Legends and fabled tales of old described the Himalayas as a realm of mystery and for centuries the snowcapped mountains remained oblivious to the rest of the world. Tales of the yeti and wandering spirits surrounding the mountains have haunted the travelling nomads and migrants for generations. A number of ancient history books mentioned the great Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo, finally taming the evil entities by building a legion of sacred temples all around the mountains. Hence, civilization slowly bloomed around the Himalayas and Bhutan came into existence as a country.
We take immense pleasure in accompanying you on your journey through Bhutan, “The Land of the Thunder Dragon”. A country exuding an aura of indescribable charm and a land riddled with many mysteries. Bhutan lies along the lofty ridges of the eastern Himalayas, bordering the Tibetan autonomous region of China in the North and India in the South. The snowcapped Himalayan Mountains protected Bhutan from the rest of the world and left the Kingdom blissfully untouched.
The society of Bhutan is immersed in deep Buddhist religion and provides the essence of a rich culture and fascinating history. With a relatively small population of about 700,000 people, the Bhutanese people enjoy a simple lifestyle which they inherited from their forefathers. More than 80% of the total population lives in small villages sparsely scattered over rugged mountainous terrain.
For centuries the Bhutanese have treasured the natural environment, looking upon it as a source of life. This traditional reverence for nature has brought Bhutan into the 21st century with a pristine environment. More than 72% of the land area is under forest cover. Bhutan is one of the ten bio-diversity hot spots in the world and one of the 221 global endemic bird areas. Its ecosystem harbors some of the most exotic species of the eastern Himalayas with an estimated 770 species of birds and 50 species of rhododendrons, besides an astonishing variety of medicinal plants and orchids.
Bhutan's beautiful and largely unspoiled Himalayan setting, its rich flora and fauna and its vibrant culture have made it an increasingly popular tourist destination. In addition to generating hard currency revenue, tourism is also providing the much needed resources to develop the service sector and ensure a balanced and sustainable development for all the Bhutanese.
Bhutan is best known to the world today as the last Shangri-La. The few visitors who make the rare journey into this extraordinary kingdom will discover that there is no other destination like this land of pure and exotic mysticism. In this country known as Druk Yul, or the 'Land of the Peaceful Dragon', the fortunate visitor will find a rare combination of harmony and accord, amidst a landscape of incredible natural beauty.
Tashi Delek !
