Zhemgang Bird Festival 2023The Zhemgang Bird Festival will take place from 11 to 13>> Read More
Dusit chain arrives in Nepal!
Luxury brand Dusit Hotels and Resorts one of Thailand’s leading hotel and global property development companies entered Nepal's hospitality sector…
Sichuan Airlines to increase Nepal flights
Sichuan Airlines a major inbound carrier from Chengdu China to Kathmandu announced that it will operate daily flights from August. …
CNN Travel Picks Mustang
CNN Travel has picked the Mustang as one of its top 23 destinations for 2023. The destination is located on…
Hollywood Superstar Jet Li visits Nepal!
World famous Hollywood and Chinese actor Jet Li arrived in Kathmandu along with his wife during the Christmas holiday. He…
SAFGR Nepali New Year Tournament 2023 successfully held
The South Asian Fellowship of Golfing Rotarians SAFGR Nepali New Year Tournament 2023 3rd Edition was successfully held in Kathmandu from 12 to 15…
New Terminal 3 at Lhasa Gonggar Airport
New Terminal 3 at Lhasa Gonggar Airport opened becoming the largest of its kind in the Tibet Autonomous Region, it was…
Everest almost a meter higher!
The world's highest mountain Mount Everest is 0.86m higher than had been previously officially calculated; Nepal and China jointly announced…
Nepal, Bhutan, China & India travel updates
As of 01 January 2023, all destinations in South Asia region are open including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri…
Early Picasso Art exhibition in Beijing
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art or UCCA Beijing is holding the largest showcase of Pablo Picasso’s early works in China…
Trip Advisor picks Kathmandu as World's 19th top destinations
Trip Advisor picks Kathmandu as World's 19th top destinations amongst 25 other equally amazing places! As a city surrounded by…
Actress Michelle Yeoh friend of Nepal wins Oscar 2023!
Well known Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh wins the coveted Best Actress Oscar 2023 award for her superb performance in the film…
Bhutan a fascinating "last Shangrila" destination for travel and trekking tours is approximately the size of Switzerland with an area of 47,000 sq km and population of less than 700,000. These figures do not reflect the incredible geographical and ecological diversity or its natural wealth. From 300 metres altitude south on the Indian frontier to 7,300 m on the Tibet-China border, the country is like a gigantic staircase transitioning dramatically in terrain and habitat in less than 150 km.
Rivers flow north to south, cutting deep valleys through the Himalayan range. The highest ridge, Black Mountains divides Bhutan into the west, central and eastern regions. Horizontally, the country is divided into four zones. The southern region (300-1,000 m) is tropical in climate and lush vegetation. Oranges, bananas and cardamom plantations abound. Small trading centres link Bhutan to India. To the north it has informal trading with Tibet TAR China that endures till today.
Thick jungles with few forest clearings separate the southern belt from the central valleys. These constitute the sub-tropical zone 1,200m - 1,600m, populated in the east and centre by people living on forest products and crops of rice, millet and maize.
The central valleys support agriculture and range in altitude from 1,300m - 2,700m. Here farmers grow maize, rice, barley, wheat or buckwheat. Apples, oranges and potatoes are important cash crops.
Dominated by impressive fortresses known as dzongs, the structures with their typical trefoil-shaped windows and pitched roofs stand among the cultivated fields. Small urban centres cater to the needs of a largely agrarian population. A windy, spectacular central road links the different valleys from Ha in the west to Tashigang in the east, crossing mountain ranges over passes as high as 4000m. The central valleys are the land of beautiful monasteries and temples, of fluttering prayer flags and of archery contests, the national sport.
Above 3,000m it is the domain of yaks tended by stalwart semi-nomads who during summer months graze their charges in upland pastures of 5,000m, living in windswept black woollen tents. Towering peaks, clear lakes and meadows of alpine flowers and rare medicinal herbs, the summits of the Himalaya form a formidable natural boundary with Tibetan region of China.
Bhutan places great emphasis on retaining its traditional and cultural identity. A first time visitor will be fascinated by the unique architectural style of houses and national attire of the people. Be amazed by traditional Bhutanese houses constructed without a single nail! Religion as a way of life most monasteries are active pilgrimage centres. Bhutanese hospitality is legendary and a visitor will be pleasantly surprised by their kindness. A saying goes "a Bhutanese stops smiling only to give a hearty laugh!"
The present monarch, King Jigme Keshar Namgyel Wangchuk, the fifth in line of the Wangchuk dynasty, reigns over a country whose inhabitants are largely of the Buddhist Mahayana sect. King Jigme and Queen Jetsun Pema are beloved and welcomed a royal heir a cause for great celebration in the country.
The country's size belies its strenght in providing examples for good governance and a holistic approach to matters of state; it recently became a carbon neutral country through its green eco programs. The OGOP project "One Gewog One Product" gives each village block the opportunity to develop a unique product of that locality and is amongst the most inclusive developmental plan of a country.
Book a Bhutan tour with us to discover the unique travel experiences only in Bhutan -- the Shangrila of the world where national well being is measured in terms of GNH or Gross National Happiness!