Bhutan – Kingdom of Himalaya

Hidden deep in the folds of the great Himalaya mountains for years, Bhutan developed its own civilisation. The population of about 680,000 people, living in close harmony with nature, evolved a unique identity. Derived largely from a rich religious and cultural heritage. Today, the world is seeing many exotic aspects of this kingdom.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is becoming increasingly known for its pure practice of Mahayana Buddhism in the Tantric form. Its untouched culture, its pristine ecology and wildlife, and the unparalleled scenic beauty of its majestic peaks and lush valleys. It is still, in many ways, a magical kingdom of the past and Paro is the capital of Bhutan.

Bhutan’s Nature

The country has been described as a natural paradise. Even as the world mourns the loss of its ecology, this small Himalayan Kingdom is emerging as an example to the international community. With about 70 percent of its land still under forest and a great variety of rare plant and wildlife species.

Wedged between Tibet and India, the country’s terrain ranges from the sub-tropical foothills in the south. Through the temperate zones, to dizzying heights of over 7,300 meters (24,000 feet).

Unconquered Land

It is a matter of great pride that their small kingdom was never colonised. Its ancient history, which is a mixture of the oral tradition and classical. Visiting Bhutan has all your interests in the destination travel. The map of Bhutan is a kind of small but it traveling to Bhutan might be everyone’s bucketlist.

Literature, tells of a largely self-sufficient population which had limited contact with the outside world until the turn of the century.

Spiritual Nation

Just as the kingdom’s history is characterised by religious landmarks. The influence of religion is highly visible in every day life of the lay population. It is a spiritual nation. Hundreds of sacred monasteries, stupas, religious institution, prayer flags and prayer wheels. Which dot the countryside provide a strong infrastructure and atmosphere for the teachings of their living faith.

Kingdom of Bhutan, A Rich Culture

The language and literature, the arts and crafts, ceremonies and events, and basic social and cultural values draw their essence from religious teachings. The tradition of fine art is alive today. Manifested, for example, in exquisite traditional painting visible on monasteries and houses, skilfully enhancing the architecture.

Architecture is also a significant feature of the identity. The combination of engineering skill and aesthetic beauty is unparalleled in all structures, from the massive monastic fortresses to houses and bridges. Traditional shapes, colours and patterns on the walls, doors, windows, put architecture in a class of its own.

The national language of Bhutan country is Dzongkha. The people also speak more than 18 dialects across the country.

People of Bhutan

The country’s population is, in many ways, one large family. More than 70 percent of the people live on subsistence farming. Scattered in sparsely populated villages across the rugged terrain of the Himalayas. With rice as the staple diet in the lower regions, and wheat, buckwheat, and maize in other valleys, the people farm narrow terraces cut into the steep hill slopes.

Food

Bhutanese generally eat with their hands. The family members eat sitting cross-legged on the wooden floors with food being first served to the head of the household. It is usually women who serve food and in most cases the mother. Before eating, a short prayer is offered and a small morsel placed on the wooden floor as offerings to the deities and spirits. With modernization, eating habits have changed and in urban areas, people usually eat with spoons and make use of dining tables and chairs..

Bhutan Folk Music

The music of the country is an integral part of its culture and plays an important role in transmitting social values. Traditional music includes a spectrum of subgenres, ranging from folk to religious song and music. Some genres of traditional music intertwine vocals, instrumentation, and theatre and dance. While others are mainly vocal or instrumental. Today, the folk music is increasingly giving way to a fast evolving modern music influenced largely by the outside world.

Religion

The culture, customs, history and landscape bear the most inimitable traces of the influence of Buddhism. Historically, Buddhism was first spread to in the 7th century A.D. But it was Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594-1651), the founder of the nation. Who instituted the Buddhist Sangha (monk body) in the 17th century. The Monastic Body plays an important role in the spiritual and cultural lives of the people. Since almost every important occasion in the life of average Bhutanese is invested with religious significance. The monks visit households to perform rites related to diverse events. Such as birth, marriage, sickness, death, construction of houses, consecration ceremonies, promotion of officials, inaugural ceremony and other day-to-day functions.

Bhutan Traditional Games

Declared the national sport in 1971, archery is a highly popular game played throughout the country. Especially during festivals and public holidays. Using bamboo bows, teams of archers shoot at targets only 30 centimetres in diameter from a distance of 120-130 metres. Each player get two arrows to shoot from one range and the opposition players take the next shot in alternative system. With every hit on the target, teammates celebrate by dancing on both the ranges. The points are calculated on the number of hits by the teams.

Traditional dart throwing (khuru) is also played between teams of players like archery but on a much shorter range.

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