Part 2 - Secret Diaries of the Himalayan Kingdom - Druk Yul – Land of the Thunder Dragon

Day 2

On the Second day we started off with exploring the sites of Thimphu, the Capital city of Bhutan in order to gain a deeper understanding of the life and culture of Bhutan. Our Journey began with the Visit of Memorial Chorten - a Big Stupa and one of the most Prominent religious structures in Bhutan with its Golden Spires and bells in Thimphu.

Memorial Chorten

It was build in 1974 to honor the third king of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972). Very similar to few other religions, everything here works clockwise. For example, the Prayer Wheels are turned clockwise and the people walk clockwise around the Stupa here.

Next up is the world’s largest seated Traditional Buddha which is overlooking Thimphu and a great place to see the City from above

The Main religion in Bhutan is Buddhism and what people follow here is Mahayana, which is not just Considered as Buddhism or Religion, but taken by every Bhutanese person as the guiding philosophy everyday life.

The key belief is that whatever we do in our present life will determine the course of your future and your next life. Mahayana is not just about oneself but about thinking everyone as equal This extends to even animals. There are 4 types of Buddhism widely practiced across the world - Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana and Zen Buddhism.

Textile Museum 

 

Students at the Art & Craft School

Next Up is the Arts and Craft school in Thimphu. Arts and Craft in Bhutan represent the exclusive spirit and identity of the Dragon Kingdom .The institute of Zorig Chusum in Thimpu is the premier institute of traditional Arts and Crafts set up by the Government of Bhutan with the object of preserving the rich culture and tradition of Bhutan and train students in all the 13 art forms. In Bhutan everyone has access to free education. Unlike India, Bhutanese students do not get summer holidays but get to enjoy winter holidays.

Thimphu Bazaar

Thimphu is also a perfect place to go shopping in Bhutan. One can buy Thangkas (scroll painting), masks, prayer wheels, Buddha figurines, Mandala paintings, yak hair bags and colorful Kira’s from here. A must-try here is the locally brewed alcohol called Ara.

After spending almost a day I learnt that Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu is the only City in the world that doesn't have a single traffic light and still the traffic is really well organized and disciplined. Pedestrians are given priority and if a motorist finds anyone standing at the pedestrian walkway waiting to cross, they stop their vehicle immediately giving right of passage to their fellow citizens. Wow! Well that is what I call civilization & development of Culture and respect.

Traffic Cop at Thimphu City

Thimphu Dzong

A quick 3 km drive took us to one of the largest and oldest Dzong in the country - the Thimphu Dzong which is also known as Tashichho Dzong. The Tashichho Dzong is a Buddhist monastery and fortress on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu in Bhutan, on the western bank of the Wang Chu. Dzongs are the main heritage of the Country and most of them were built around the 17th Century to protect the people from and prevent foreign invasions. These Dzongs are still in use and almost all the Dzongs have been divided into 2. The first half would be the Regional Administrative Office and the second half designated to be used by the Monks. The Thimphu Dzong is the summer capital for the religious monks.

Bhutanese Cuisine

Despite roaming all day, not once did we feel the tiredness, possibly because of the warm and welcoming people of Bhutan. The Bhutanese always made us feel so comfortable that there wasn't even a single minute when we felt out of the country. We got back to the room to freshen up before going for a Typical Bhutanese Dinner later that evening. The dining experience in the city is also top-notch, giving your taste buds a lot of new flavors to savor by trying out the Bhutanese Cuisine in the capital city. Try Ema Datshi with Red Rice and don’t miss out on the delicious Momos . The people here are extremely fond of cheese and butter produced from yak’s milk

The government places priority on Protecting the country's and eco System and traditions to maximize the happiness of the people. People in Bhutan wear the Traditional Dress Gho and Kira which is mandatory in Public Institutions and Schools. During National events all Bhutanese are required to wear it. Korean TV Serials and Music are gaining popularity in Bhutan these days.

It was so surprising for me when I learnt that the country has only 6 cinema halls that are scattered across Thimphu and screens with an average of 30 Bhutanese movies a year. Bhutan is also the last on on our planet to be introduced to the idiot box.Yes, the television was introduced in 1999 and then came the Internet.

No wonder the country is known for its happy people. I'm glad to have gotten to know the Happy Kingdom.

To be Continued ...