bhutan
A visit to this country entails an experience that is much beyond its striking natural beauty, unique architecture, spicy food and ancient culture. It is about discovering a whole new way of life. An alternate universe that somehow mistakenly resides in our own, still desperately trying to shield itself from the shrillness of this planet.
A country that opened its doors to the world only in 1974 and was the last country in the world to allow the entry of satellite television in 1999, Bhutan continues to be an enigma. This obscure Buddhist Himalayan kingdom is landlocked by India in the South and China and Tibet in the North. With a population of only under a million people, it is a country that is unlike any I’ve ever visited or will visit again.
Prayers wheels are cylindrical wheels containing scrolls that are repeatedly inscribed with mantras. By turning the prayer wheels clockwise, it is believed that the mantras inside are activated and released. The mantras are said to purify negativity, generate compassion, remove barriers to enlightenment and bring benefit to all sentient beings. Buddhists believe that mindfully spinning a prayer wheel produces the same benefits and merits as orally reciting the number of mantras inside the prayer wheel. The more revolution one makes the greater the merits.
People wear the National Dress during working hours
In another attempt to preserve the Bhutanese culture, locals here are mandated to wear the traditional dress during work hours and while entering any place of worship.
Prayer flags come in horizontal or vertical forms. Horizontal ones called “Wind Horse” are the more common and come in set of five 5 flags in 5 different colors. Each color represents the 5 basic elements: blue for space, white for air, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth. Buddhists believe that balancing these elements brings harmony to the environment and good health to the body and the mind.
At the revenue & customs check post of Phentsholing, you’ll find the above instead of instead of beer or soft-drink advertisement.
some facts you probably don’t know about Bhutan, all unique choices that this Dragon kingdom made to stay true to itself:
In Bhutan, prosperity and progress are measured by the happiness of the citizens. Instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is the Gross Happiness Index that influences policy making and governance.
Bhutan holds the distinction of being the only carbon negative country in the world. This is a monumental title to hold. Bhutan’s Constitution mandates that 60% of its lands be under forest cover at all times, with the current forest cover approximated at 72%. They don’t just talk about sustainable development and ecological preservation as a future goal, but already practice it in full force.
In Bhutan, tourism is controlled and they make it work to its advantage and that of the tourists by following a ‘high value, low impact’ tourism policy. Because of the daily minimum fee they charge, Bhutan successfully controls the number of visitors and maintains a sustainable format of tourism, giving way to negligible traffic, near-empty attractions, and an unspoilt vista of valleys and roads.
In Bhutan, you won’t find any traffic signals. White-gloved policeman and a firmly ingrained civic sense seem to suffice to regulate traffic in Bhutan. In fact, Thimphu is the only national capital in the world to not have a single traffic light.
Bhutan is a country that is a living, breathing example of the Utopia many of us dream of. The Last Shangri-La, the land of the Thunder Dragon. A blessing to journey into and an experience impossible to match.