A MYSTICAL & SPIRITUAL KINGDOM INDEED

A MYSTICAL & SPIRITUAL KINGDOM INDEED

Bhutan is a land of magnificent mountains, thick-forested valleys and imposing dzongs. It’s a country where the landscape is dotted with blue poppies, snow leopards and innumerable banners of bright flapping prayer flags. Almost all throughout the 20th century, Bhutan was all but hidden from the world. But, today, the Himalayan nation’s continued isolation is no longer an accident – it is a de- liberate picking, in that the country’s culture and traditions are preserved and protected along with its forests, and visitors are regulated through the government’s policy of ‘high value, low volume’ tourism.

Of all the destinations in Asia, Bhutan is different and exclusive because it is a place where cultural authenticity takes a true meaning. After years of isolation, the country has truly preserved its rich traditional and cultural identity. Traditional dresses remain the preferred attire on the streets and Bhutanese architectural features still grace every building. And, what’s more, Buddhism colors just about every aspect of life. So, it is the perfect blend of new with the old.

It was only in the early 1970s that modernization in Bhutan began and the country came out of its self-imposed isolation. Now, almost 60 years later, the country has struck a fine balance between tradition and modernity and in the process has created a unique identity for itself. Bhutan follows a strict conservation law whereby 70% of the country is under forest cover as a result of which, it is the only country in the world that can boast of being carbon negative. It is also the only country in the world where productivity is measured in Gross National Happiness (GNH) and not GDP. As such, most visitors agree that the opportunity to experience such a mystical destination, almost as if in a time warp, isn’t a vacation – it’s a privilege.