6 Awesome Things to Do in Bhutan
The tiny landlocked kingdom of Bhutan is the first only carbon negative country in the whole world which is situated in the eastern Himalayan ranges.
One of the countries where you can breathe the purest air and feel refreshed on the earth. Bhutan has the most picture-perfect setting of valleys, mountains, snow peaks and forests, and The new way of life in this mystical country of Bhutan is Buddhism.
HIKE UP TO TIGER’S NEST
Bhutan’s most iconic landmark The Tiger’s Nest Monastery and its image is probably associated with the country. It is located at the side of a steep cliff wall in the Paro valley and legend has this location was chosen by a tigress who brought Guru Rinpoche to the site to defeat a local demon. It is not more than two hours’ hike up to the monastery, during which you can stop take some rest or a tea break at a little cafe with beautiful views of the monastery on the way up. one can also hire a horse to make your way up the hill but still some walking is needed so be sure to wear comfortable shoes anyway!
HOMESTAY
One of the experiences that we enjoyed most in Bhutan, is spending some time with a family on their farm. Beds were like a hard mattress on the floor covered in pink blankets and in dinner we ate rice flavored with pork fat and butter tea. The owners were very kind they prepared a traditional hot stone bath in an outhouse for us. It consists of a rickety wooden bath, that was filled with water from a nearby stream said to have medicinal properties. It is heated by placing large stones in it which had been thrown into a fire. I did not have any noticeable effects on my health, but the long relaxing soak ensured that we spent that night snoring away until we were rudely woken up in the early morning.
SEE THE TAKIN
Have you heard about Takin before? We hadn’t either before we were in Bhutan! The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan which is found in forested valleys. There is no need to go on a trek for takin. There are plenty at the Motithang Takin Preserve in Thimpu. Although there is a facility of a mini-zoo, that the Fourth King of Bhutan had constructed for keeping animals captive against Bhutan’s environmental principles whereupon all the takin had been set free now.
TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL
Like everything else, Bhutan’s festivals are filled with colour and mystical legends. Religious festivals are celebrated in the country and are considered very special events where all the locals gather to watch these masked dancers and singers perform and whilst taking the opportunity to socialize. These Plays involve some type of drama depicting good and evil. And watching it is great for the locals. You can also participate in a scene much to everyone’s certain delight!
THE PUNAKHA DZONG
Dzongs are fort-monasteries that are found throughout Bhutan. Not only because of their particular structure, but they are the administrative and religious centres of Bhutanese communities. The most beautiful is the Punakha Dzong, also known as the “Palace of Great Happiness”. The dzong is placed at the point where the rivers Po chhu and Mo chhu meet and is one of the most attractive and must capture structures in the entire country. If you want to experience rafting on the rivers, we would really recommend you to go for it!
ARCHERY
It is Bhutan’s national sport and is practised in every corner of the country. There are different local tournaments between friends to national competitions, this activity is taken very seriously. Traditionally, the members of the opposing team try making fun of each archer to confuse the contestant and the members of the same team celebrate each successful shot. Once you understand the game what is going on, it provides some great fun and entertainment.
These are the top things to do in Bhutan at least once in a lifetime. If you want to have an out of the box experience of the traditional-cum-modernity and the experience Himalayan life, book your tour to Bhutan with us at BookMyTour.
About the Author: Ram Narayan Mandal, is a content manager at the BookMyTour. He basically used to write about the topic that helps people to understand better about Bhutan.
