Bhutan(edited) - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PDF

Preview

Summary

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...

Description

N o 1.

Country: Bhutan

2.

Why(speciality): Bhutan is no ordinary place. It is the last great Himalayan kingdom, shrouded in mystery and magic, where a traditional Buddhist culture carefully embraces global developments. It is is known for its natural beauty, forest conservation, gross national happiness, great culture & heritage and biodiversity. a)Low Volume, High Value Tourism – An expensive destination, but offers great travel deals. The Bhutanese pride themselves on a sustainable approach to tourism in line with the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Foreign visitors famously pay a minimum tariff of US$250 per day, making it seem one of the world's more expensive destinations. However, this fee is all-inclusive – accommodation, food, transport and an official guide are all provided, so it's not a bad deal. You don't have to travel in a large group and you can arrange your own itinerary. What you won't find is budget independent travel. b) Surprising Bhutan – A an extraordinary blend of ancient and modern times. Bhutan is like nowhere else. This is a country where the rice is red and where chillies aren't just a seasoning but the main ingredient. It's also a deeply Buddhist land, where monks check their smartphones after performing a divination, and where giant protective penises are painted at the entrance to many houses. Yet while it proudly prioritises its Buddhist traditions, Bhutan is not a land frozen in time. You will find the Bhutanese well educated, fun loving and very well informed about the world around them. It's this blending of the ancient and modern that makes Bhutan endlessly fascinating. c)Seems to be the last Shangri-La? - Shangri-La is known to be a fictional earthly paradise, that’s exactly how Bhutan is described as. So why spend your hard-earned money to come here? Firstly, there is the pristine eastern Himalayan landscape, where snow-capped peaks rise above primeval forests and beautiful traditional villages. To this picture-book landscape add majestic fortress-like dzongs and monasteries, many of which act as a stage for spectacular tsechus (dance festivals) attended by an almost medieval-looking audience. Then there are the textiles and handicrafts, outrageous archery competitions, high-altitude trekking trails, and stunning flora and fauna. If it's not 'Shangri-La', it's as close as it gets. d) An Environmental Model- It covers 72% forest area of the country which is one of the large biodiversity places in the world. Environmental protection goes hand in hand with cultural preservation in Bhutan. By law, at least 60% of the country must remain forested for all future generations; it currently stands above 70%. Not only is Bhutan carbon neutral, but it actually absorbs more carbon than it emits! For the visitor, this translates into lovely forest hikes and superb birding across a chain of national parks. Whether you are spotting takins or blue poppies, trekking beneath 7000m peaks or strolling across hillsides ablaze with spring rhododendron blooms, Bhutan offers one of the last pristine pockets in the entire Himalaya.

3.

Place of interests: a) Punakha Dzong, Punakha & Khuruthang

Punakha Dzong is arguably the most beautiful dzong in the country, especially in spring when the lilac-coloured jacaranda trees bring a lush sensuality to the dzong's characteristically towering whitewashed walls. This dzong was the second to be built in Bhutan and it served as the capital and seat of government until the mid-1950s. All of Bhutan's kings have been crowned here. The dzong is still the winter residence of the dratshang (official monk body) b) Trashi Chho Dzong, Thimphu This splendid dzong, north of the city on the west bank of the Wang Chhu, dominates the valley, looking out over a cascade of terraced fields. It's Thimphu's grandest building by far, and served as the official seat of the Druk Desi, the head of the secular government that shared power with the religious authorities, from the 18th to the 19th centuries. The dzong was the site of the lavish formal coronation of the fifth king in 2008. c) Taktshang Goemba, Taktshang The 'Tiger's Nest Monastery' is one of the Himalaya's most incredible sites, miraculously perched on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the floor of the Paro valley. Visiting is the goal of most visitors to Bhutan and while getting there involves a bit of uphill legwork, it's well worth the effort. The monastery is a sacred site, so act with respect, removing your shoes and hat before entering any chapels. d) Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa This commanding dzong, high above the roaring Mangde Chhu, is perhaps the most spectacularly sited dzong in Bhutan, with a sheer drop to the south that often just disappears into cloud and mist. The rambling assemblage of buildings that comprises the dzong trails down the ridge and is connected by a succession of alley-like corridors, wide stone stairs and beautiful paved courtyards. The southernmost part of the dzong, Chorten Lhakhang, is the location of the first hermitage, built in 1543. e) Kyichu Lhakhang, Kyichu Lhakhang Kyichu Lhakhang is one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples. The main chapel has roots as far back as the 7th century, with additional buildings and a golden roof added in 1839 by the penlop (governor) of Paro and the 25th Je Khenpo. Elderly pilgrims constantly shuffle around the temple spinning its many prayer wheels, making this one of the most charming spots in the Paro valley. Entry is free to foreign tourists since they are paying their daily tariff. f) Changangkha Lhakhang, Thimphu This traditional Bhutanese temple perched like a fortress on a ridge above central Thimphu hums with pilgrim activity. It was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drukgom Shigpo, originally from Ralung in Tibet. Parents come here to get auspicious names for their newborns or blessings for their young children from the protector deity Tamdrin (to the left in the grilled inner sanctum). Children are blessed by a phurba (ritual dagger) and given a sacred thread. g) National Textile Museum, Thimphu Thimphu's best museum is part of the Royal Textile Academy. It features a stunning display of ancient and modern textiles, and explores the rich traditions of Bhutan's national arts of thagzo (weaving) and tshemzo (embroidery). The ground floor focuses on royal ghos, including the wedding clothes worn by the fourth king and his four wives. The upper floor introduces the major weaving techniques, styles of local dress and types of textiles made by women and men. No photography is allowed. h) Paro Dzong, Paro Paro Dzong ranks as a high point of Bhutanese architecture. The massive buttressed walls that tower over the town are visible throughout the valley, especially when

floodlit at night. It was formerly the meeting hall for the National Assembly and now, like most dzongs, houses both the monastic body and district government offices, including the local courts. Most of the chapels are closed to tourists but it's worth a visit for its stunning architecture and views. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/bhutan

4. Food: 1. Ema Datshi - Stew made of Chillies and Cheese 'Datshi' in the Bhutanese language of Dzongkha means 'cheese', which is what they use in a number of dishes, the most popular being Ema Datshi which is like a stew made from chillies and cheese ('Ema' means chillies) and might prove to be too spicy for some. Being the national dish of Bhutan, it is unarguably the most popular dish in the country, and any discussion about Bhutanese food cannot go without the mention of Ema Datshi. 2. Red Rice - Staple Food of Bhutan Except for the Bumthang region where buckwheat food items are more popular, red rice is one of the staple foods of the Bhutanese people. It is a medium-grain variety of rice that is grown in the Kingdom in the Eastern Himalayas. It has been grown for a number of years in the fertile soil of the Paro Valley which receives the benefit of mineral-rich glacier water. It cooks faster than other rice varieties because it is only partially milled, i.e. some of the bran is left on the rice and after being cooked acquires a reddish-brown tinge. 3. Jasha Maroo or Maru - Spicy Chicken Stew or Curry Another dish worth tasting would be the Jasha Maroo which is like a spicy stew or curry which is made with diced chicken, onion, garlic, chillies, tomato, ginger and coriander leaves. Ginger gives this dish its essence. It may be served with a generous portion of chicken broth. Beef may also be used in place of chicken. This is usually served with red rice as it is in case of most Bhutanese dishes. 4. Phaksha Paa - Pork with Red Chilies Paa is a curry with gravy or a meaty stew. Phaksha Paa highlights another favourite item of the Bhutanese people - pork. This dish is made of pork slices stir-fried with whole red dry chillies (yet another spicy dish), ginger and Bok Choy. Bok Choy is also known as White Mustard Cabbage or Pak Choy and is peppery to taste and has a celery-like stalk with dark leaves. It is used not only in stews like this but also in fresh salads. Mountain vegetables such as radishes and spinach may also be added in Phaksha Paa. This is often eaten along with rice and Datshi dishes. 5. Suja - Bhutanese Butter Tea Tea is frequently consumed in Bhutan but is a little different. What the locals mostly indulge in is butter tea, also known as Suja or Po Cha or Goor Goor which is usually served after meals and is found to be quite comforting in the cold weather. Fermented yak butter is made from fresh yak milk. This butter is then boiled along with tea leaves and water. It is a frothy drink that tastes more like butter than tea, and its salty taste might surprise some. Butter tea is also relished in Tibet and parts of Nepal as well. Suja can also be made with cow's butter. 6. Ara - Traditional Alcoholic Beverage Ara (or Arag) is the traditional alcoholic beverage in Bhutan. It is made by

fermenting or distilling rice, wheat, maize, millet, barley or buckwheat and is usually creamy, whitish or clear in appearance. It has a very strong smell and taste. Sometimes Ara is also heated with butter and eggs to make it a more wholesome beverage. There are also other drinks like Banchang and Sinchang which are made by fermenting grains with homemade yeast. Sinchang is a cool drink whereas Banchang is a hot drink. 7. Zow Shungo - Veggie Dish As the term, Zow - which means splendid suggests, this dish is a popular favourite among the Bhutanese cuisine. It is made from leftover vegetables and red rice and can be prepared quickly and easily. It is a healthy option and one which ensures that you do not have to throw away any leftover veggies. 8. Jaju Soup - Traditional Bhutanese Soup Jaju is a traditional Bhutanese soup, generally served along with other dishes as a side. It is made up of green leafy vegetables like local spinach, or even turnips. The broth is prepared with milk and butter. Sometimes, cheese is also added to the preparation to make it heartier, and tastier. 9. Jasha Tshoem - Spicy Stew Jasha Tshoem is a spicy Bhutanese stew prepared with beef and flavoured up with ginger-garlic, onions, chilli pepper and sometimes mushrooms. 10. Khur-le - Buckwheat Pancake Khur-le is a traditional hearty Bhutanese breakfast, ideal for cold climates. It is a pancake made out of buckwheat, barley or wheat flour. It serves as a good combination of other Bhutanese dishes like ema or shakam datshi, or with eggs and sauces. 11. Puta - Buckwheat Noodles Puta is a type of traditional Bhutanese noodles. They are a healthy alternative to the regular noodles, as they are made from buckwheat. They are generally served boiled, but can also be stir-fried in oil. They can be spiced up by adding different sauces and sauteed vegetables. Serving as an alternative to rice, buckwheat noodles serve as one of the staple foods in Bhutan. 12. Momos - All the way from Tibet Having migrated from Tibet and Bhutan to many regions of India, especially north India - momos have firmly established themselves as one of the most popular street foods, and give serious competition to the likes of chaats and vadapaavs, the traditional Indian street favourites. Bhutan serves some extremely tasty options for this snack. These steaming hot dumplings have a variety of stuffings including minced beef, pork and other meats, as well as vegetables like cabbage. Cheese momos, mixed with spices, are also a popular option. Apart from the steamed varieties, there are deeply fried momos as well. They are eaten with hot chilli sauces called ezay. 13. Hoentay - Fried Momos An alternative to the famous dish of momos, Hoentay originates from the Haa Valley of Bhutan. They are made from the Bhutanese buckwheat and are steamed or fried with different stuffings of green leafy vegetables, cheese and meat. They are also served with the Bhutanese chilli sauce ezay. 14. Khatem - Fried Bitter Gourd Khatem is a preparation of bitter melon or bitter gourd, generally the Indian variety. It is sliced up thinly and fried in butter, and seasoned. It is a tasty snack for all times.

https://www.holidify.com/pages/food-of-bhutan-333.html

5. Religion: Buddhism The official religion in Bhutan is Vajrayana Buddhism. Bhutan is a Buddhist country by constitution and Buddhism plays a vital role in the country. Buddhism is the cultural heritage of Bhutan and its people's identity as well. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the King. Approximately 75 percent of the population of 770,000 follow either the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school, the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism or another school of Buddhism. The remaining 25 percent, mainly Lhotshampas, practice Hinduism Language: Dzongkha Dzongkha, or Bhutanese ( རརརརརརར [dzoŋkʰ a]), is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by over half a million people in Bhutan; it is the sole official and national language of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Tibetan alphabet is used to write Dzongkha. Currency: Bhutanese ngultrum The ngultrum (Dzongkha: རརརརརརརར [ŋýˈʈ úm], symbol: Nu., code: BTN) is the currency of the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is subdivided into 100 chhertum (Dzongkha: རརརརརརར [ptɕʰɛˈ tám], spelled as chetrums on coins until 1979). The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan is the minting authority of the Ngultrum banknotes and coins. The Ngultrum is currently pegged to the Indian rupee at parity. Culture: a)Behavioral Code of Bhutan Bhutan has a formalized dress code and a behavioral code named Driglam Namzha. This code explains how citizens of Bhutan dress and behave in formalized public places. Incidentally, the word Driglam means “discipline, regimentation, order and customs” while namzha means “the system”. Overall, the composite term means the rule for discipline in behavior. Since 1990 all citizens of Bhutan were supposed to follow the Driglam Namzha. I heard a rather unpleasant story about the Lhotsampas (citizens of Bhutan of Nepali origin) who had revolted against this imposition of the Driglam and hence got thrown out of Bhutan into refugee settlements. Currently, about 20% of Bhutan’s citizens live in Exile because of the rigorous implementation of the behavioural code and persecution of people who refused to follow that code. This was a coordinated political and administrative movement called “Bhutanisation”. b) Dress Code Bhutanese men are supposed to be dressed in knee length robes with a belt (called a Gho) while women wear colorful blouses with a largish rectangular cloth tied around them (called a Kira) along with a brightly colored jacket. This is the dress code for any official occasion, public ceremony and festival with the only variation being the colour, texture and material of the dresses. People: As of March 2017, the population of Bhutan is 789,936 based on the estimates given by United Nations. This is roughly 0.01% of the total population of the world. And Bhutan holds the rank 164 in the list of most populated countries.

The total area of land in Bhutan is 38,063 km sq and the density of population is 21 per km sq. about 40.3% of the population lives in urban areas and the median age is quite low (27.2 years). The most sparsely populated areas of Bhutan are the rugged and severely cold greater Himalayan region and the arid tracts that border the Duars Plain. The two most populated areas of Bhutan are central and western Bhutan which are fertile and see relatively temperate climate. The south west part of the country (near Indian border) is also densely populated. The most populated Dzonkhangs in Bhutan are Thimphu, Chukha, Sarpang, Paro and Phuntsheoling while Gasa is one of the least populated Dzonkhangs. Gender parity exists in the traditional Bhutanese society except for a few gender fixed roles. A common example of gender field roles is the man working as a cloth maker and the woman as a weaver. Surprisingly, in the villages both men and women earn while in bigger towns and cities the man is the bread earner and the woman the homemaker. Love marriages are quite common and marriages are registered officially (and somewhat involuntarily) when the couple has lived together for a period exceeding 6 months. Divorce is not uncommon and is not a taboo topic. Our taxi driver informed me on my journey from Paro to Thimphu that he was getting divorced from his wife and I couldn’t detect any discomfort in his attitude!! There is a lot of focus on education and education is free in Government schools till the higher secondary level after which the students are given full or partial scholarships depending upon their merit. There is little or no gender disparity when it comes to education. https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_0001c2.htm...