Why Travel to Bhutan: Top 10 Reasons We Should Visit Bhutan

A small country that lies deep in the southern Himalayas, Bhutan is a formerly isolated country that was unknown to the western world for centuries. Renowned now for its stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries and temples, spicy food, and colorful festivals, Bhutan is one of the most authentic destinations in the world. Rich with history, culture, and tradition, this stunning country is the ideal place to slow down, relax, and get away from the fast pace of western life. As the most exclusive tourist destination in the world, yet one that is not as expensive as many of the less-exclusive locations, Bhutan is a haven for trekking, exploring, and some spiritual refreshment. In a land where the Royal government puts the happiness of its people first, why miss out on the best travel experience of your lifetime? Here are the top 10 reasons that you should visit Bhutan once in your lifetime.

1. The Most Happiness Country in the world

One of the most unique measures of progress in the world is that which was adopted in Bhutan in 1971, initiated by the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who was quoted as saying in an interview, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product." Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a philosophy that guides the royal government of Bhutan, based on the tenets of the Buddhist faith in the kingdom.

Gross National Happiness is more than just a policy for governing the people, though. It is an actual fact of life in Bhutan, and many people agree with the idea itself. A part of Bhutanese culture is the need to be happy, and this comes in many forms in Bhutan, from the joy of seeing a child grow and marry and the delights of having grandchildren, to the peace and fulfilment of performing a pilgrimage to their favorite sacred sites, reveling in the beauty of the natural world around them, and enjoying the company of family and friends. Happiness is part of the normal way of life in Bhutan, and happy people are what makes a kingdom great. This translates into a joy to meet and speak with new people, and the tourists that come to Bhutan are always greeted with friendliness and respect, and offered the hospitality of the people, wherever they go.

2. Tiger’s Nest Monastery – The World Heritage Site

Known as the Paro Taktshang or the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, the Tiger’s Nest is one of 13 small monasteries in Bhutan that were built on the sites where Padmasambhava spent time meditating when he brought Buddhism to the kingdom. The Tiger’s Nest is the most famous of these sites, as it is the site where Padmasambhava, also known in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche, first landed after flying from Tibet on a tigress in the 8th century. While Guru Rinpoche may have flown in to the site of Taktshang, those without a flying tigress must take the long trail from the valley below to the monastery, which lies on a ledge of the cliff, at an altitude of 3,120 meters above sea level.

One of the most popular short treks in Bhutan, the hike up to the Taktshang takes around 2-4 hours, depending on how fast you hike, and is one of the most beautiful trails in a land of beautiful treks. The hike rises just 900 meters from the valley floor, but is well worth the hard climb to reach what must be one of the most amazing feats of monastic construction in the world. Clinging to its narrow ledge around the caves of Guru Rinpoche, this unique monastery offers some of the most amazing views in Bhutan, and is one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world.

3. The Last True Himalaya Kingdom

For centuries, the countries around the Himalayas have been known as the Himalayan kingdoms, mostly for their proximity to the massive mountain range and their monarchic feudal systems. In Bhutan, the rule of the royal family still continues, albeit in a different form. The last of the great Himalayan Kingdoms, Bhutan is the only country left that still recognizes a monarch as its supreme leader, and enjoys the unique distinction it gives them.

The people of Bhutan truly believe in their monarchy, and the new king, the 5th Druk Gyalpo, is beloved by the people, almost as much as they love his wife, Jetsun Pema, the Queen Consort. A huge advocate of environmental issues and the president of the Bhutan Red Cross Society, they are as much of a celebrity couple in Bhutan as Posh and Becks or William and Kate were in the UK. The love of the people for their new king and queen is one of the major reasons the monarchy still exists alongside the democratic government.

4. Unique Culture and Religion in Bhutan

Bhutan has a rich and lasting cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years to the time before modern records. Bhutan is known to have been inhabited more than 4,000 years ago, and evidence shows that civilization emerged in the region in around 500 BC. The ancient culture of Bhutan has remains wholly intact thanks to the isolation of the kingdom for most of the last 2,000 years, opening up only in the early 1960s. Parts of the local culture of Bhutan have been adopted from its close neighbor, Tibet, including the national religion, Tibetan Buddhism, which was brought to Bhutan from Tibet in the 7th century. Much of the religion of Tibetan Buddhism remains unchanged since its inception in Bhutan, though it was spread in earnest in the 17th century after Ngawang Namgyal, a high Drukpa Lineage lama from Tibet, fled to Bhutan and became the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche.

5. Amazing Bhutan Festivals

Festivals are a huge part of the Buddhist religious cultures in Asia, and in Bhutan the festivals are the most important events of the year. Bhutan has hundreds of national, regional, and local festivals throughout the Buddhist year, and the most important are the regional Tshechus, festivals that are held in each separate Dzongkhag (district) every year. All Bhutan Tshechus are held on the tenth day of the month for each Dzongkhag, and the word Tsechu actually means “day ten” in Dzongkha.

The Tshechu is the religious and cultural festival that combines the devout Buddhist beliefs of the people with a social gathering that is one of the most important parts of Bhutanese culture. Tshechus begin with the religious rituals and ceremonies, which are always devoted to the Guru Rinpoche, the Bhutanese name for the Indian Buddhist master, Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to the country in the 8th century. After the ceremonies, the social events start, and the people gather to share picnics with family and friends as they watch the famous Cham Dances and Atsara performances throughout the rest of the festival period.

6. Unique Mountain Treks in Bhutan

Nepal has long been known as the capital of high-altitude trekking, and with many of the world’s highest mountains on or within its borders, including Mount Everest and the Annapurna Massif, this comes as no surprise. However, Bhutan has some of the world’s most amazing treks in its northern and western Dzongkhags, including the longest and hardest trek in the world. With the high mountains to the north and the rolling foothills around the central region, Bhutan is an amazing place for trekking, at both high and medium altitudes, and what it lacks in the massive number of treks that Nepal has, it more than makes up for in the quality of the trekking trails and the amazing scenery and landscapes they travel through.

From the shorter treks such as the Druk Path Trek from Paro to Thimphu, to the longest and hardest trek in the world, the 30-day Snowman Trek, which takes you across almost the entire northern border of Bhutan with China, trekking hundreds of miles from Paro in the west to Trashigang in the east. A trek that is not for the faint-hearted or the beginner in trekking, the Snowman has only been completed by less than 500 people, a lot less than have reached the summit of Mount Everest. This indomitable trek crosses 11 high passes on its 337-kilometer (210-mile) journey across Bhutan.

7. The Kingdom of Birds and Wild Animals

The Kingdom of Bhutan may be a small and landlocked nation set high in the Himalayas, but it has some of the most amazing and unique wildlife in the world. Rising from 150 meters above sea level to more than 7,500 meters within the span of just 240 kilometers, this unique country, with its equally unique and diverse conditions, contributes to the wide-ranging ecosystems and biodiversity of the wildlife. One of the best places in the Himalayas to be able to see such a wide range of animals and birds, Bhutan plays host to a variety of land animals, which include Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, clouded leopards, rare hispid hares, golden langur monkeys, and the unique sloth bear in the southern areas alone.

Higher up, the tigers, common leopards, and small goat-like serows can be found, while the bamboo forests make the perfect habitats for the Himalayan black bear, the cute red pandas, and the Himalayan wild pigs. Even the mountains contain a wide range of animals, including snow leopards, blue sheep, and the Tibetan wolf, which still ranges through the mountains.

As for birds, more than 770 species of indigenous birds reside in Bhutan, many of which are indigenous only to this unique part of the Himalayas. However, Bhutan is also the winter feeding grounds of the famous black-necked crane, one of the rarest birds in Asia. Every winter, these magnificent creatures fly thousands of kilometers south from northern Tibet to spend the winter months in warmer climes in several places in Bhutan. The largest ceremony, the Black-necked Crane Festival, always lands around the Gangtey Monastery area in Phobjikha Valley of Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag, and is the subject of one of the most interesting festivals in Bhutan.

8. Traditional Bhutanese Textiles and Handicraft

A major part of the traditional Bhutanese heritage is the renowned textiles and handicrafts of the kingdom. Weaving of textiles is one of the handicrafts that are protected under Bhutan’s laws, and this ancient tradition has been running in the country since before Buddhism arrived. Bhutanese cloths have long been sought after in mainland Asia for their quality and considerable durability, but also for the delicate textures and fabrics that are made here. The Bhutan Textile Museum, in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, has been open for almost 20 years, and is one of the most amazing places to visit in a Bhutan tour. However, if you really want to see the textiles being made in the traditional way on hand looms, the small villages in Lhuentse are the best places to go. The eastern areas of the kingdom are renowned for having the best textiles in Bhutan, and it is really worth visiting.

Handicrafts in Bhutan are not just limited to textiles, though. There are thirteen arts that are protected in Bhutan, all of which are part of their traditional culture and heritage, and are preserved for their future generations. Known as the “Thirteen Arts”, these crafts have been handed down from father to son for thousands of years, and include such amazing crafts as carpentry, masonry, carving, painting, sculpture, casting, blacksmithing, gold & silver work, bamboo work, weaving, embroidery, woodturning, and papermaking.

9. Rich Natural Landscapes and Scenery

Bhutan is a land of stunning natural landscapes, lush green forests, vast open meadows, and beautiful lakes, all set to the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. The landscapes of Bhutan is one of varying altitudes, from the lowlands in the south, gradually ascending through the jungles and forests to the foothills and on up past the pristine glaciers to the high peaks of the Himalayas.

Whatever you are looking for, the great Himalayas or the peaceful forest valleys, you can get it in Bhutan. Either take a world-classic mountain trekking in Bhutanese Himalayas or enjoy a leisure hiking through the Phobjikha Valley in central Bhutan, you will love the scenes of this lovely country.

10. Featured Bhutan Food

Bhutan has a unique cuisine that has been influenced by India, China, and its own environment. However, the cuisine is also unique in its own right, and has developed over thousands of years in the kingdom. One of the few places in the world where rice is red and chilies are a vegetable not a seasoning, Bhutan’s cuisine is both unusual and delicious at the same time. The dishes that you can find often all contain chili in some form, and are renowned as being very spicy and hot, so eating local dishes in Bhutan may not be for everyone.

But if you like spices and hot food, then you will feel right at home here. Popular snacks in the kingdom include momos, deep-fried fritters (shakameezay andkhabzey), and the typical spicy Bhutanese sausages (Juma). However, the national dish is EmaDatshi, and is made from chees and chili peppers. A wide variety of chilies are used in the making of EmaDatshi, green, red, white, or all three, and the chees used comes from yak’s milk, and is surprisingly low in fat content.

Conclusion of the Top Reasons to Travel to Bhutan

There are many more reasons one should travel to Bhutan, from the beauty of the Bhutanese women to the traditional dress that is still worn by both men and women in the kingdom. Bhutan is a place that can provide a million reasons to entice visitors to its beautiful landscapes and amazing culture, but you only need one.