Bhutan "The Land of the Thunder Dragon"

Dramatic geography, majestic mountains, exotic jungles and a vibrant culture make this country locked away from time an absolute paradise. Long centuries of isolation from the outside modern world have forged Bhutan’s unique and mysterious culture making it one of the world's most appealing travel destinations.

Bhutan is a land locked country bordered by Tibet, China, and India and has very close cultural ties with Nepal and Bangladesh. Though it is small in size, the kingdom’s topography is one of dramatic contrasts from the peaks and slopes of the Himalaya, with its lush valleys, humid rain and lowland forests. Bhutan’s capital city is Thimpu, nestled into the side of a valley; it is unlike any other capital in the world. The traditional architecture of its houses and buildings is particularly striking. The country has a strong sense of traditionalism and this is reflected in the dress and architecture of Bhutan.

As a travel destination, Bhutan is a striking place, the country as a whole is like a folk heritage museum displaying typical Bhutanese way of life that has remained unchanged over the years while the rest of the world has dramatically progressed. It has not been long since Bhutan has opened its door up to tourism. Tourism in Bhutan is strictly supervised and is heavily levied. The government is slowly embracing technology and Bhutan is now one of Asia’s fastest developing countries. However, it has not come at the cost of the environment or the culture and age-old traditions that make Bhutan such a vibrant and unique country. Find out about Bhutan and visit soon. Let us at GRG's take you to the most amazing and mind blowing places not only in Bhutan, but on earth.

The best time to travel in Bhutan is from April til June and from September to the end of Decemeber. Flights to the Paro International Airport depart from Bangkok, Dehli and Kathmandu. When travelling to Bhutan, you must fly with the national carrier, Druk Air.

Festivals of Bhutan

The Bhutan lunar calendar is packed full of religious festivals. The people of Bhutan celebrate many festivals unique to themselves, like the Bhutanese New Year, and the summer solstice festival. To coincide with the end of the harvest, the Tshechu festival is the biggest and best festival in Bhutan and is celebrated all over the country, lasting between three and five days. This festival is held at different times in different regions, but the best place to witness Tshechu is by far in Thimphu. During Tshechu, monks perform masked dances that have special religious significances. According to legend, these dances appeared in the dreams and visions of a Buddhist master. The steps and moves seen in these visions are strictly adhered to, to alter them is considered as sacrilege and no dance master would accept any such meddling with the dance steps, an amazing festival to witness.

For 2010/2011 festival dates, send us an email.