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ESSENCY BUDDHIST BHUTAN
AN INTACT TRADITIONAL CULTURE HERITAGE OF VALUES

Discovery

This discrete and secret country, hidden in the mountains of the Eastern Himalayas, is for much a mythical destination. The kingdom indeed did everything to preserve and protect the Bhutanese culture and traditions. For those which choose to venture in this ignored destination and which are not too demanding in terms of hotel infrastructures, the country has to offer much. The visitors will be able to hike indeed there in imposing landscapes of mountains with Paro or Bush-hammered, to impregnate religion and Buddhist traditions in the many temples and monasteries, to admire the remarkable architecture of the famous dzongs (these fortresses, sits of the administrative and religious power of the districts), and to let themselves touch by the heat and the hospitality of the inhabitants.

Identity

Wedged between India in the south and China (autonomous region of Tibet) in north, Bhutan is composed of a narrow band of plains in its southernmost part, and gains in altitude while going up towards north with Himalayan tops of more than 7,000 meter altitudes. Bhutan was unified at the beginning of the 17th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) equipping it with a strongly impregnated administration and a legislation of the Buddhist religion. At the 18th century, the British Empire installed in India seeks to extend in Bhutan by annexing the area from Duars, the plains of the south of the country. In 1865, the two countries sign the treaty of Sinchula by which Bhutan agrees to yield Duarsau Raj Britannique in return for an annual payment on behalf of the English. Three years later, Bhutan signed a second agreement with the British Empire attesting that the United Kingdom would not interfere any more in the internal policy of Bhutan but would manage its foreign politics.

King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, arrived at the power in 1974, founded many democratic reforms, the opening of the country on television and to Internet in 1999, and the passage of an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 2005. He focussed during all his reign on the concept of National Happiness Gross (BNB), aiming at opening Bhutan with the modern world while preserving the cultures and the Bhutanese traditions of globalization, for the wellness of the people.

Culture & Traditions

BUDDHISM

In Bhutan, Buddhism is much more than one religion, it acts of a state of mind. The principles resulting from this religion are in keeping with the values granted to peace. Buddhism preaches indeed as well non-violence as the compassion. A stay in Bhutan will make you understand at which point these values are respected.

FESTIVALS

Monks or not, the festivals occupy an important place in the heart of the Bhutaneses. If you are likely to attend the one of the local festivals, you will see of the Bhutaneses equipped with traditional costumes devoting to traditional songs and dances. Most known are those of Wandgue, Paro and Thimphu Tsechu. Besides being a festival, they are a Buddhist means of teaching and the occasion of enormous gatherings.

NATURE

Hidden in the mountains, Bhutan is a very preserved and authentic destination still. Between green valleys, mountains and rice plantations, this country will offer to you an idyllic framework for exceptional excursions. You will be able to admire the valley of Paro which is characterized by its fertile rice plantations, which are irrigated by crystalline water of the river which crosses it. You will join then Central Bhutan to admire the wonders of the National park of Black Mountains in the valley of Phobjika.Tant of natural beauties gathered in only one country.

RELIEVING

Country of Buddhism and the spiritual retirement, Bhutan proposes to the travellers several structures to be released. Different lodges from the country is devoted to the relaxation. The travellers in search of spirituality and of calm will be able to live a new experiment Zen with the Kingdom of the dragon. A true return to the source, an occasion to find you only vis-a-vis you even.

Essential

15°-20° SUMMER / 10° WINTER

Ngultrum

+5h SUMMER/ +4h WINTER

LE DZONGKHA

Thimphu

L'EMADATSI

Form your trip

The stages

Bhutan, nested on the Himalayan slopes, is a ground of mysteries, the country having known to protect its environment and to preserve its traditions. A customized trip to Bhutan is put rhythm into by the Buddhist beliefs, that is to say a humble lifestyle and a specific architecture with monasteries and temples. Himalayan forests, pastures, valleys and tops constitute the environment of your circuit in Bhutan. The valleys of Thimphu and Paro, the crowned mountain of Chomolhari which culminates to 7315 m, the national park of Pirin, the nature reserve of Srebarna and the jungle of the South associate the interest of nature and the visit of the monasteries.

PARO
PUNAKHA
THIMPHU
VALLEY OF PHOBJIKA
BHUMTANG
TRASHIGANG
SAKTENG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
LAYA

PARO

Paro is a small town of Bhutan, sheltering nearly 15,000 inhabitants and having the single airport of the country. Located at 2,250 meter altitudes, Paro is the historic center and cultural of Bhutan. The city has indeed many temples and exceptional monasteries. The monastery of Taktshang, place of pilgrimage universally known, the fort of Rinpung Dzong called also the “fortress of the banked up jewels” or the Buddhist temple of Kyichu Lhakhang, are as many monuments impossible to circumvent to discover. The city is located within an incredible environment: a valley, incredibly fertile and favourable with the culture of rice, overhung by many mountains of which the Chomolhari mount with 7,300 meter altitudes.

PUNAKHA

City with hillside, Punakha shelters splendid a dzong, term indicating the principal monastery of a district also lodging the administrative services of the country; formerly winter residence of the royal government, this impressive fortress is used today as shelter with the monastic power during the rigorous winter month. Dating from the 17th century, it was built on a spit of land to the confluence of two rivers, fallen Pho and fallen Mo, strategic place offering a perfect sight on the three valleys. It has the aspect of an immense ship. The climate allowed the development of a luxuriant and varied vegetation, with in spring the flowering of giant rhododendrons.

THIMPHU

Brood in the middle of the Himalayas, the capital of the “Country of the Dragon Thunder” is with more than 2,300 meter altitudes and shelters approximately 80,000 inhabitants. This city is crossed by the river of Raidak and offer a juxtaposition between the old one and the modern one. The travellers will not fail to discover imposing it Buddhist monastery of Tashichho Dzong, the museum of the Folklore and the Textile, the reserve of takins (animal emblematic of Bhutan) of Motithang or the national library. Lastly, the main street (called Norzin Lam) is the ideal place for a walk with its restaurants, its coffees and its artisanal shops.

VALLEY OF PHOBJIKA

Located on the western slope of the Black Mountains, the valley of Phobjika is animalist impossible to circumvent concerning its cranes with neck black, very rare, which gather there each winter; the crane occupies an important place in the Bhutanese culture. Other animals live in this valley refrigerator, like the muntjacs, the bears and the black bears of the Himalayas, the sambars, the leopards or the foxes russet-red. The crossing of this valley makes it possible to discover many traditional hamlets and very beautiful forests. It also shelters the monastery of Gangteng, where in November the “Tsechu of the cranes is held”, a festival symbolic system.

BHUMTANG

Bumthang is one of the 20 districts (or dzongkhags) constituting the Kingdom of Bhutan. Located at the northern center of Bhutan, it has a common border with Tibet and means “oblong bottle” in reference to an object used in the Buddhist religious rites. Jakar, the most important city of the district shelters a Buddhist monastery-fortress impressing dating from the 16th century. Drawing up itself on a hill dominating the city, the dzong has a high central tower of more than 50 meters. Wild country abounding in deep valleys where the sheep feed in quasi freedom, often covered of fogs, Bumthang is favourable with the existence of myths and mysterious legends.

TRASHIGANG

This charming village enjoys a particularly pleasant climate and an animated environment. Indeed, you will not fail to cross at any hour of the townsmen and the close valleys in the streets, conversing on the step of a door, to clink glasses with macaw (local alcohol), or to play karam. Do not miss imposing it dzong of 1659, which overhangs the Dangmechu river, and helped the Bhutaneses to push back the attacks Tibetans at the 17th century.

SAKTENG WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

It is in this park of 650 km2, at the Eastern end of the country, which the yeti is supposed to live, this abominable snowman called migoi (strong man) by the local population. If its existence is not scientifically proven, you will be able nevertheless to see in this sanctuary of other animals like the leopard of snows, the black bear or the russet-red fox of the Himalayas.

LAYA

Laya is a district in North Is of Bhutan which has the highest altitude of the country. You will meet Bhutanese ethnos groups following a trekking of one or more days according to the selected difficulty. The human experiment is worth this forwarding out of commun run.

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ESSENCY BUDDHIST BHUTANAN INTACT TRADITIONAL CULTURE HERITAGE OF VALUES