When we think of Bhutan we often
imagine a magical mountainous place of extreme beauty, possibly
hovering amongst the clouds. And, in fact, this country is often
known as a Shangri-La or referred to as The Last Shangri-La.
A Shangri-La is these days is common
parlance for a place that is seen as a paradise on earth, although
initially it was a specific place, described as a mystical valley.
Bhutan could easily be such a place, considering its location to the
eastern side of the Himalayas. Much of the country is mountainous,
with several peaks reaching over 7,000 metres in height.
Bhutan has been more closed to the
influences of the outside world than many countries, and this is
something which adds to its allure. Visiting there gives you the
feeling of being on top of the world and stepping back in time all at
once.
The capital itself, Thimphu, is nestled
between mountains on every side, and sits at an altitude of about
2,500 metres. In short, if you love holidays in the mountains and the
countryside, you should start looking at tour packages for Bhutan
Thimpu immediately.
Not only is Bhutan a fantastically
charming country to look at and explore, it’s also a laid back
place, filled with positive vibes. In fact, it was named the Happiest
Country in Asia by Business Week magazine in 2006.
Having a largely Buddhist population,
Bhutan is peaceful. The nature of the people and the mountains give
is a spiritual feeling of tranquillity which it’s hard to match
anywhere else. Any tour packages for Bhutan Thimphu will undoubtedly
include trips to some of the many Buddhist monasteries, or Dzongs,
around the country.
In Thimphu itself, the most popular
monastery is Tashichho Dzong. Here the Tsechu festival takes place,
where performances of cham dances – cultural mask dances – can be
seen. This festival occurs every year at around September or October
time – depending on the Bhutanese calendar. It is a delight to
experience cultural programmes such as this, set amongst the rolling
hills of Bhutan, in the midst of the locals and with the 900 year old
monastery as a backdrop. Divine.
