{"id":1170,"date":"2011-05-31T14:39:46","date_gmt":"2011-05-31T08:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2011-05-31T14:39:46","modified_gmt":"2011-05-31T08:39:46","slug":"featured-webblog-introduction-to-bhutan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/2011\/05\/31\/featured-webblog-introduction-to-bhutan\/","title":{"rendered":"Featured Web\/Blog: Introduction to Bhutan – Unbelievable Photographs!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction to Bhutan<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Bhutan.\u00a0 This little-known Himalayan kingdom, nestled between the giants of India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Shangri-La.\u00a0 This is an extraordinary country, unlike any on Earth, where traffic lights do not exist, buying cigarettes is illegal, the wrestling channel and MTV are banned, as well as Western-style billboards and plastic bags, and Gross National Happiness has been deemed more important than Gross National Product.\u00a0 While neighboring countries have catapulted themselves into the modern world and embraced tourism with such ferocity that their cultures have been both compromised and neglected, Bhutan has recognized that the only way to move forward and ensure both its survival and sovereignty is to protect the unique culture and environment that makes the country so special.<\/p>\n

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Up until 1960, Bhutan had been visited by only a handful of early British explorers and during the decade that followed the few foreigners permitted into the country were guests of the royal family.\u00a0 It was not until the coronation of the fourth king in 1974 that a hotel was built and the first group of paying tourists arrived, organized and led by Lars Eric Lindbald (founder of Linbald Travel) who encouraged the government to limit tourism and to charge high fees.\u00a0 This set the standard by which tourism would evolve in Bhutan and small groups began to enter the country, permitted only to visit the dzongs and goempas in Paro and Thimpu.<\/p>\n

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Today, Bhutan continues to embrace a strict policy of high-value, low-impact tourism intended to preserve their national culture by deterring the budget travelers and backpackers that have so profoundly altered neighboring countries such as Thailand and Nepal.\u00a0 Though there is no longer a limit to the number of tourists Bhutan permits each year, every non-Indian foreigner must pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world\u2019s most expensive countries to visit.\u00a0 The Royal Government of Bhutan requires foreign visitors to travel with a prepaid and preplanned itinerary, led by a certified local guide.\u00a0 The daily tariff includes all your accommodation, food, land transport within Bhutan, services of guides and porters, and entrance fees to cultural sights and programs.\u00a0 Tourists can arrange their own itinerary and are not required to travel in a group, but what you will not find in Bhutan is backpacker-style independent travel.<\/p>\n

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\nIt comes as no surprise that the question most asked about Bhutan is, \u201cIs it worth it?\u201d\u00a0 Even for myself, on an extended trip with a limited budget, it was necessary to contemplate this question.\u00a0 Yet, having traveled extensively and witnessed firsthand the Westernization that has altered the face of countries worldwide, I was eager to experience one of the last places on Earth to be overwhelmed by the reach of globalization.<\/p>\n

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Most alarmingly, this is a country poised for change.\u00a0 Despite centuries of self-imposed isolation, Bhutan has opened their doors to the world and it is only inevitable that along with tourists comes change.\u00a0 In 1997, Pepsi Cola built a bottling plant in Bhutan and two years later 60 channels of satellite TV arrived.\u00a0 There will soon be more mobile phones in the kingdom than landlines and young people are abandoning their traditional look for Western-style haircuts and Levis jeans.<\/p>\n

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In this manner, Bhutan is unique for it is a country with one foot in the modern world and the other desperately clinging to the past.\u00a0 Here you will find men and women in traditional dress chatting on cellphones and Buddhist monks using computers to transcribe ancient texts.\u00a0 It is undeniable that Bhutan is inching itself into the modern world, though it is with a steadfast determination to preserve their distinct cultural identity that makes the country so incredibly unique.<\/p>\n

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At the helm of this change is a Royal Family who is revered all over Bhutan and sets a standard by which much of the world could follow.\u00a0 Since 1907, Bhutan has been ruled by a succession of five kings determined to preserve their cultural identity while making necessary steps to bring their country into the modern world.\u00a0 With the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese in 1959, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (the third king) realized that to preserve Bhutan\u2019s independence the country had to become a member of the larger world community.\u00a0 So in 1961 Bhutan emerged from centuries of self-imposed isolation and began making steps to enter into the modern world.\u00a0 The king abolished serfdom and the caste system, reorganized land holdings, created the Royal Bhutan Army, and established the High Court, all while emphasizing the need to preserve Bhutanese culture and tradition.<\/p>\n

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The king\u2019s early death at the age of 44 brought his 16-year old soon, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, to the throne and his\u00a0\"\"<\/a>coronation was the first time that the international press was allowed to enter the country.\u00a0 The fourth king pledged to continue his father\u2019s program of modernization and taking advantage of a country with a small population, abundant land, and rich natural resources, he announced a plan for Bhutan to achieve economic self-reliance.\u00a0 With that,\u00a0 he introduced the idea of \u201cGross National Happiness\u201d (GNH) which would measure development programs and projects in terms of society\u2019s greater good, thereby ensuring a more sustainable happiness for each individual Bhutanese.\u00a0 The fourth king modernized education, health care, rural development and communications.\u00a0 He also created a policy of environmental conservation which gives precedence to ecological considerations over commercial interests, and today most of the country\u2019s forests and ecosystems remain intact.\u00a0 Then in 2005, the 49-year old king\u00a0\"\"<\/a>shocked the country by announcing plans to abdicate the throne in favor of his eldest son and begin moving the country from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy.\u00a0 A constitution was drafted which reinforced the king\u2019s idea of having a democratic government committed to increasing GNH and not just gross national product.<\/p>\n

While the world cheered Bhutan\u2019s shift towards democracy, the Bhutanese people embraced their fifth king, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, a handsome young man educated at Oxford who recently thrilled the country with the announcement of his engagement.\u00a0 Like his father before him, the fifth king is a humble and gracious man who prefers to mingle with the common people than assume a royal stature.\u00a0 He resides in a 2-room \u201cpalace\u201d smaller than most Bhutanese homes and is often spotted along the roads outside the palace grounds where he enjoys planting flowers.\u00a0 Though his photo appears in nearly every temple and home, the fifth king is a man more likely to be found playing soccer with local boys or eating a meal in a poor person\u2019s home than lavishing in the company of royalty.\u00a0 He routinely invites the locals to share his company and particularly enjoys spending time with a group of schoolchildren who are deaf and blind.\u00a0 As our guide told us more about him, she mentioned a Swiss tourist who broke down in tears when she learned of the king; a feeling I experienced many times when told of his good deeds.<\/p>\n

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A worldly man, the fifth king is undoubtedly aware of both the progress and change that modernization will bring.\u00a0 Therefore, policies have been put in place that allow the country to continue moving forward while maintaining a firm grip on their past.\u00a0 Most notable among these, and recognized immediately by tourists, are restrictions on both architecture and dress.\u00a0 All Bhutanese are required to wear national dress in schools, temples, government offices, and formal occasions.\u00a0 The men wear a\u00a0gho<\/em>, a long robe often decorated in plaid or striped designs which is knee-length and fastened tightly with a woven belt called a\u00a0kera<\/em>.\u00a0 The women wear a long floor-length dress called a\u00a0kira<\/em>, a rectangular piece of brightly colored cloth that wraps around the body under a silk blouse called a\u00a0wonju<\/em>.\u00a0 The kira is fastened at the shoulders with elaborate silver hooks called\u00a0koma<\/em> and at the waist with a belt made of either silver or cloth.\u00a0 This style of traditional dress is seen all over Bhutan and is one of the most distinctive visual aspects of a country still so connected to their past.<\/p>\n

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Perhaps the most striking feature of the country is the architecture, in which all structures are constructed in characteristic Bhutanese style.\u00a0 Whether massive dzongs (fort-monasteries), remote goembas (monasteries), lhakangs (temples), or traditional homes, all the structures in Bhutan share a similar design which gives the country a feeling of being centuries old.\u00a0 Most of the homes are two storeys high with a large, open-aired attic, built of wood, stone, and pounded mud.\u00a0 Roofs are pitched and covered in shingles while the exterior wooden surfaces are painted with elaborate designs, including swastikas, floral patterns, clouds, mythical animals, and even large phalluses believed to ward off evil spirits.\u00a0 Finally, on the roof of all Buddhist homes stands a prayer flag which whips in the wind and carries their prayers away.<\/p>\n

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Among the architectural wonders of Bhutan, none command so much attention as the caste-likedzongs<\/em> that dominate most major towns.\u00a0 These huge white citadels are outstanding examples of the grand design and construction of Bhutanese architecture and serve as administrative headquarters of all 20 districts, as well as the focus of secular and religious authority in each.\u00a0 The word\u00a0dzong<\/em> is Tibetan for \u201cfortress\u201d, an apt description for such magnificent structures.\u00a0 Bhutan\u2019s dzongs are built of stone and packed mud and a considerable amount of timber.\u00a0 They usually have one massive door which leads into a small passage that makes two right turns before opening into a large main courtyard- an ideal design that keeps invaders from storming the dzong.\u00a0 The main courtyard is paved with large flagstones and overlooked by rooms and galleries along the outer walls which stand several storeys high.\u00a0 The central structure of the dzong is a tower-like building called an\u00a0utse<\/em> which contains several chapels, one on each floor.\u00a0 Dzongs were built by architects who prepared neither plans nor drawings, relying only on a mental concept of what they intended to build.\u00a0 They used roughly dressed and irregularly shaped stones and accomplished their task without the use of nails.\u00a0 Then in 1897, an earthquake rocked Bhutan and damaged many of its dzongs which were repaired or rebuilt in the original style using the same ancient construction methods.<\/p>\n

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Throughout the kingdom of Bhutan, there are more than 2000 religious buildings, each designed for a different purpose to suit the wish of the founders and architects.\u00a0 Among these are numerous monasteries, called\u00a0goembas<\/em>, which are often located in secluded locations, such as rocky crags or remote hillsides, where the monks can find peace and solitude.\u00a0 Bhutanese goembas are self-contained communities with a central\u00a0lhakhang <\/em>(temple) and separate sleeping quarters.\u00a0 The temple is located at the center of a\u00a0doche<\/em>y (inner courtyard) and on the outside walls are prayer wheels which monks and devotees spin as they circumnabulate the building.\u00a0 Entry to the temple is made through a large wooden door that opens into an assembly hall, called a\u00a0tsokhang<\/em>, which is usually so large that it has rows of pillars to hold the roof and every inch of the walls are decorated in wondrous, intricate paintings depicting the life of Buddha.\u00a0 At the far end of the assembly hall is an elaborately decorated altar (choesham<\/em>) which serves as the focal point of the temple.\u00a0 The two-tiered altar is comprised of an often massive gilded statue flanked by smaller statues and surrounded by lavish carvings depicting dragons, elephants, horses, flowers, leaves, and Buddhas.\u00a0 Various objects of worship are located in front of the altar, including butter lamps and offerings of rice, flowers, water and money.\u00a0 Unfortunately, photography is not allowed within the temples and such a general description as this does little justice to structures which are among the most artistically impressive and absolutely mesmerizing as I have ever seen.<\/p>\n

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At the heart of all things Bhutan- from landscapes to people and architecture to dress- are the principles of Buddhism. To understand Bhutan and its people, it is essential that one possess an appreciation and basic understanding of a religion which dictates nearly aspect of life in the kingdom.\u00a0 One need not be a believer to be impressed by the magnificent temples, towering fortresses, and colorful prayer flags that dot the landscape of Bhutan; but without a basic respect for the faith that dictates the life of every Bhutanese, you need not visit this country.\u00a0 Buddhism is perhaps one of the world\u2019s most accommodating religions and though there is no official religion in the kingdom, if a visit to Bhutan is one thing, it is a study in Buddhism.\u00a0 Even the history of this country is more steeped in fantasies than fact, so be prepared to let your imagination flow and accept the spirit of a country where ghosts, yetis, medicine men, lamas, and evil spirits are a central part of daily life.<\/p>\n

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\nFor many of you, this may be the first time you have even heard of Bhutan.\u00a0 For others, it might be a more detailed description of a place which you have so long dreamed.\u00a0 But for all of us, I hope that this introduction to a small, seemingly insignificant Himalayan kingdom sparks both an interest and curiosity inside you which will carry your mind, and quite possibly your body, to a far-away land where we can all discover how life has been and what life may be.\u00a0 There truly is no place in the world I have yet to discover which could even compare to Bhutan- a kingdom where fantasies become facts and we can all exist in a world of dreams.<\/p>\n

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(Courtesy:\u00a0http:\/\/www.kylehammons.com)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span>Thanks Kyle for the superb pictures and great story telling! Keep clicking~<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Introduction to Bhutan Bhutan.\u00a0 This little-known Himalayan kingdom, nestled between the giants of India and China, is the world\u2019s last remaining Shangri-La.\u00a0 This is an extraordinary country, unlike any on Earth, where traffic lights do not exist, buying cigarettes is illegal, the wrestling channel and MTV are banned, as well as Western-style billboards and plastic … Continue reading Featured Web\/Blog: Introduction to Bhutan – Unbelievable Photographs!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,8,15,16],"tags":[139,140,141,205,213,218,219,254,609,689],"class_list":["post-1170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bhutan-photography-sustainable-travel","category-featured-webblog","category-gross-national-happiness","category-sustainable-travel","category-tourism-bhutan","tag-asia","tag-asia-tourism","tag-asia-travel","tag-bhutan","tag-bhutan-photography","tag-bhutan-tourism","tag-bhutan-travel","tag-bridge-to-bhutan","tag-gross-national-happiness","tag-information-on-bhutan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgetobhutan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}