 Wedged
between India and China, the Kingdom spans an eco-system ranging
from the sub-tropical to the alpine. The population is a little
over half a million, and lives mostly in small villages scattered along
the mountain slopes and valleys.
Since it first came
to Bhutan, Tantric Buddhism has shaped the nation's history, and it plays
a vital role in everyday life.
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This is a country
where religious festivals charge the air. Bhutanese are fiercely proud
of their traditional way of life, from the hand-made robes they wear
(kho) to the religious festivals they attend.
Bhutan has three
regions that are open to visitors. These three regions are distinctly different
due to the prominent north south mountain ranges that separate each area
resulting in different topographical features.
Western Bhutan is
comprised of Paro at 7200 feet, Thimphu at 7500 feet and Punaka and Wangduephodrang
at 4200 feet.
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is blessed with stunning scenery: rice paddies girdle magnificent mountains,
pristine rivers flow through the main towns of Paro, Thimphu and Punaka,
and unique two-story houses with brightly painted window designs dot the
valleys.
Central Bhutan includes
Trongsa and the rich broad valleys of Bumthang including Chumey, Choekhor
Valley, Tang and Ura. It is an ideal area for walking tours, with its broad
valleys and gently sloping hills. Picturesque monasteries and sturdy stone
houses add a quaint charm to the region. Eastern Bhutan includes
Mongar, Trashigang, and Tashiyangtse. The altitude is lower, and forests
are replaced with pretty farming country. The weavers of Eastern Bhutan
are all masters of the supplementary weft-weave technique, and they produce
stunning hand-loomed textiles.
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