Bhutan is the ideal drowsy country beautifully caught at the chain of the Himalayas, between India and China. A powerful country, a place where peace reigns and where a large population cultivates the values of religious and cultural tradition of high mountains, covered with forests, green valleys, small houses built with traditional methods whose technique goes back in time. A trip to Bhutan is the discovery of a world that travels to another speed. There are more pedestrians than cars, it is not uncommon animals to cross your path especially monkeys and there is a lucky chance to see a snow leopard.
Bhutan is just an hour’s flight from Kathmandu and Paro. The first day you might want to pass it between visits to acclimatize from the Monastery of Taskhang Lhakhang (where they filmed The Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci) and for those who are brave enough they can try their skill with the bow or darts that are the two national sports. A paradise for walkers, on the first day it is better to walk only a few hours for you shouldn’t forget that you are at a ‘height of 3,500 m. , Take the main road through green forests and crystal clear streams, the night you sleep in a tent, sleeping so to say, beneath a sky with no artificial lights other than those of the stars.
It’s in the morning that you can enjoy the most beautiful aspect of Bhutan a landscape almost surreal, of mountains with steep slopes spotted with dark green of pines and the pink of the rhododendron, all that from a meadow where you can camp in the valley between the town of Paro and Thimphu . An eerie silence, as if to teach you to feel again, the sound of a stream will lead you to a small mill village, which is grinding the wheat. The village houses are small wooden carved with decorated windows, the balconies are full of flowers, the farmers are busy in daily chores such as milking the cows, mounting the butter by hand, weaving yarn, barley, and distilling the preparation of a pasta with buckwheat flour.
Walking along the road to Thimphu, you can hear the sound of melodic singing of prayers convents come dzongs the fortress-which are also administrative centers in the area. They are a religious and historical memory for the country, of which the paintings, authentic masterpieces are decorated with the dense presence of monks, especially young people. You will be welcomed by the boys on their last year, those who must decide between life in the convent or the life out of the convent. It is customary in all families to send their children to the monastery, hoping to become at least a monaco and despite the recent modernization, the life of the people in Bhutan has not changed but followes the same rhythm for centuries.
In Bhuthan there exist no dates, and time is measured in days and seasons, in each house there is an altar for prayer, in all the tops of the mountains there are multi-colored flags, votive prayers, which refer to Buddhism as a religion, and governs the way of living of its inhabitants, followed by a branch of bhudhanesi buddhuismo called “Drupka Kagyu” that a legend was born from a monaco escaped from Tibet, Guru Rinpoche. The mountains around Thimphu is home to nomadic tribes, horse moving and yak breed, derived cheese from milk, their only source of livelihood. They are very polite and often happen to be invited for a break in their tents.
Thimphu is the only city in the world without traffic lights, indeed one was there but they had to remove it because it was confusing. On Friday morning there is a market. A country that has only recently opened to tourism in a development-oriented and respect for man, environment, religion and culture of the country, projected into the future, newly arrived in recent years, hospitals, postal system and schools. It ‘a paradise, I do not know how much this small country will survive but I hope to remain so for ever because apart from its natural beauty, it is a country where wealth is not measured by possessions or gold that a person may have, but rather by the degree of happiness with it….. In fact, in this country, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is operated in all countries on an international basis is replaced by Gross National Happiness (GNH). And several years ago, the Bhutanese King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, began to apply this idea already in operation, and which have created a national commission to quantify the Gross Happiness of the Country. Let’s be happy for them and with them!!!
By Ina K
