Thunder Dragon: Adventures in BhutanIt was a rocky little plane that takes us into Bhutan, but it strength as well has been one of the nation’s eponymous thunder dragons. I’ll never disregard the way the scenery looked from above: the colorful, tiered houses increasing like paper lanterns out of the fog and the splendid blue pines crowning each hill side mountain ridge. One of my guy American students twisted to the pleasant-looking central point aged woman sitting next to her and said in disbelief, “You live here?” The woman smiled a bashful but deeply warm beam that I would come to be familiar with as distinctly Bhutanese and nodded, pleased by our charm.

I hadn’t heard much about Bhutan before I decided to study abroad. it turned out, neither had most people: only once or twice did I tell someone where I was headed and hear anything other than “Bhutan? Where’s that?” Bhutan is a small country, about the size of Ohio, situated between China and India. Known for its concept of “Gross National Happiness,” it’s also the only country to declare itself 100% organic, and — interestingly enough — the only country in the world without a single traffic light, even in its capital. (In case you were wondering, traffic in Paro is directed by an enthusiastic and extremely well-dressed traffic cop.)

For the foremost week of our stay, we traveled the state in a giant bus that careened around the heart stopping curves of Bhutan’s slender and mountainous highways with shocking speed, honking when it accepted another means of transportation or a group of grinning children playing in the potholes. We visited museums and temples, holy sites and wildlife preserves. We sightseeing and meet Bhutan’s national wild animal, the taken, a modest creature that appears to have resulted from the union of a moose and Schnauzer.

We went to stupas where little old women sat revolving prayer wheels and chanting, indifferent for hours. We visited a dress shop, somewhere each of us was prepared with conventional Bhutanese garb: for the women it was kiras, a kind of embellished jacket paired with an unbearably tight wrap skirt. (I never did quite learn the trick of tie these, which didn’t confirm to be a problem, as there were forever chuckling Bhutanese women around to drag you into a corner, half-undress you, and re-tie your skirt correctly.)

The mainstream of our program was spent at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment, which was once the first king’s summer palace. Bhutan is a lawful monarchy, a fresh development after centuries of absolute monarchy.

The story of how this came about is almost unbelievable: the king declared that the people should have more power in the decision of their nation, and called for an end to the complete monarchy; the citizens of Bhutan, though, were troubled by this change, being fervently loyal to the royal institution. Because of this high regard,

the royal family continues to exist essentially as a figurehead even as the government moves in the direction of a more democratic approach. It’s hard to overestimate the passion with which the Bhutanese people feel affection for their king; it makes the U.K.’s fascination with William and Kate look half-hearted at best. In Bhutan, happiness is a priority.

Children in customary clothes share a laugh.

One of our most charming meadow trips was to the temple of Drukpa Kunley, the “fertility saint” privileged throughout the country with likeness of his holy symbol: a phallus. Walk from side to side any shy, conservative Bhutanese village and you’ll see this sign painted on numerous homes and storefronts, often adorned with facial appearance or wings. Bhutan, like so many places, is a country of contradictions.

Innumerable moments during my stay in Bhutan caused me to discontinue in my tracks and marvel at the loveliness of the land and its citizens, whether it was the sight of frayed prayer flags fluttering like ghosts through the vegetation or the plump, beaming smile of a Bhutanese toddler is wobbling in a duster sized kira. Like the rest of the planet, Bhutan is hurtling in the course of an unknown future – but for its people and for me, I hope that Bhutan’s promise to the preservation of its culture and its resources persists.

If You Travel to Bhutan

Tiger’s Nest Temple

Don’t miss the Tiger’s Nest Temple sightseeing. This memorable breathtaking site nestled on the hill mountainside in an delicate forest. Legend has it that the sacred man Guru Rinpoche once flew there on the back of a tigress. if not you have similar powers, it’s a vigorous hike – but well worth the effort and Also Thimphu Paro Tour.

The Tiger's Nest can be reached by hiking.

The Tiger’s Nest is well worth the hike desirable to get there.

Click To Book Bhutan Honeymoon Packages.

Visiting Chimi Lhakhang

The temple of the “Divine Madman” Drukpa Kunley, this is an idiosyncratic and mesmerizing celebration of both fertility and illumination. While the ubiquitous phallus cipher is not for the prudish, you won’t see no matter which more graphic than you would in an anatomy textbook.

For Bhutan Tour Packages Visit Travel Agents in India – Swan Tours