Discover Bhutan
About Bhutan
Bhutan is one of the most beautiful place which is widely known as the Last Shangri-La of the World. It lies in Himalayas and is significantly blessed with unique culture and tradition. Moreover, its rich biodiversity adds an extra charm to its beauty which would undoubtedly make you feel on cloud nine. Out here, people celebrate different festivals which customarily take place in monasteries and fortresses. Everyone becomes very excited about the day, so much so that they start to prepare beforehand. So on the very day, you will find them in their best attire wherein the women wear colourful kiras while the men wear bright gho. Bhutanese are very humble and sociable people for the very essence of Gross National Happiness resides in every single soul. You will never regret making a visit to this astonishingly beautiful place. Come see us!
Bhutanese Architecture
Bhutanese traditional architecture still remain alive and intact. A royal decree was passed in the 1998 where all buildings must be constructed with multi-colored wood frontages, small arched windows, and sloping roofs.Bhutanese Architecture system has its influence from the Tibetan Architecture. For example, the oldest monastery in Bhutan i.e Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang valley and Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro valley are some of the oldest buildings of Bhutan and were built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who also came to Bhutan from Tibet build so many Dzongs and monasteries, which had a unique design and architecture.
Unique Bhutanese Architecture can be seen in Monasteries, Temples, Chorterns, Building and houses, Bridges, Dzongs ( fortresses) etc are exquisite examples of the craftsmanship of the People of Bhutan
Dzongs (Fortress)
Dzongs are fortresses and is found both in Bhutan and Tibet. In the earlier days, dzongs were built strategically on the mountains top and between the confluences of two rivers to serve as defensive fortresses against the enemy attacks. Many Dzongs in Bhutan were built by the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and dzongs are found in every districts of Bhutan. Dzong also served as the centers of administration, religion and culture and residence to monks living in that Dzong.
Simtokha Dzong in Thimphu, is the oldest Dzong in Bhutan built around 1629.Trongsa Dzong is one of the most beautiful dzongs of all the dzongs and has 20 temples within the Dzong that are remarkable examples of Bhutanese examples.
Population
Bhutan has a population of approximately 700,000 million people as of march 2017 which is roughly 0.01% of the entire world’s populations. Central and western Bhutan is the most populated regions because of temperate weather and fertile land. The southern parts of Bhutan (Phuentsholing and Gelephu) is also densely populated because it has borders with India. As you move in to the northern parts of Bhutan, the population is sparsely scattered due to harsh cold climate.
Dress code
Bhutan has its own traditional dress. Men in Bhutan wear “GHO”, it is a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the “kera” is the national and traditional dress of Bhutan.
Women in Bhutan wear “Kira” is the national dress for women. This traditional dress code is for any public ceremony, official occasion and festivals with only difference in the material, texture and color.
Food and Cuisine
There are various varieties of Bhutanese cuisine because of ethnic diversity.Bhutanses consumes red rice and white rice regularly and the local diet also includes ,beef, red yak meat, beef ,pork, yak meat, chicken, and lamb.“Red Rice” –Bhutanese regularly consumes Red rice which is very nutritious and is grown in higher altitudes.“EMA DATSI” –Ema Dastsi is the most famous Bhutanese traditional cuisine consumed by the Bhutanese on a daily basis. To prepare, Ema Datsi, we need chillies (different varieties which is be dried and fresh chillies are used), pepper and cheese. The cheese which is used here is locally made from the curd of cows or Yaks. “Ema” means “chili” and “Datshi” means “chees”
Language
Bhutan has about nineteen dialects spoken throughout the country. “Dzongkha” is the national and the official language in Bhutan and is spoken by majority of the Bhutanese. There are also other languages spoken widely such as Sharcop kha and Lhotsampa kha etc. Dzongkha is most popular in the west, Sharcops in the east and Lhotsampa kha in the south. Bhutan is a small country but there are many dialects spoken in various parts of the country because of torrential rivers and high mountain, which kept villages isolated from each other for centuries.
The Royal Government of Bhutan is providing free education to all the Bhutanese citizens and as a result, many people can read, write and understand English. The Royal government of Bhutan has made it mandatory for all the all the Bhutanese to read and write Dzongkha and English in schools.
Sports
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan and the sports is played by the Bhutanese on several occasions. Archery is played differently in Bhutan as compared with the internal standards where the two targets are placed 100 meters apart from each other. Bhutanese living in villages and cities organize competition on different festivals and events and enjoy playing the sports. There is also food, drink, singing and dancing during the game.Football-Besides Archery, there are other sports such as football and basketball played and enjoyed by many Bhutanese. Bhutanese national football team played so many international matches against China, India, Qatar, Singapore, Oman, Nepal, Maldives etc. in the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.
Religion
Bhutan has freedom of religion and the official religion in Bhutan is Vajrayana Buddhism. Brought into the country in the 8th century, Buddhism continues to play a fundamental role in the sociological, cultural and ethical development of Bhutan and its population. And majority of the Bhutanese population are Buddhist and practice Buddhism.
“Lowtshampas” the southern Bhutanese, who resides in the southern part of Bhutan practice Hinduism. Before Buddhism was practiced in Bhutan, people practiced different animistic religions including Bon, worship of nature. In some parts of the country these traditions and rituals are still practiced by minority groups. There are also minor Christians’ population in the country. Buddhist,Hindus and Christians live in peace and harmony for centuries.
Buddhist temples, monasteries and stupas are constructed and is found in every places and districts of Bhutan. In Bhutan, monks and nuns have no voting right to vote during the general election as religion is considered above politics and the law does not permit the religious figures to participate in politics. The royal government of Bhutan has registered only Buddhist although all religious organizations are supposed to register with concerned authority created by the Religious Act(2007)