Bhutan
Bhutan is a small independent sovereign country in
the eastern Himalayas. It is a landlocked country
bordering to the east, west and south to India and to
the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Its
official name is DrukYul – Land of Thunder dragon with
the additional nickname of DekiDruk(Yul) – (the Land of)
of the peaceful Thunder Dragon because modern Bhutan has
not only a quite orderly social fabric but according to
a global survey of Business Week in 2006 it was
evaluated the happiest country in Asia and the
eighth-happiest nation in the world.
Bhutan is the last stronghold of Vajreyana Buddhism, the
most scholarly teaching in the Buddhist world. The state
religion of the Kingdom of Bhutan is Vajryana Buddhism
and about third-fourth of its population is Buddhist but
around one fourth population follows Hinduism and merely
one percent account for Muslim and non-religious
communities.
Bhutan is a paradise with fascinating natural beauty. It
is widely depicted as a modern day Shangri-La. It is the
most peaceful and almost crime free country. Beggars and
homeless hardly exist in Bhutan. Education is free and
treatment in hospitals and clinics is also free. In case
of a patient’s treatment is not possible in the country,
the patient is referred to a reputable hospital abroad.
There are also numerous indigenous medical facilities in
the country. The sale of tobacco and its products is
banned (foreign tourist and NGO are exempt) and smoking
in public area is a punishable offense in the country.
Only a fortunate few most seasoned tourists visit the
stunning natural country of Bhutan and they are not only
enchanted by its virgin elegant beauty but are also
impressed by its strong sense of culture and tradition.
We at Bhutan Travel Packages will make all possible
effort to make your Bhutan visit comfortable and most
endearing experience of your life.
History : Bhutan's early history is obscure but,
since at least 12th century, it has been colonized by a
succession of rival Buddhist religious orders from Tibet
with the currently ruling Drukpa sect becoming
established in the 17th century following a dispute in
Lhasa with the Gelugpa sect headed by the Dalai Lama.
The first hereditary king of Bhutan was installed on 17
December 1907. An Anglo-Bhutanese Treaty, signed in
1910, placed Bhutan's foreign relations under the
supervision of the Government of British India. After
India became independent the treaty was replaced in
August 1949 by the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Friendship. In
addition, the Government of India has undertaken not to
interfere in the internal administration of Bhutan.
Geography :
Bhutan is bordered by Tibet in the north and the Indian
states Assam and West Bengal in the east, west and
south.
Area of 47,000 Sq. Km.
Altitude varying from 180 mt to 7,550 mt above sea
level.
Access : To enter Bhutan by road one has to reach
the Indian border town of Jaigaon, which is about 150
kms from Siliguri. Just a minute walk from the Jaigaon
bus stand is the gate through which you enter Phunsoling
and reach the Bhutan State Bus Stand another minute
away. By air, there are direct flights from Kolkata and
Delhi to Paro in Bhutan. Indian Nationals can enter
Bhutan for a limited period. For foreigners the rules
are stricter.
Population : 7,50,000
Religion : The tantric form of Mahayana, Buddhism
Languages : Dzongkha(official), Nepalese and
English
Phunsoling:
Phunsoling and the Indian border town of Jaigaon are
both essentially one town and lie on the bank of the
River Tosar. A huge gate made in typical Bhutanese style
marks the entry point of Bhutan from India. On crossing
the gate from Jaigaon to Phunsoling, one can immediately
feel the difference. The noise, jostling and
disorderliness is suddenly replaced by a certain degree
of tranquility and an atmosphere of relaxation so
typical of Bhutanese way of life.
Thimphu:
It is situated at an altitude of 7,500 ft, overlooking
the valley of river Wangchu, Thimphu has been the
capital of Bhutan since late fifties. It has a
population of just 20,000 people. The Main Market is
just a few minutes walk from the Bus Stand across the
Thimphu River. Adorning Thimphu, a short distance from
the Main Market, is a monument in the shape of a Stupa
built in memory of the late king Jigme Dorjee Wangchuk.
His mortal remains are not interred here. This Memorial
Chorten was built in 1974. It is sparkling white crowned
with a golden spire. About 5 kms away from the market,
uphill is the Mini-zoo in the
Mothigang area, with unique animals of Bhutan. A further
uphill climb of about half a kilometer reaches one to
the View Point from where a spectacular view of Thimphu
town can be glanced.
Phajoding Monastery: It is another place worth
trekking to and is about a four hours walk from the
Motithang area. Situated at 12,000 ft, the monastery can
be seen from Thimphu high up in thelap of mountains. A
further walk of about three hours from the Phajoding
Monastery takes one to the Jimilangtsho lakes.
Punakha :
Punakha, at an altitude of 5,000 ft, was the old capital
of Bhutan and remained so till the late fifties when it
was shifted to Thimphu. In 1637 Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal
built the Punakha Dzong which besides containing many
religious and ritual items, shelters the embalmed body
of its maker.
Paro Valley :This valley is one of the most
beautiful places in Bhutan with the majestic Mount
Chomolhari towering over it. Cosily tucked in this
valley is the town of Paro, at an altitude of 7,500 ft,
which has an airport. Paro town strangely looks like a
Wid West town as in the old Western movies and you
almost expect to see a cowboy ride past. A few
kilometers away from Paro town on a hill overlooking the
valley is the National Museum. The museum is open from
Tuesdays to Sundays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. It
contains thankas, handicrafts, stuffed animals, masks,
costumes and armours. A visit to the museum gives you a
fair idea of the culture and the traditions of Bhutan.
Another place worth visiting in Paro valley is the
Taksang Monastery or the Tiger's Nest, at an altitude of
about 10,000 ft so called because
it is said that Guru Padmasambva landed here on the back
of the tiger when he came to Bhutan and meditated here.
About 20 kms away from Paro in the valley, is another
impressive fort the Drugyel Dzong which is said to be
the oldest in the country and is nestled on top of a
spur.
Chhuka:Chhuka, which is situated midway from
Phunsoling to Thimphu, has now become synonymous with
the Hydro Electric Power Station which generates about
400 Megawatt of electricity to serve for Bhutan and some
parts of West Bengal in India. It is a joint venture
hydro power plant between India and Bhutan, the two
neghbouring and friendly countries.
Tongsa Dzong :This fort is perhaps the most
majestic one of its nature in the country.
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Client Testimonials
Dear Zigmee
Thanks for a fabulous time in North Sikkim, highlight of the trip were staying with Chopal and sonam lachenpa in lachen and the journey to Gurudargma (well worth the many hours in the jeep and the cold air). It wasn't hard to imagine just being over the border in
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