Bhutan: Making A Sacred Tour Of The ‘Happiness Place’

By Saraswathi Muniappan THIMPU (Bhutan), Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Bhutan, the only country in the world that acknowledges the ‘happiness of its citizens’ as a benchmark for progress is a paradise for visiting tourists who admire its natural and placid surroundings. The kingdom of Bhutan, which is landlocked by its neighbours India and China, is also home to numerous worship places of the Mahayana Buddhist sect, and attracts many pilgrims as well. A trip to Bhutan, regardless of the purpose of the visit, is capable of exhilarating anyone right from the point where the plane takes off. Druk Air, the only airline that flies into Bhutan, offers no in-flight entertainment but this shortcoming is more than compensated by the spectacular views of the Himalayas, the Mount Everest and the Chomolhari during the flight. Druk Air’s friendly pilots help the passengers identify the mountains and even offer brief background information on the respective mountains. The spectacular flight views allow the passengers to remain fixated on the magnificent views outside, pretty much till the landing announcement is made. For those arriving in the country for the first time, the descent can be daunting as the pilots skillfully maneuver the plane through the numerous mountains that fortify the country. What adds to the anxiety is the fact that the Paro International Airport sits at an elevation of about 18,000 feet (about 6,000 metres) above the seal level, and is one of the world’s most challenging airports to land in and where pilots have to strictly follow all visual flight rules. Once they are landed safely on terra firma, passengers are bound to heave a sigh of relief. A COUNTRY OF NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan is located an hour away from the Paro International Airport, and the journey to the city takes you through long winding roads. The chilly weather coupled with views of farmhouses and meadows dotting the landscape, provide a wonderful panorama throughout the journey. Despite being the capital, Thimphu is surrounded by mountains that are 6,600 to 12,500 feet high, and is a quiet and laidback city with just a few hotels and shops. Visitors from the developed world will be happy to note that Bhutan has no traffic lights, at least not yet, since traffic control is a non-issue for the city. Bhutan, with its population of slightly over 700,000 people, remained isolated from the world until recently, as its residents guard their traditions and customs zealously. Although, most locals and especially school going children are mostly clad in traditional garb, foreign influences in dress and culture seem to have permeated Bhutan. "Five years ago, it was rare to see Bhutanese wearing western cloths, but now the majority of teenagers are shedding their traditional cloths for jeans and t-shirts, and western food such as their preference for pizza over Bhutanese food," said a local resident. However, other than it being the capital city and a wonderful place to visit, there is nothing much to do or see in Thimphu, other than taking a peaceful evening stroll. TAKTSHANG, DOCHULA AND PUNAKHA Taktshang, a Budhist monastery built in 1692, which is commonly known as the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ is one of the main attractions in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Perched precariously on a precipitous cliff and at a height of 3,120 meters above the sea level, and towards the north of the town of Paro, a trip to this monastery serves as a test of physical endurance. Horse rides that take you up to the monastery are available for Rs.900 (US$16.24), as the Bhutanese currency ‘Ngultrum’ is pegged with the Indian Rupee. The guide will give you some basic lessons before starting the journey, such as ‘when the horse goes uphill you bend forward’ or ‘when it goes downhill you lean behind’, etc. However, for a novice this ride can turn out to be a frightening experience, especially if your horse turns suddenly towards the edge of the cliff to graze on some grass. The horse ride only covers the first half of the journey, as the second half, which is even more difficult, involves climbing around 750 narrow and steep steps. It takes between three to five hours for the whole trip, but for those that do manage to reach the monastery, be prepared to be mesmerized by the breathtaking view. THE PANORAMA OF DOCHULA PASS The Dochula pass is located en route to Punakha from Thimphu. The pass is popular among tourists as its passage provides a 360 degree panoramic view of the Himalayan range on a clear day. The beauty of this place is further enhanced by the Druk Wangyal Chortens, literally translated as the ‘108 stupas’, which were built by the eldest Queen Mother Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. The pass is also a popular spiritual destination both for locals and tourists, because an important place of worship is located on the crest of Dochula pass, and thanks to the easy access to this spot via a road that leads right up to the end, no hiking needed here, it is wonderful to walk around the place. Punakha, where the Palace of Great Happiness or ‘Pungthang Dewachen Phodrang’ is situated, and where most of the major events take place. While visiting Punakha, tourists are able to see medieval warriors dressed in their battle gear, retelling the stories of old wars with their enemies. Although it is located only at a distance of 72 kilometers from Thimphu, the journey takes around three hours owing to the bumpy and narrow roads. The Mask Dance of the Drums or ‘Drametse Ngacham,’ is a sacred, cultural and religious dance and should not to be missed. During the performance, dancers are fully clad in monastic robes and wooden masks, which feature real and mythical animals. In November 2005, the UNESCO proclaimed the dance as a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.’ HAPPINESS IS A PLACE It is not surprising then, that out of a total of 65,756 visitors that came to Bhutan in 2011, a significant number were above 60 years old, as Bhutan is an expensive place to visit. "We want rich old people to visit who will really want to appreciate and admire our country and also don’t have the capacity to do any real damage to our culture and environment," Prime Minister Jigme Y.Thinley told Bernama. As far as tourism is concerned, Bhutan only wants high value and low impact tourism. "We can’t see our environment suffering on account of various social issues," Jigme said, adding that Bhutan is striving to develop and maintain its culture and traditions at the same time. To achieve that end, Bhutan has started a rating system for its hotels. Unless hotels have a certain score they are not allowed to book tourists and that is the only way to sustain high-end tourism, Jigme pointed out. Bhutan has become famous in recent years for its economic growth yardstick, which is the Gross National Happiness Index. The Tourism Council of Bhutan also promotes the country with the tagline ‘Happiness Is A Place’. Whether a traveler finds happiness in this tiny nation or not depends very much on what he or she is seeking, but Bhutan is sure to cast a spell on anyone with its pristine beauty and rich cultural legacy. (1 Indian rupee = US$0.018) -- BERNAMA