Bhutan: The Magical Shangri-La

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.