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I first learned about Bhutan in 2013 and was immediately entranced by this isolated Himalayan kingdom that somehow had escaped my knowledge for more than two decades. The costs associated with visiting Land of the Thunder Dragon, however, put it in a TBD category in my mental filing cabinet. (I’ll cover this and how to visit Bhutan in an upcoming post.) But when a friend from college embarked on his funemployment trip and mentioned that Bhutan was also on the top of his wish list, we both threw caution and our budgets to the wind and decided to make a visit. We planned our trip for December 2016 in order to coincide with one of the country’s culturally rich festivals, and we had the most memorable six days in this last Himalayan kingdom. I’ll be sharing stories, photos, tips, and advice about Bhutan in the upcoming weeks, starting off with this visual introduction via 10 photos of the Bhutan that captured my heart.
1. Magnificient dzongs
The grand Punakha dzong2. Intricate details
A look at the fine details in Bhutanese architecture3. Beautiful artwork
Every building, and in particular temples and fortresses, is covered in gorgeous artwork of a variety of styles.4. Monks everywhere
Buddhism is a key component of life.5. Mindblowing archers
Archery, the national sport, is another cultural stronghold.6. Pristine, natural landscapes
Do we need words here?7. Colorful festivals
At the 2017 Dochula Druk Wangyel festival.8. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences
Everyone is at these festivals, from monks to laymen and from the royal family to outside visitors.9. Astounding feats
Iron chain bridges like this one have stood for hundreds of years.10. The Tiger’s Nest
A symbol of Bhutan, this monastery was built into the cliffs and is considered one of the most sacred sites in the kingdom.I hope this photographic sneak peek makes you eager to learn more about this beautiful country. The beauty of Bhutan is expressed in many ways beyond just visual beauty, and I’m excited to share them with you. In the meantime, here’s a bonus photo from the country where Gross National Happiness is much more important than Gross Domestic Product.
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Love the photos! The iron chain bridges look fascinating. Do people still cross using them?
Thanks! Sometimes they do. This one was only recently taped off due to a chain link breaking apart. They built a newer wood and chain one next to it for people to use instead.
Fab photos – I especially like the festival pic! It definitely inspires me to want to visit – thank you
The festival was sooo amazing. We planned our trip around that. I’ll be sharing how to visit tips and such in the upcoming weeks, stay tuned!
Wow, amazing photography with great article. I love this kind of historical places. Thanks for sharing with us
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!