Bhutan Tours

Bhutan is known for its stunning scenery with rice paddies adorning the sides of magnificent mountains, pristine rivers that flow through the main towns of Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, and unique two-story houses with brightly painted window designs. Below are described the main areas of Western Bhutan. Although the interiors of some temples, monasteries and Dzongs [fortresses] are forbidden to foreign travelers at present, the tourists can still get a good insight into the unique cultural heritage of the Kingdom. The closure of religious institutions is to ensure that monastic life can continue unhindered. Bhutan is the only country in the world to retain the Vajrayana form of Mahayana Buddhism as its main religion. The Buddhist faith has played a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical, and sociological development of Bhutan and its people. Annual festivals (Tsechus and Dromchoes) are spiritual occasions in each district. The Dzongs, fortresses built in every district during the Middle Ages, function as the centre of both religious and secular activities, where the district monk body practices their faith. The dzongs remain closed most of the time to preserve the kingdom's religious environment, and are open to visitors only during festival time. Chortens (Stupas) are common throughout the kingdom and they ward off evil spirits and protect from imminent danger. They represent the mind of Buddha symbolically and remind people of the possibility and the path of enlightenment. Even more common are the prayer flags strung across mountain slopes, bridges, and high passes. Transmitting prayers to the Gods and keeping up a constant communication with the heavens, prayer flags fluttering in the wind are a simple reminder of the clarity of the Buddhist faith.