main road. The kingdom opened its doors to tourism in 1974, and today is considered a most exclusive tourist destination. It is now a peaceful place for a spiritual journey, but future tourism may overwhelm.

We visited the following 3 cities and the famous Tiger’s Nest.

THIMPHU

At an altitude of 7000 ft., Thimphu is a bustling town on the river banks, set in the hills of the valley. It’s the capital and home of the royal family. This tiny capital has been called Shangri-La; it’s the only capital city in the world without traffic lights. You can walk miles along few main roads and not see a car; however, you will see the school children in traditional uniforms walking the roads.

PARO

The country’s only airport is in Paro. It is a beautiful valley at 7000 ft. and home to Bhutan’s oldest temples and monasteries.

PUNAKHA

At a lower altitude (4420 ft.), this former capital is the winter seat for the monk body. It has a temperate climate and a rich fertile valley. The 10,000 ft. Dochula Pass (from Punakha to Thimphu) is spectacular for its panoramic views of the Himalayan Mt. range. Additionally, there are 108 stupas built by former royalty which offer great photo opportunities.

Our last day in Bhutan, we hiked to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery viewpoint. Incredibly perched on a cliff at an altitude of 11,600 ft., this has become a place of pilgrimage for locals. It was a challenging two hr. hike (one-way) for us. There is a legend that a Bhutanese flew to this site on the back of a tigress from Tibet and meditated there for 3 months, thus bringing Buddhism to Bhutan.

And, after a week we left this charming, fresh-air country and flew to Katmandu, Nepal to board a plane for Delhi where we began a three week tour of India. On our flight we had magnificent views of Mt. Everest and the Himalaya Mts.

Bhutan Photo Gallery

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