The fully restored Trans Bhutan Trail is one of the greatest long-distance treks in the world. Used by pilgrims, messengers, armies and traders until the 1960s, the iconic cross-country trail is 250 miles long and crisscrosses through 27 villages, 21 sacred temples, 12 mountain passes and takes 36 days to...
The ascendency of the Wangchuck dynasty is deeply rooted in the historical politics of Bhutan. Between 1616 and 1907, varying administrative, religious, and regional powers vied for control within Bhutan. During this period, factions were influenced and supported by Tibet and the British Empire. Ultimately, the hereditary Penlop of Trongsa,...
Ubuntu, a Sub-Saharan philosophy, is based on the premise that one’s sense of self is shaped by one’s relationships with others. The concept is based on the simple principle of ‘I am only because we are.’ It is also interpreted as having a people-centric ethos whereby one’s humanity and values...
Until some years ago, Polyandry – or the custom of taking two or more husbands by a woman – was a necessity in Laya given the remoteness and inacces-sibility of the place and the manpower required for daily chores in the fields and at home. Today, the practice is dying...
Buddhism in Bhutan is a way of life where prayers permeate every occasion or activity. And the great prayer of the Monlam Chhenmo is revered as the king of all prayers. The prayer has its centuries-old roots in India and presently lives on at Bodhgaya or Dorji Dhen in Bihar,...
