15/02/2022
Bhutan, is a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley. Visit to this monastery is a must if you are physically fit.
Those who love peaceful, beautiful and serene place, Paro is a perfect place. It is a valley town in Bhutan, west of the capital, Thimphu, which is the site of the country’s only international airport and is also known for the many sacred sites in the area.
Punakha is a town in the Himalayas of Bhutan. It's known for the Punakha Dzong, a 17th-century fortress at the juncture of the Pho and Mo Chhu rivers. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan until the 1960's, and still retains the serene atmosphere of a place with a regal past.
The Phobjikha Valley is a vast U-shaped glacial valley, also known as Gangteng Valley named after the impressive Gangteng Monastery of the Nyingma sect in central Bhutan, where the graceful black-necked cranes in Bhutan (Grus nigricollis) from the Tibetan Plateau visit the valley during the winter season to roost. On arrival in the Phobjikha Valley in the last week of October, the black-necked cranes circle the Gangteng Monastery three times and also repeat the process while returning to Tibet.
Thimphu is the world's only capital without traffic lights- something which tells you a lot about this quaint and easy-going city. It was declared capital in 1961, Punakha was the formal capital. One can see a perfect balance between the old and new values, as the national dress Gho(males) and the Kira(females) is worn in offices and schools and where as youth can be seen in western outfits in the evenings.
Source------Wikipedia
Surprises in Bhutan:
• This is a country where buying ci******es is illegal.
• Chilies are the main ingredients of the dishes.
• School children wear Gho and Kira (traditional male and female
garments)
• GNS (Gross National Happiness) is of more importance than GDP
(Gross Domestic Product)
• Ema datse, a dish with chilies and cheese is worth trying.
• Sud-ja, butter tea is salty tea
• Bhutan is a democracy and constitutional monarchy. The
Bhutanese monarchy was founded in 1907. It held its first
democratic elections in 2008.
• Until the 1960’s it had no roads, automobiles, telephone, postal
system or electricity. Bhutanese had no access to TV or Internet
until limited access was permitted in 1999.
• Buddhism is the official religion with Hinduism the second
popular faith.
• Dzongka is the official language.
• Bhutan is the world’s only carbon sink, that is; it absorbs more
CO2 than it gives out. It sells hydro-electrical power, making it the
only country whose largest export is renewable energy. 72% of
the country is forested. In fact, it’s in the country’s constitution to
keep 60% of its land forested.
• Respect for the environment, the eco system and all species is a
serious matter in Bhutan. Anyone caught killing an endangered
species, faces the harsh sentence of life in prison. National animal
is Takin and Blue Poppy is the National Flower of Bhutan. There
are 600 bird species
• Till 1960s, the only education available in Bhutan was from the
monasteries. Before this a few students travelled to Darjeeling or
Kalimpong to get higher education.
• Power is generated hydroelectrically through special turbines
placed directly into rivers without the need for constructing dams.
For remote villages without access to power lines, the
government provides free solar panels.
• If someone cuts down a tree to aid in the construction of their
house, they are required to plant a new tree in its place.
• The country also sells its hydro-electrical power, making it the
only country whose largest export is renewable energy. This is the
biggest industry for Bhutan at the moment.
• Plastic bags have been banned in Bhutan since 1999. Instead of
using plastic bags, the Bhutanese use cotton bags for their
groceries to keep the environment free of non-biodegradable
rubbish.
• Despite the country’s low GDP, the government provides free
education for all – from primary level all the way to tertiary
institutes – as well as free health care through Basic Health Units.
