For your soul

For those who love all things spiritual, Bhutan could prove to be your dream destination. The land of monasteries and mountains welcomes you with open arms. Jigme Singye Wangchuck is the current king of the country that is officially called the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Happiness quotient: The Land of the Thunder Dragon measures prosperity by gauging its citizens’ happiness levels, not the GDP. Gross National Happiness (GNH) was designed in an attempt to define an indicator that measures quality of life or social progress in more holistic and psychological terms than only the economic indicator of gross domestic product (GDP). Since 1971, the country has rejected GDP as the only way to measure progress. Locals love indulging in archery, which was  declared as the national sport in 1971, in their free time.

The first stop: If you are travelling by road your first stop will be Phuentsholing.
Indians can stay here without a visa, but you must get your paperwork sorted the next morning. You will need permits to travel to the other cities, so make sure that you have all the required documents. Do visit the Dzong (monastery) in Phuentsholing, before you head out towards Thimphu.

Thimphu, which is the capital of Bhutan and is also the largest state in the kingdom, is truly unique. It the only only capital city in the world with no traffic lights. The capital reflects the culture and tradition of the country and makes for a great place to get a insight into the lives of the people here.

Tiger tales: No, this isn’t about a tiger park. The famous Taktshang Monastery, which is knows as the Tiger’s Nest is one of the most famous places in Bhutan and is devoted to Guru Padmasambhava. The monastery is located about 10 km outside Paro. According to the legend, Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a tigress. An overnight stay at Paro is recommended if you plan to do this trek. Paro is home to Bhutan’s only international airport.

The Divine Mad Monk of Bhutan: The village monastery in Punakha was built in honour of Lama Drukpa Kunley who lived in the 15-16th century and who was popularly known as the “Mad Saint” or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching. The phallus paintings can surprise you, but people come from various parts of the country to be blessed with fertility.

Chillies and Cheese: The nation seems to be obsessed with chillies. In fact, their national dish is Ema Datshi, which is made from chili peppers and cheese. ‘Ema’ means chili and ‘datshi’ means cheese in the Dzongkha language of Bhutan. This extremely spicy concoction is eaten in the country almost daily. For those who don’t like spicy food, this could be a rather difficult experience. So, keep a glass of water handy. 

Locals use chillies of different sorts — green chili, red chili, and/or white chili, which may be dried or fresh. The cheese is made from cow’s or yak’s milk. While making cheese, the fat is used to make butter. The leftover watery milk is often used as a soup that can be eaten with rice. While travelling in Bhutan one must also try Kewa Datshi that is made from potato and cheese, and Shamu Datshi that has mushrooms and cheese.