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Travelling: Buthan - Land of the Thunder Dragon |
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| Bhutan - Land of The Thunder Dragon |
| Nestled in the Himalayas between Tibet and India’s Assam Plain lies the ancient mountain Kingdom of Bhutan. For many centuries, the outside world had no name for this fiercely independent land. The Tibetan chroniclers of old referred to it by names such as “The Southern Valley of Medicinal Herbs”, “Hidden Holy Land”, and “The Lotus Garden of the Gods”. However, the Bhutanese had a name for their own land, which they still use today; Druk Yul or “The Kingdom of the Hidden Thunder”.
The Country
Bhutan is as large as Switzerland and is the world’s only Buddhist Kingdom. The Indian saint Padma Sambhava introduced Buddhism to the region around the 7th century AD. In the centuries that followed, Buddhism grew and was embraced by a large sector of the indigenous population. Today, Bhutan is the only country in the world to retain the Tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism as its official religion.
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Best Time To Visit
October and November would be the best times to visit Bhutan as the major festivals occur during these months. In terms of climate, autumn, which starts around late September and end in late November, would be the ideal season. The monsoon season occurs from June to August and it is advisable not to visit the country during this period.
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The Festivals
The festivals in Bhutan are colourful and joyous affairs. They are also very important to the Bhutanese and are an essential part of their lives. The festivals, or tsechus, consist of dancing and music. The festivities can last between two to five days. During these tsechus, the valley dwellers and townsfolk dress in their finest clothes and gather at the various venues, which are normally cobbled courtyards of the Dzongs or Fortresses. Both the monks and lay people usually perform the dances. The dancers adorn themselves with colourful costumes and intricate masks and re-enact Buddhist allegorical plays. Some even involve the brandishing of weapons such as swords. Most of the dances date back from before the middle ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its own spiritual importance and significance
Festivals are held to exorcise evil spirits or in thanksgiving to the harvest. Certain festivals end with the unveiling and worship of huge religious appliqu�s or throngdrels. The moment of the unveiling is shrouded in secrecy and creates great excitement among all the participants.
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Getting There
The only airport, at Paro, is in regular use. Druk Air, the national carrier, is linked to five cities in four countries. There are three flights a week from Bangkok and Calcutta, two flights a week from New Delhi and Kathmandu and one flight a week from Dhaka. |
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