Articles
SPOTLIGHT ON BHUTAN
Bhutan has been in the spotlight recently as Prince William and his wife Kate visited there in April after their trip to India. They trekked up to the spectacular Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which stands on a Cliffside above the Paro Valley in the remote mountain Kingdom. Bhutan is a place to experience the rich cultural heritage and natural wildlife; it’s a land of monasteries, fortresses and dramatic topography ranging from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. Bhutan is an ancient kingdom secluded high in the Himalayas with unique customs and people with deeply held beliefs.
While urban settlements have sprung up with the process of modernization, the majority of Bhutanese people still live in small rural villages. Small family farms are the predominant way of life and the farming the most common occupation. As the altitude rises, crops give way to cattle and yak breeding with herds grazing in the high pastures.
Bhutan is aware of the downsides of rapid modernization and has decided to move cautiously without losing its soul. Sustainable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of culture and tradition, and preservation and protection of natural environment are at the forefront of government policy.
Some of the top reasons for visiting Bhutan are these sights - (i) Tiger’s Nest Monastery - Taktsang Goemba, one of the most important Buddist monasteries in Bhutan; (ii) Dzongs, the ancient forts that follow typical Bhutanese architecture with a wide base and tapering top; (iii) Views of the highest unclimbed mountains in the world - Mount Jhomohari, Jitchu, Drake, etc., and which mountain peaks the government prohibits from climbing; (iv) Trekking the mountains in Bhutan is breathtaking and also challenging, but totally worth it. Other things to experience are the cuisine, the arts and crafts and Buddhism, which is not a religion, but a way of life.
