Gross National Happiness

Trip Start Jun 29, 2008
1
56
58
Trip End Nov 27, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Bhutan  ,
Saturday, November 1, 2008

Bhutan is an amazing, beautiful place.  It is a Buddhist Kingdom with a ruling hereditary monarchy.  The National Symbol is the Thunder Dragon.  The 4th King introduced the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which is considered to be more important than the GNP here in Bhutan.  He is very popular with the Bhutanese.  He has 4 wives (sisters) and 10 children.  He recently abdicated after a 32 year rule, and the Coronation of his oldest son as 5th King is due next month in Thimphu, Bhutan's capital city.
 
We flew into Paro with Druk Air (the National carrier) and made our way to Thimphu.  The countryside we drove through was incredibly green and covered with pines or terraced fields, the air is incredibly pure, and no longer were we harassed by constant blowing of car horns.   Everything is done in an aesthetically pleasing way here in Bhutan - there are lovely gardens and buildings everywhere (even the petrol stations are attractive).   All of this is in a wonderful setting of mountains covered with trees, some of which are displaying their autumn colours.  It is an absolute delight.
 
Our first site we visited in Bhutan was the Thimphu Dzong (fortress).  This remarkable building houses the King's administrative area at one end, and we even saw the 5th King walking around the grounds with his followers.  He is incredibly well respected by the people, and this was obvious to all.  There is a monastery within the Dzong and many monks were milling around within the grounds.   Most of the population still dress in National dress (it is essential if you wish to work in or visit any of the Govt offices or cultural attractions).  The outfit for men is like a wrap-around knee-length robe, tied at the waist, with large white cuffs at the end of long sleeves.  The look is completed with knee-length socks.  The women's dress is less distinctive, consisting of long skirts with a wrap around top, with cuffs of varying colours.  The people do appear really happy and are very welcoming.
 
The following day we visited a range of sites, including the National Library, a paper-making factory and an arts and crafts school, a view point over the town, an animal reserve with a new animal for us, the Takin, and the National Memorial Chorten.  The chorten (or stupa) was my favourite place to visit, where circumambulation of the stupa by monks, locals and tourists occurs (in a clockwise direction, of course), with spinning of prayer-wheels.  We also visited the Emporium to do some shopping - it seems all stops have been removed as we visit our final country before home; we better stop soon or we won't be able to carry it all!!
 
Tomorrow we visit Paro and hike to Tiger's Nest, so it's time to get some sleep.  Home soon.
Print this entry