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Land of Dragon - Bhutan
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Bhutan, Bhutan is a landlocked
Buddhist Kingdom in South Asia, bordering with Tibet in
the north and India in the southwest (Sikkim) and
southeast (eastern Indian states like Assam, Nagaland.
Situated at the far-eastern edge of the great Himalayan
range. This Buddhist Kingdom is
often revered as the "Land of the Dragon" regarded as
one of the last Shangri-La in the Himalayan region
because of its remoteness, beautiful alpine valleys, its
spectacular mountain terrain, varied flora and fauna and
its unique ancient Buddhist monasteries. It is one of
the reactively unspoiled pockets of Asia which allow
only limited number of discerning travelers to enter the
country with a special visa permits. The name of the
country since the 17th century has been Drukyul (Dragon
country). This Kingdom is still maintaining and
preserving its traditional, religious and cultural
values, becoming a model and unique country in the
region. |
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Season: Bhutan has four seasons. The best seasons
are Spring: March to May, and autumn: September
to November. Autumn is the best to enjoy the view of
mountains and surrounding landscapes. Summer season:
June to August, the monsoon (rainy season). Winter
season: December to February. Heavy snowfall is expected
in winter. |
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Places of interest
in Bhutan |
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Paro:
is for most visitors the first place to catch a glimpse
of Bhutan as it has the country’s only airstrip and
because of its proximity to the airport, hotels and
tourist facilities are found close to it. The valley of
Paro contains a wealth of attractions. Here is located
the Rinpung Dzong, an elegant and perfectly symmetrical
structure. Built by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1646,
the Dzong houses the monastic body of Paro, the office
of the Dzongda (district administration head) and
Thrimpon (judge) of Paro district. Behind Rinpung Dzong
is the castle shaped Ta Dzong, which houses the National
Museum. |
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Thimphu: is a
bustling town set on the banks of its own rivers and set
in the hills of its own valley. It is home to the
revered Bhutanese Royal Family and to several foreign
mission and development projects. The main secretariat
building, the Tashicho Dzong, houses the throne room of
the king of Bhutan. The Thanka School in the heart of
Thimphu is well worth visiting. The National Library
housing some of the oldest records of Bhutanese history
and religion is located nearby. Visitors can wander
along the main street and into shops, all of which are
decorated in the traditional style. Five miles from
Thimphu stands Simtokha Dzong. Built in 1627, it is the
oldest Dzong and houses the School for Buddhist studies,
language and dance. |
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Taktsang: Guru
Rimpoche after his journey from Tibet on a tigress ’back
is said to have meditated at the Taktsang, a monastery
overlooking Paro valley. A hallowed shrine, Bhutanese
pilgrims travel from all over the land to pray at its
temple. After a three hour’s hike from the road one can
get a spectular view of the Tiger’s Nest. Eighteen
kilometers from Paro Town is the burnt ruins of Drukgyel
Dzong(Victorious Fortress), a monastery from which the
Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies
during the 17th century. |
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Punakha: lies about
two hours drive from Dorchula low down in its valley.
Home to the Central monk body and the Je Khenpo during
the milder winter months, Punakha served as the capital
of Bhutan until 1955. Punakha Dzong houses sacred
temples including the Marchen where the embalmed body of
Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal lies in state.
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Wangduephodrang:
is the last town on the
central highway before Central Bhutan. Sitting on top of
the hill overlooking the junction of two rivers is the
town’s most visible feature, Wangduephodrang Dzong which
in the 17th century played a critical role in unifying
the main parts of Bhutan. Gangtey Gompa, located to the
east of Wangduephodrang is an old monastery dating back
to the 17th century. A few kilometers past the gompa is
the village of Phopbjika. This is the winter home of
black-necked cranes that migrate from the north to pass
the winter in milder and lower climes. Others places of
interest include Tongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Tashigang and
Tashiyangtse. |
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