The world can learn from Bhutan!
Top 7 reasons why you should go to Bhutan:
The Kingdom is the only carbon neutral country in the world.
It even has a negative Co2 balance. The air is pure in the truest sense of the word.
Bhutan has always believed in nature conservation. More than 70% of the country is covered with forest and will remain so, Bhutan has committed to this. Thousands of trees are replanted here every year. The whole country is divided into 9 nature reserves.
The mountains are considered sacred in Bhutan, so extreme mountaineering is prohibited.
Bhutan values soft tourism and uses daily fees to protect itself from mass tourism.
However, part of these daily fees are used for assistance to the local population, for example hospital, school.
The approximately 900,000 inhabitants of the small kingdom are considered to be one of the happiest peoples in the world.
Their king declared decades ago: " We are concerned with the well-being of people, the grossnational happiness and not about economic growth".
Dr. Tho Ha Vin, the so-called "Happiness Minister "was responsible for this project and has reported on it in many lectures around the world.
You will witness a lively, centuries-old monastic culture.
About Bhutan
Bhutan, slightly smaller than Switzerland, is geographically wedged between India and China with its about 900,000 inhabitants.
The country covers an area of 50000 km2 and is divided into 20 districts.
Only its own airline, Bhutan Air or Druk Air, flies to the airportparoas these pilots are specially trained for the steep valleys and breakneck landing manoeuvres.
In the north stretches the mightyHimalayan massif, traversed by lovely valleys with raging rivers
and lush rhododendron forests.
Bhutan is drained by seven major rivers that eventually flow into the Indian lowlands, divided on north to south. The highest mountain, Gangkar Pünsum is in the Himalaya mountains and with its 7497m has never been climbed. In Bhutan, mountains are considered sacred.
More than 80% of the country is higher than 2000m. Here you'll find lichen hanging from old, towering trees, looking like ragged magic cloaks.
Crossing the passes one has the opportunity to meet yaks, to see prayer flags flapping in the wind by the thousands. Twigs are burned in an open fireplace to ask for blessings on the onward journey. The Buddhists call this Fire Boucha.
Today a single main road crosses the country from west to east.
BHUTAN is in9 nature reservesdivided. These range from tropical rainforests in the south to the glaciers of the Himalayas in the north. You will find a varied fauna and flora with a variety of flowers, butterflies, birds but also animals like gold lamurs, black bears,Red panda,Takin, snow leopards and tiger.
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Bhutan has a dual system of government: a secular and a spiritual one. Dzongs, as the monastic fortresses are called, represent Bhutan's dual system of government and are scattered throughout the country.
These multi-story buildings are lined with a brown ribbon, a sign of sanctity.
The walls are made of whitewashed rammed clay, decorated with ornate motifs, flanked by carved columns.
High above, a filigree wooden framework adorns these imposing buildings.
Bhutan has 108 iron wire bridges. The sturdy chain links allow for the construction of bridges with spans over 100 meters. They were constructed in the 14th century by Tang Tong Gelpu. He was a Buddhist saint who is still revered today as a philosopher, poet, teacher, architect, painter, sculptor, and physician. Bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge are inspired by this figure's work.
The daily life of the Bhutanese is shaped by religion, customs and traditions.
It wasn't until 1974 that the gates were opened to intrepid travelers. The first real tourist opening began in 1985, for example, to Switzerland, Scandinavia, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, and, since 1989, Austria. Indeed, the tiny country has managed to gain considerable attention in the Western world with the idea of "Gross National Happiness" as a kind of moral force.
