Bhutan Retreat

13/10/2020

Happy 9th Royal Wedding Anniversary to Their Majesties🧡

🇧🇹

20/08/2020

One of the most recommended preventive measure, in order to curb the rising coronavirus pandemic, is to stay home and stay safe.
Be a stay home Hero🙏
!!

23/05/2019

"Taktsang Lhakhang is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious site. The name Taktsang translates to “The Tiger’s Nest”. This temple is one of the most holy sites in the kingdom and clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 meters above the Paro Valley"...

23/05/2018

Be Like a River, Be open, Flow...Go Where You Feel Most Alive👍

21/04/2018

"Spring is the season of new beginnings".......🇧🇹👍

23/03/2018

Great news to our friends in India. In view of the 50 years of diplomatic relationship between Bhutan and India, Drukair, Royal Bhutan Airlines is pleased to offer a discount of 30% to all Indian Nationals travelling to Bhutan. The offer is valid for travel from 1st of June 2018 until 31st August 2018. We are open for sales starting 1st of April 2018. For more information, kindly visit our nearest sales office or call us at 1300(toll free)
or log into our website at www.drukair.com.bt

22/02/2018

20/02/2018

"Happy Birthday Your Majesty" On the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty The King's 38th Birth Anniversary...offer our sincere prayers and humble wishes for His Majesty’s long life, prosperity and Everlasting Peace....🇧🇹TASHI DELEK🇧🇹

20/02/2018

"Happy Birthday Your Majesty" On the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty The King's 38th Birth Anniversary..offer our sincere prayers and humble wishes for His Majesty’s long life, Peace and prosperity....
TASHI DELEK🇧🇹🇧🇹🇧🇹

06/02/2018

24/04/2017

EATING HABITS

Traditional Bhutanese eating habits are simple and, in general, food is eaten with hands. Family members eat while sitting cross legged on the wooden floor with food first being served to the head of the household first.

It is usually women who serve the food and in most cases, the mother. Before eating, a short prayer is offered and a small morsel placed on the floor as an offering to the local spirits and deities. With modernization, eating habits have changed and in urban areas, people usually eat with cutlery whilst seated at a regular dining table.

Traditionally dishes were cooked in earthenware, but with the easy availability of modern goods, pots and pans have largely replaced their use. A typical Bhutanese meal consists of rice, a dish of Ema Datshi, the country’s favourite dish of chili and cheese, pork, beef curry or lentils.

16/08/2015

Bhutan - Traditional dress of women;

The Kira is long dress usually made from finely woven fabrics with beautiful coloured patterns and designs. A wonju (blouse) is worn under the Kira and the Kira is held in place over the shoulder with a koma (silver buckle). Usually are made from fine silk cloth. Over the dress a taego (open jacket) is worn. The outfit is completed by necklaces made from turquoise, corals, pearls and the precious agate eye stone. The whole set is a beautiful dress which accentuates a women's figure, grace and beauty.

15/08/2015

Cooking in bhutanes taditional way.

17/07/2015

Visit Bhutan 2015
Bhutan has declared 2015 as a Visit Bhutan Year to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the beloved 4th King. A figure loved and revered by all Bhutanese, it is an occasion where the country come together to celebrate 60 years of a life spent in the service of the nation and its people.

Tourism in Bhutan was introduced in 1974 during the coronation of His Majesty the 4th King. Since then Bhutan has pursued a cautious policy in tourism guided by principles of sustainability that is today the envy of many destinations in the world. Therefore, Bhutan is proud to dedicate Visit Bhutan 2015 to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Many exciting events and activities have been planned to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary some of which are outlined in this booklet. The tourism fraternity invites the world to join the Bhutanese in celebrating 60 years of Gross National Happiness.

Highlights

On 11th November 2015 His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the 4th King of Bhutan turns sixty. This day will see the culmination of the year long celebrations that Bhutan will be observing to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty.

To mark this occasion every Dzongkhag in Bhutan will be observing the day with various cultural programs and events participated in by people from all walks of life. In the capital, a grand celebration is expected to take place at the Changlimithang Stadium with a variety of entertainment programs.

On 11th November 2015 His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the 4th King of Bhutan turns sixty. This day will see the culmination of the year long celebrations that Bhutan will be observing to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty.

To mark this occasion every Dzongkhag in Bhutan will be observing the day with various cultural programs and events participated in by people from all walks of life. In the capital, a grand celebration is expected to take place at the Changlimithang Stadium with a variety of entertainment programs.

17/07/2015

National Memorial Chorten – Thimphu
by . Posted on August 27, 2009
This large impressive monument with its golden spire was built in 1974 to honour the memory of the third King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928 – 1972).

Built by his mother Her Majesty the late Queen Ashi Phuntsho Choden Wangchuck, the whitewashed chorten is decorated with richly carved annexes facing the four directions, and features elaborate mandalas, statues and a shrine dedicated to the popular third king. There are numerous religious paintings and complex ta***ic statues housed inside reflecting both peaceful and wrathful aspects of Buddhist deities.

The memorial chorten, with its sun-catching golden finial, is one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu, and for many people it is the focus of their daily worship. Throughout the day people circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray in the adjacent shrine. The early morning is particularly tranquil as elderly people shuffle in and spruced-up kids on their way to school whiz in and out to pay homage.

There are no mortal remains of the King inside the Chorten. There is only a photograph draped in ceremonial scarves on the ground floor.

Go clockwise

Go clockwise when walking around this chorten. It is a big no-no to walk counter clockwise. This rule is true for any religious structures.

Chorten is a place of worship

Chortens are places of worship. People visit the chorten to pray. Do not be loud, and do not do anything that might disturb the rhythm of life. Be extra careful when taking photographs of people. Do not disturb them by asking them for their permission when they are praying.

16/07/2015

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_g0JbsgwGI

May Promotional Trailer

12/07/2015

In old days, the bridges of Bhutan played significant roles connecting villages and peoples in the remote and hilly terrain. These bridges are still the lifeline of the people especially those living faraway from urban areas. Bridges of the past were built in different forms using different techniques and they were made of wood, cane, bamboo or iron chains.

26/03/2015

Map of Bhutan
Bhutan is a tiny, remote and impoverished kingdom nestling in the Himalayas between its powerful neighbours, India and China.
Almost completely cut off for centuries, it has tried to let in some aspects of the outside world while fiercely guarding its ancient traditions.
The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means "Land of the Thunder Dragon" and it only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s.
The Wangchuck hereditary monarchy has wielded power since 1907. But Bhutan became a two-party parliamentary democracy after elections in March 2008. This gave a landslide victory to the pro-monarchy Bhutan Harmony Party of former prime minister Jigme Thinley. The opposition People's Democratic Party also supports the monarchy.

11/01/2015

2015 visit to Bhutan

The best and most beautiful time to visit Bhutan is from March, April, May and Sept, Oct and Nov. During this month there is most popular festival called Paro Festival and Thimphu Festival in honor of Guru Rimpoche is celebrated and it is believed that those who withnessed the festival will be profusely blessed.
For reservation contact email:
[email protected] - with Tashi Dorji and Michiko Sugihara.
http://www.bhutanretreat.com/traiff/

28/11/2014

Bhutan's fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (right) crowns his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck as the fifth King of Bhutan, in the Throne room of the Tashichhodzong Palace during the coronation ceremony in Thimphu, Bhutan on November 6, 2008. With medieval tradition and Buddhist spirituality, a 28-year-old with an Oxford education assumed the Raven Crown of Bhutan on Thursday, to guide the world's newest democracy as it emerges into the modern world. (REUTERS/Royal Government of Bhutan/Handout)k

05/09/2014

Laya Gasa trekking:

http://www.bhutanretreat.com/laya-gasa-treks/

18/08/2014

Bhutan archery is a national sport

Archery – Bhutan’s National Sport Bhutan National Game Archery is the national sport of Bhutan, and every village has it own archery range. High spirited competitions, usually accompanied by a banquet, are a part of all festive occasions. Using bamboo bows (although modern compound bows are finding their way into the kingdom) teams of archers shoot at targets only 30 centimeters in diameter from a distance of 120 meters. Each team has a noisy crowd of supporters who, as well as encouraging their own side and try to out off the opposition.
The game of archery is not exactly a sport that draws frenzied supporters out for a kill. There are no die-hard fans and no follow-the-team-to-kingdom-come fanatics. And no streaking hooligans

If anyone is all pumped up, it is the archers themselves… To the Bhutanese, it’s a tourist sport and a very saleable one at that too. It has tremendous tourist appeal. Archery is tradition; its songs and dances and jeers and near-primitive howls. It’s the works to someone seeking the unusual. All that could be just a facade.
Under the surface, and away from the real game, there’s plenty a foot. More than a tourist could ever imagine and some locals too. Every time a major archery tournament is on, be it in the village or at the capital, strange things are happening. Perfectly sane, and often well placed men, are doing things that would otherwise have been dubbed completely insane.

Divine intervention

Like everything else, the other side of archery begins with God. Every time a tournament is under way, there are suddenly silent, unassuming, sentinels at every sacred place. One archer can’t quite forget his moment of triumph, even though it was not in the real game, and still gets ecstatic every time he regales listeners with the story.
Temples and deities are much, or most, sought during tournaments. Archers say the simplest short cut to victory is appeasing your protectors and carrying to the game a piece of anything blessed by the deities.

After the oblations, of wine and money, a roll of the dice is a must. There are, after all, more appeasements to be done if the fortunes told by the dice are bad. Divine intervention, albeit forbidden by the National Archery Federation of Bhutan now, is still much solicited. There have also been many instances when a little coercion is exercised.

A statue or other artifacts could find themselves reluctant bystanders to the game, covertly stowed away in a place of the team’s choice.

There are many other strange practices that have become deeply entrenched into the game.

THE NATIONAL SPORT OF BHUTAN Since archery is very popular among people ranging from an ordinary layman to a king, it was declared the national sport in 1971 when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations Organizations. Blue Poppy was then declared the national flower; raven the national bird, Takin (Bodices taxi color (botanical name), the national animal cypress the national tree, gho and kira the national dress and Gyalpoi Tenzhu, the national song. The popularity of archery has been growing ever since. It is played throughout the year on different occasions. Even government departments and ministries from teams to participate in matches and tournaments, Earlier, Chhoda was played only among different villages and geog (A sub-division of the district. There are today 202 gewogs in 20 dzongkhags (districts) in the country). Today, it is played among different dzongkhags and regions in the country. This has been a significant factor in enhancing the popularity of archery.

There are other reasons for considering archery the national sport of Bhutan.

The fact that gods in both their wrathful and serene forms are depicted holding the bow and arrow is considered very auspicious.
Bows and arrows were primarily weapons of war.
Their usage as principle instruments of destroying enemies is clearly elucidated in the biography of Ling Geser. Besides, they were indispensable means of survival to people who lived by hunting.
The symbolic and religious significances of bow and arrow are associated with the legendary assassination of the anti-Dharma king, Langdarma in Tibet in the 10th century. Lhalung Pelgi Dorji, a Buddhist monk once performed the Black Hat Dance to entertain the king. In the process, he pretended to prostrate but used the occasion to take out the bow and arrow which were hidden inside the large sleeves of the ceremonial dance costumes. He shot the king dead.
In the 15th century, most of the prophecies of Lama Drukpa Kuenley are believed to have originated from his bow and arrow. Moreover, bows and arrows are indispensable item required for any religious ceremonies or rituals. The usage of arrows such as Ten da, Tshe da, La da, Da dar and Chhe mar during public blessing ceremonies, rituals conducted while a new born baby is taken outside the house for the first time, house construction and other social activities underscore their importance in the daily life of the Bhutanese.
Diagram and illustrations of arrows have also been used (in Bhutan and elsewhere) on signboards as symbols to indicate directions.
Archery has been the favourite sport of our kings who popularised it over generations. People from different social strata consider archery one of the most enjoyable sports.
At the least, playing archery helps archers stay fit owing to physical0

14/08/2014

View Point from chele la.
Chele la (pass) at an elevation 13000 ft asl is considered to be one of the highest motorable passes in Bhutan. About an hour's drive from Paro as it passes through lush valleys, pine and rhododendron forest. The pass provides stunning views of the sacred mountain Jomolhari and Jichu Drake

12/08/2014

About Bhutan Buddhism:

Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan, and Buddhists comprise two-thirds to three-quarters of its population.[1] Although the Buddhism practiced in Bhutan originated in Tibetan Buddhism, it differs significantly in its rituals, liturgy, and monastic organization. The state religion has long been supported financially by the government through annual subsidies to Buddhist monastery, shrines, monks, and nuns. In the modern era, support of the state religion during the reign of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck includes the manufacture of 10,000 gilded bronze images of the Buddha, publication of elegant calligraphied editions of the 108-volume Kangyur (Collection of the Words of the Buddha) and the 225-volume Tengyur (Collection of Commentaries), and the construction of numerous chorten (stupas) throughout the country. Guaranteed representation in the National Assembly and the Royal Advisory Council, Buddhists constitute the majority of society and are assured an influential voice in public policy.

12/08/2014

Culture of Bhutan

Cradled in the folds of the Himalayas, Bhutan has relied on its geographic isolation to protect itself from outside cultural influences. A sparsely populated country bordered by India to the south, and China to the north, Bhutan has long maintained a policy of strict isolationism, both culturally and economically, with the goal of preserving its cultural heritage and independence. Only in the last decades of the 20th century were foreigners allowed to visit the country, and only then in limited numbers. In this way, Bhutan has successfully preserved many aspects of a culture, which dates directly back to the mid-17th century.

Modern Bhutanese culture derives from ancient culture. This culture affected the early growth of this country. Dzongkha and Sharchop, the principal Bhutanese languages, are closely related to Tibetan, and Bhutanese monks read and write the ancient variant of the Tibetan language, known as chhokey. Bhutanese are physically similar to the Tibetans, but history does not record when they crossed over the Himalayas and settled in the south-draining valleys of Bhutan. Both Tibetans and Bhutanese revere the ta***ic guru, Padmasambhava, the founder of Himalayan Buddhism in the 8th century.

24/07/2014

For centuries, Bhutanese have woven many varieties of bamboo items. The art of Bamboo weaving is still alive and practised today mainly in the areas of Kheng which is located in Zhemgang district, Nanung of Mongar district and Trimshing Kangpar of Tashigang District. Bamboo weavers are skilled in the production of variety of functional objects such as bamboo plates, baskets, bamboo-sieves, roofing, fencing, mats for drying grains and so on. The bangchung - or traditional container - alone have more then twenty different designs and sizes. Bangchungs are mainly used as plate while eating and can also be used as Tiffin, whereas the larger bamboo baskets are used for storing house hold items and transporting goods (as like back pack)

14/11/2013

Getting to Bhutan.

The way to Bhutan

Till Bhutan embarked on a planned economic development in the early 1960's, Bhutan by and large remained cut off from the rest of the world. The country was accessible only by foot. The two main entry points to the country was from the North and from the South. From the north, the entry was from Tibet and was possible crossing the high passes while from the South it was through the plains of Assam and West Bengal. However, with the planned economic development, accessibility became easy with motorable roads connecting Bhutan with the other parts of the country.

Today the main points of entry are through Phuentsholing in the south that links Bhutan with the Indian plains of West Bengal, through Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar that links with the Indian state of Assam and through Paro, where the entry is through Druk Air, the National airline of Bhutan.

Travel by Air

The country has so far only one airport that caters to the needs of visitors coming in through flight. However, an international airport is under construction in Gelephu that will eventually provide passengers with a choice of their entry to Bhutan. The Bhutan's only international airport at Paro, is located at a height of 7300 ft above sea level and surrounded by mountains and hills as high as 16,000 feet. Druk Air is the national air operating with two A319. It flies to destinations that include Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Bodh Gaya, Dacca, Kathmandu and Guwahati in Assam and Plans are also underway to invite other private airliners. The flight between Paro and Kathmandu is one of the most exciting ones as the aircraft passes over 4 of the 5 highest mountains in the world. In fine weather, as you soar higher up, you can enjoy the spectacular display of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu und Kangchenjunga at their best.

Travel by Land

Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan are the only land border areas open for international tourists. The town of Phuntsholing is located approximately 170 km east of the Indian national airport Bagdogra. After crossing Phuntsholing, your journey then begins its mountainous climb through endless turns and hair-pin bends till you enter Thimphu, the capital city. The travel time for the 176 km stretch can be more than 6 hours.

Contact ; Bhutan Retreat

Tel& Fax; +975-2-327841

P.O. Box: 1534

Mobile; +975-17116290/77382954

E-mail: [email protected]

Skype; bhutan.retreat

11/11/2013

Religious festivals

Once a year a dzong or important village may hold a religious festival, or Tsechu. Villagers from the surrounding district come for several days of religious observances and socializing while contributing auspicious offerings to the lama or monastery of the festival. The central activity is a fixed set of religious mask dances, or cham, held in a large courtyard. Each individual dance takes up to several hours to complete and the entire set may last two to four days. Observation of the dances directly blesses the audience and also serves to transmit principles of Ta***ic Buddhism to the villagers. A number of the dances can be traced directly back to Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal himself, the founder of Bhutan, and have been passed down essentially unchanged since the mid-17th century.

Prior to dawn on the final day of the tsechu a huge tapestry, or thongdrel, is unfurled in the courtyard of the dzong for several hours. The mere sight of it is believed to bring spiritual liberation. The thongdrel is rolled up before the rays of the morning sun can strike it.

http://www.bhutanretreat.com/festival-trip/

02/11/2013

Bhutan - Traditional dress for man.
The men wear the Gho, although a long flowing robe but which is worn at knee length, tied in place at the waist with a small hand-woven kera (belt). Above the kera a large pouch is formed in which the men can carry traditional items like betel nut and a bowl. Traditionally Tshoglams or custom made boots are worn which is a beautiful and colourful mixture of designs and colors. These traditional Tshoglams are worn during festivals and special occasions both official and informal parties. Normally leather shoes and others are worn with the gho.

29/10/2013

Flora and Fauna.
Physically, Bhutan can be divided into three zones: Alpine Zone (4000m and above) with no forest cover; the Temperate Zone (2000 to 4000m) with conifer or broadleaf forests; and the Subtropical Zone (150m to 2000m) with Tropical or Subtropical vegetation. Because of its wide altitudinal and climatic range, the flora and fauna is diverse and rich.

Forest types in Bhutan are Fir Forests, Mixed Conifer Forest, Blue Pine Forest, Chirpine Forest, Broadleaf mixed with Conifer, Upland Hardwood Forest, Lowland Hardwood Forest, and Tropical Lowland Forests. Almost 60% of the plant species that is found in the eastern Himalayan region can be found in Bhutan as well.

Bhutan boasts of about 300 species of medicinal plants and about 46 species of rhododendrons. Some common sights for the visitors are the magnolias, junipers, orchids of varied hues, gentian, medicinal plants, daphne, giant rhubarb, the blue poppy which is the national flower and tropical trees such as pine and oaks.

A wide range of animal could also be found frequenting the jungles of Bhutan. Some high altitude species are the snow leopards, the Bengal tigers that are found at altitude ranging 3000 to 4000 meters, the red panda, the gorals and the langurs, the Himalayan black bear and sambars, the wild pigs and the barking deer, the blue sheep and the musk deer. In the tropical forests of Southern Bhutan one can come across the clouded leopards, the one horned rhinoceros, elephants, golden langur that is unique to Bhutan, the water buffaloes and the swamp deer.

Bhutan also has a great variety of bird species. It is recognized as an area of high biological diversity and is known as the East Himalayan ‘hot spot’ situated as it is at the hub of 221 global endemic bird areas. The recorded number of bird species is over 670 and there are chances that this number could still go up.

In addition, 57% of Bhutan’s globally threatened birds and 90% of the country’s restricted rare birds are dependent on forests. Bhutan has about 415 resident bird species. These inhabitant birds are altitudinal refugees, moving up and down the mountains depending upon the seasons and weather conditions. Of about 50 species of birds that migrate in winters are the buntings, waders and ducks, thrushes and the birds of prey. Some 40 species are partial migrants and they include species such as swifts, cuckoos, the bee-eaters, fly catchers and the warblers.

Bhutan is also home to about 16 bird species that are endangered worldwide. These include the White bellied heron, Pallas Fish eagle, Blyth’s King fisher to name a few. Phobjikha valley in Wangdue Phodrang and Bomdeling in Trashi Yangtse are also two important places in Bhutan that is visited by the endangered Black Necked Crane.

As one of the ten global hotspots Bhutan is all set to preserve and protect the rich environment through environmental organizations.

Some of the proactive organizations are the:

National Environmental Commission
Royal society for protection of nature clubs throughout the country.
Department of Forestry Services.
Nature Conservation Department
Bhutan Trust Fund.
Donor Organization.
Association of Bhutan Tour Operators.