Migae Adventure Travel

Know Bhutan

Secluded in the Eastern Himalayas between India and China ( Tibet ), as big as Switzerland, but sparsely inhabited (population barely 700,000), Bhutan certainly exudes charm, a mythical country with magnificent mountains, dense forests, delightful people, imposing architect and pure air, Bhutan is truly Shangri-la. 

With 80 percent of the population engaged in agriculture or raising livestock, Bhutan remains a rural country almost devoid of industry, except in the south. The beauty of the pastoral landscape can seem unreal to travelers from the industrialized world: houses with brightly decorated window frames and shingled roofs, patchworks of green paddy fields, plots of tawny buckwheat, oak forests, a covered bridge, fences of intricately woven bamboo, a man leaning on a wooden rail trampling his harvest, a woman weaving in the open air, yaks browsing in a grove of giant rhododendron. 

Archaeological evidence suggests Bhutan was inhabited possibly as early as 2000 BC. Buddhism was probably introduced in the 2nd century although traditionally its introduction is credited to the first visit of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century. Guru Rinpoche is one of the most important figures in Bhutan 's history, regarded as the second Buddha. 

Bhutan has been a monarchy since 1907. The different dzongkhags (districts) were united under the leadership of Trongsa Penlop. The forth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, made some moves toward constitution government, announced in December 2005 that he would abdicate in 2008 in favour of his eldest son. On December 14, 2006, the crown prince took over the throne. Mock election was held in April 2007, and the parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in 2008. 

The forth monarch, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, believed in the policy of controlled development with particular focus on the preservation of the environment and Bhutan 's unique culture. Among his ideals is economic self-reliance and what has now become widely known as 'Gross National Happiness'. His coronation on June 2, 1974 was the first time the international media were allowed to enter the Kingdom, and marked Bhutan 's debut appearance on the world stage. The first group of paying tourists arrived later that year. In major political reform in June 1998, the king dissolved the Council of Ministers and announced that ministers formerly appointed by him would need to stand for open election. A rotating chairman fronts the resultant cabinet. In 1999 television and Internet were first introduced to Bhutan. 

FESTIVALS / TSHECHU

Festivals, or Tshechus, are held in Bhutan through the year. They take place outdoors, in the courtyards of the great Dzong, of fortified monasteries, which are the centers of government and religion in each district of the kingdom. The festivals celebrate the faith, legends, myths and history of the Bhutanese in ancient rituals of dance and music. The dancers, monks or highly trained laymen, take on the aspects of wrathful and compassionate deities, heroes, demons and animals. Their dance is performed to bring blessings upon the people, to instruct them, to protect them, and to abolish evil influences. People travel many miles, often on foot, to attend, wearing their most beautiful clothing, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere which mingles with the mystic spirit of the occasion. In Bhutan festivals are not staged for visitors; rather the visitor is a privileged witness to these events, which have remained unchanged for centuries.

BHUTANESE FOOD and Drink

Rice is the staple diet in the lower region while at higher altitude wheat and bucketare the staple food.In bumthang Khulaey(buckwheat pancakes) and puta (buckwhaet noodles)are also eaten along with rice.The diet also includes pork beef yak meat chicken and mutton.Traditional bhutanese food always features spicy red and green chillies,either dried or fresh.Most bhutanese love spicy food,the favourite bhutanese dishes are ema datshis(chillies with cheese),shamu datshi(mushroom with cheese)

Bhutanese food are usually hot and spicy. Most of the restaurants serve Bhutanese, Indian, and Chinese, Continental cuisine. There are specialty restaurants in the capital city which serve Thai, Chinese and Pizza’s too.

Textiles

Textiles,bhutans premier art,are the product of centuries of individual craetivity in fibre preparation,dyeing,weaving,cutting,stiching and embroidery.Vibrant fabrics and intricate weaves and designs are an inseparable part of bhutans rich culture that has evolved over the centuries.

Bhutan and their designs express also their personal aesthetics.The colour combimation sophisticationof pattern,type of weave,and innovative elements determine the value of textiles.Raw silk,cotton, neetle,wool and yak hair are fibres basic to the country.

The Bhutansd textiles tradition has gone international,in recent years.The distinct technique,colour and style of indigenous bhutanese weaving are being increasingly appreciated by textiles specialists,collectors and users.

Architecture

Architecture is the significant feature of Bhutanese identity.Traditional shapes,colours and patterns of bhutanese are unique.

In traditional bhutanese architecture,there is generally no planing and designing done on paper before a structure is built.The master carpenter works with the size,layout and structure of the building in his mind.The best examples of traditional Bhutanese architecture can be seen in Dzongs(fortresses),Lhakhangs,(temples),Goenpas(monasteries),chotens(stupas),houses and bridges.

Monastries:

There are more than 2,000 monasteries in Bhutan. Almost every major monastery provides the spiritual centre for important festivals and ceremonies for village communities. They are also often the focal point of cultural, secular, administrative and religious event. The monasteries, though diverse in their shapes and appearance, do have certain basic features in common. Most are build like small villages consisting of two or more buildings arranged around a courtyard. The Lhakhang is the most conspicuous place in the monastery and is isolated from other buildings. It is usually surrounded by a paved path to allow circumambulation. The door to the monastery is normally ornamented with intricate metal work or pained with religious motifs. The inside walls of the monastery are covered with paintings depicting representations of numerous deities, saints and lamas. A monastery is distinguished by a maroon band near the top of the building and some of them have a sertog (golden pinnacle).

Arts and Crafts:

The most exciting and vital aspects of the Bhutanese tradition and heritage are found in its arts and crafts. Much of bhutan’s spiritual and intellectual life is manifested through its arts. Bhutanese art is not primarily concerned with abstract concepts of ‘beauty’, but with interpretation of values and beliefs that are held by the vast majority and embody the eternal stream of life or consciousness. It is a process, deeply imbued with a strong sense of morality, with many art forms epitomizing the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil.
Bhutanese art and crafts, particularly those that are religious in their thematic content, follow strict iconographic rules. Merit can be earned only if the prescribed rules are strictly followed.Creative energy is used mostly in secular artistic ventures.
Bhutan is well-known for its Zorig chusum, the thirteen traditionalarts and crafts, which include shingzo (woodwork), dozo (stonework),  jingzo (clay crafts), lugzo (bronze casting), parzo (wood, slate and stone carving), lhazo (painting), shagzo (leather work), garzo (black smithy), troeko (silver and gold amithy), tsharzo (bamboo and cane crafts), dhezo (papermaking), thagzo (weaving) and tshemzo (tailoring).
The skills of Bhutan’s craftsmen, working with bronze, silver and other fine metals, are seen in the statues of deities, doors and pillars of temples, bells, trumpets, swords, tables, trunks and jewellery. Wooden crafts include a wealth of items from bowls to finely worked bamboo hats,baskets, butter containers and bows and arrows. 

NATIONAL SYMBOL
The rectangular national flag of Bhutan is diagonally segmented and depicts a wide dragon across the middle. The upper part of the flag is golden yellow, which represents the secular power of the King, while the lower part is orange, which is indicative of the Buddhist influence. The Dragon, whose white color is associated with purity, represents Bhutan. It holds jewels in its claws, which represents the wealth and perfection of the country.
The National emblem, contained in circle, is composed of a double diamond thunderbolt placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The double diamond thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power; which results from the Buddhist religion in its varying form. The lotus symbolizes the purity; the jewel-sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female stand for the name of the country-the thunder.
National day is celebrated on the 17th December in commemoration of the ascension of Ugyen Wangchuk.