When
I informed my dear ones that I was going on a trip to Bhutan, many of them
questioned my decision; some reasoned Bhutan was not an interesting place to
travel , some asserted there were only monasteries
to see there, some suggested I should go
to Ladakh instead. While a few baffled at my choice, just asked ‘Why?’
My
only reply to all of them was – ‘You will know when I get back!’
I
am back and my answer lies in this post. Bhutan is definitely a lot more than
its Mountains and Monasteries. Sharing a list of things to look forward to when
you are in Bhutan:
Treks and Trails
From a day to month long, Bhutan has all kinds of treks for adventure lovers.
The most clichéd but certainly not overrated, is the Taktsang Monastery Trek. It is popularly known as the Tiger's Nest. It is literally perched on a cliff and is one of the most important Buddhist sites. It is believed that Yeshe Tsogval who was a follower of Guru Rinpoche, transformed herself into a tigress and carried Guru Rinpoche on her back from Tibet to Taktsang. Here is one of the nine caves where he meditated.
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| Tiger's Nest |
Another popular trek of Bhutan is the Druk Path trek, which is about 6 days long. This trek not only greets you with beautiful landscapes but also introduces you to some ancient Lhakhangs and Dzongs.
For people who find trekking arduous, you could soak in nature while walking on the breathtaking trails of Bhutan.
At an elevation of 3000 meters, Phobjika Glacial Valley is surrounded by huge mountains on all sides. This is a short (4 kms) but beautiful trail. During winters, black necked cranes migrate to Phobjika from Tibet, and the monastery in Gangtey holds a special festival to celebrate their arrival.
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| Phobjika Valley |
Camping
Bhutan
is blessed with natural beauty. Owing to its forest reserves, which are about
70%, it becomes a wonderful place to camp.
We
camped under the star lit sky, by the river stream, in the forests of Gasa. There
was no network connectivity in the forest which was the best thing about the
camp. This disconnect from the virtual world helped me establish a wonderful
connect with myself.
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| Camping @Gasa |
Food
Bhutan
will surprise you by the sumptuous food it offers. Rice is their staple food
and is part of all their meals. The most surprising thing about Bhutanese
Cuisine was they don’t use Chilies as spices but as vegetables. Their
signature dish with chilies is called Ema
Datshi.
Architecture
Most
people get busy absorbing Bhutan’s natural beauty and forget to notice the distinctive
architecture of Bhutan. Dzongs(fortresses), Lhakangs (temples), Goenpas (monasteries), Chortens (stupas), Suspension Bridges are all
diverse architectural beauties of Bhutan.
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| Punakha Dzong |
Whether
a Dzong or a house it has the same architectural form, same building materials
and similar aesthetic compositions. Most Bhutanese buildings are square shaped
built with rammed earth or stone between timber frames.
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| Memorial Chorten, Thimpu |
Generally,
a Bhutanese house is multi storied. The
ground floor is used for cattle. First floor is used for storing grains. Second
floor is used as a living space. Roofs are raised with open space to allow wind
to go through. A noticeable and interesting thing in Bhutanese houses is the
phallus painted on the outer walls. This is done in order to chase away demons
and bring fertility and prosperity to their homes.
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| Dochula Pass |
Tshechu
Tshechu
is the biggest festival of Bhutan, which is held on the tenth day of the lunar
month in dzongs of each district. Participating in this festival is the best
way to experience the culture of Bhutan. The Bhutanese men and women attend
this festival dressed in their traditional attire. In this festival, mask
dances and other traditional Bhutanese dances are performed. These events have
deep religious and mythological significance.
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| Mask Dances in Tshechu |
The Bhutanese believe that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins.
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| Clown |
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| Mask Dances in Tshechu |
Hot Stone Bath
You
will miss out on something really awesome if you go to Bhutan and not try Datsho,
the traditional Hot Stone Bath. I rate it as one of the finest experiences of
Bhutan.
In
this therapy river stones are heated and put in a wooden tub filled with water.
Sometimes medicinal herbs are added to the water before it is ready for the
soak.
It
is believed that the heat of the water, the minerals released from the
rock, and the local herbs all combine to produce medicinal benefits for joint
pains, hypertension, stomach disorders and arthritis.
Shopping
Bhutan is a delight for shoppers,
with amazing artifacts and handicrafts to shop for. As souvenirs one could buy
fridge magnets, postcards, prayer wheels, carved masks and prayer flags.
It’s
very rare that you visit Bhutan and not return with a Thangka Painting. These
paintings that originated in Nepal, are found everywhere in Bhutan today.
If
you love crockery then you should purchase the handmade wooden bowls called Dappas. Although they are sold
throughout the country, they are a specialty of Trashi Yangtse region in Bhutan. These bowls fit collectively and are used to store food inside them.
Another
essential product to be shopped in Bhutan is the Lemongrass Oil / Spray
which is the only organic product that Bhutan exports.
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| Souvenirs |
While
all other countries of the world measure their progress by GDP, Bhutan measures
its progress by Gross National Happiness.
I had my doubts when I read Bhutan is the happiest country in Asia. But it took me
just a 10 days trip to realize that Bhutan is truly a country of happy, shiny
people! Their clothes, their houses, their bank accounts don’t define their
happiness. They don’t need reasons to be happy. Happiness comes naturally
to them. It
was on this trip that I truly understood that ‘Happiness is a state of mind’.
Gawa rang gi zon go zo; choem rang gi choen go choel
This popular Bhutanese proverb means, Whatever joy you seek, it can be achieved by yourself; whatever misery you seek, it can be found by yourself. (It is a state of mind)
Take a trip to Bhutan and who knows , the happiness of this
country might pass onto your life.
PS:
The above list is compiled taking references from my recent trip to Bhutan with
Ease India Travel and Dragon Villa Tours. You can get information on their next
trip to Bhutan by visiting their website http://www.easeindiatravel.com/
