Bhutan:

Bhutan, the Land of Happiness, is one of the most favourable tourist destinations among the travellers in Asia. This eastern Himalayan country is surrounded by mountains, sharing borders with Tibet(North) and India(South). The physical geography consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. The terrain is divided into three parts - the Greater Himalayas, the Lesser Himalayas and the Duars Plain drops sharply away from the Himalayas.

It is believed that the etymology is derived from the Tibetan endonym "Böd'' for Tibet. The traditional name of the country has been Drukyul meaning the country of the Drukpa(the Land of the Thunder Dragon). However, according to the historians, the modern name is a variation of the Sanskrit words Bhota-ant(end of Bhot/end of Tibet') or Bhu-uttan(meaning highlands) which was introduced in the late 19th century in English-language. According to obscure history of Bhutan, about some four to five centuries ago an influential lama, Sheptoon La-Pha, from Tibet became the first king of Bhutan and acquired the title of Dharma raja. La-Pha, who was succeeded by Doopgein Sheptoon, consolidated Bhutan’s administrative organization through the appointment of regional Penlops(governors of territories) and Jungpens(governors of forts). After the death of Last Dharma Raja in 1907, the strongest Penlops, Ugyen Wangchuk of Tongsa, was “elected” by a council of Lamas, abbots, councillors, and laymen to be the hereditary King (Druk Gyalpo) of Bhutan.

Bhutan is a colorful country and the people wear traditional clothing to keep the age-old tradition and culture alive. Men wear 'gho' and women wear ankle-length beautiful coloured dresses called a Kira with necklaces(decorated with corals, pearls, turquoise and the precious agate 'zee' stones called 'tears of the gods'.) The Buddhist faith plays a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical and sociological development of Bhutan and it is the only country in the world to retain the Tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism(Drukpa Kagyu) as the official religion. The major events are Mask dances known as Cham, which take place for 3-4 days and in honour of Guru Rimpoche. Performed by both monks and laymen, were introduced by the Shabdrung and Terton Pema Lingpa in the 1600s. Bhutan is a foodopia, Emadatse, a dish made of chilli, cottage cheese and herbs is considered, unofficially, the national dish.

The following are the top ten things to buy in Bhutan on a shopping spree:

• Cane and Bamboo Handicrafts.
• Dzi Beads- Himalayan Beads.
• Gold and Silver Jewelry.
• Dappa – Handmade Wooden Bowls.
• Hand-woven Textiles.
• Colored Carved Masks.
• Sculptures and Buddhist Paintings.
• Bhutanese Handmade Paper.
• Swords, Bows, and Arrows.
• Wooden Products.

Like others, Bhutanese art is majorly influenced by Buddhism. Mandala is a mystic circular pattern, which adorns the walls and ceilings of Buddhist temples and is painted, embroidered, or appliquéd on the scrolls known as thangkas. The castle-like dzongs, with their gently tapering walls, large courtyards, and long galleries, are among the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. Chortens, or stupas, small shrines built originally to house sacred relics, are also a common architectural sight in Bhutan. Every Buddhist temple contains large, brightly painted and gilded statues of the Buddha and his saints. Songs of itinerant musicians, the overtone chanting (sometimes called throat singing) of Buddhist monks, and Many of the ancient Tibetan ritual music—typically featuring drums, cymbals, and trumpets of various sizes have been preserved, though the instruments have been modified.

Tourism is an important means of achieving socio-economic development in Bhutan. However, it can have a devastating impact on the local environment, culture and identity of the people(if not controlled). Realizing that, the tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability(keeping the environment, ecology, social, cultural and economical viability in mind). To minimize the problems, the number of tourists has been maintained at a manageable level and this control on the number is exercised through a policy of government regulated tourist tariff and a set of administrative requirements explained in the following sections. Tourism in Bhutan was privatized by the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1991. Today it is a vibrant business with 33 private operators at the helm of affairs. The Royal Government of Bhutan adheres strongly to a policy of low volume, high-value tourism.