Bhutan- The Land of Lama

Sandwiched between two great powers, India and China, Bhutan (officially the Kingdom of Bhutan) is a country shrouded in magic and mystery, a country where sustainable development goes hand in hand with maintained traditional Buddhist culture and traditions. The best way to experience this culture and tradition is on a motorcycle.
Located to the north of the Indian state of Assam and to the east of Sikkim, Bhutan is the Last Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom. Known locally as Druk Yul or the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”, Bhutan is famous for its mesmerising landscapes, legendary and mysterious ancient monasteries and fortresses, spicy yet delicious food, colourful festivals and mostly for the warmth of its people. The charms of this isolated kingdom are deeply knitted within its cultural realms with the government taking all measures to carefully preserve its culture, history and rich tradition. Imagine riding crisscross through a country where the natives live by their ancient traditions and culture, where environmental sustainability is as important to the government as economic development, where everyone looks forward future development in a cultural way, that’s Bhutan. A largely secluded country Bhutan only opened up his borders to foreign travellers in the 1970s but is yet concerned with the adverse effect of excessive tourism. Therefore they charge a tariff of USD 250/tourist (except for nationals from India, Bangladesh and Maldives: lucky us), but it includes everything from accommodation, food, transport and an official tour guide.

land of Monasteries and Fortresses
Bhutan, a land of monasteries and fortresses, Buddhism is deeply engraved in the life and soul of the country and is driven by interesting cultural beliefs. The epitome of it is the legendary Taktsang Goemba or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery at a height of over 3000 meters on the side of a vertical cliff face and is believed to be one of the most sacred Buddhist sites.

Masquerade Dance
Witness the traditional Bhutanese style masquerade dance at the Punakha festival; the re-enactments of the Bhutanese victory over the invading Tibetans as firecrackers explode and those ancient battle scenes are reenacted in one of the most beautiful buildings of the country- Punakha Dzong. According to the local folklore, the ones who witness the mask dances receive blessings and wash away the sins as the world’s largest religious Thangka scroll, Paro Thongdrel unfolds at the festive ceremony. Explore the colourful weekend markets and quirky shops of Thimphu, the only capital city in the world without any traffic lights. The city houses the traditional Bhutanese art, culture and tradition whereas the architecture of the city is embellished with wooden houses and concrete buildings constructed in the traditional Bhutanese style.

Dochala Pass
Visit the Dochala Pass where a concentration of 108 Stupas (called chortens in the local language) built in the memory of Bhutanese soldiers martyred in 2003 war against insurgents from India, the pass offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the valleys overlooking the undulating and unadulterated view of snow-capped mountains.

Temple of Fertility
Dedicated to the ‘Divine Madman’ Lama Drukpa Kunley, the Temple of Fertility or the Chimi Lhakhang is one of the most honoured temples in Bhutan frequented by tourists and childless couples seeking special blessings to beget a child. The entire temple complex is decorated with bright and colourful phalluses believed to drive malicious gossip and evil eye away.

National Park
Set on the western slopes of the black mountains and bordering the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Phobjikha Valley is a hotbed for wildlife activity and a paradise for birdwatchers. A stunningly beautiful wildlife reserve popular for its scenic splendour and cultural uniqueness, the globally threatened black neck cranes migrating to the valley in winters can easily be spotted here.

Red Panda Brewery
Bhutan isn’t all about culture and tradition. Hit Bhutan’s first brewery, the Red Panda Brewery established in 2006 by Fritz Maurer to taste freshly brewed from wheat, which is pretty strong. 

Zuri Dzong
While in the country, go on a trek to the peak of the Zuri Dzong for perfect bird’s eye view of the entire scenic Paro Valley, with the glorious Himalayas as the backdrop. Soak in the tranquillity of the serene and extraordinary view along the trekking trail, it is believed by the locals that in the 8th century, Lord Buddha had meditated in of the Zuri Dzong caves.

Shangri La
The mythical land of happiness is located somewhere in the Himalayas and ruled by righteous Lamas according to James Hilton’s “Lost Horizon”. Even though Shangri La doesn’t exist, according to many the search for Shangri La ends in the majestic and beautiful Gangtey valley. Engross yourself in the beauty of dense forests of magnolia, rhododendrons, juniper, ferns and dwarf bamboos along with the peaceful yet gorgeous villages of Gogona & Khotokha.

Arts and Crafts
Engross yourself in the 13 traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts or Zorig Chusum, rooted in Buddhist philosophies. Brought to Bhutan by Pema Lingpa, a treasure discoverer in the fifteenth century, these include woodwork, stonework, paper making, carving, painting, wood turning, black-smithy, bamboo work, weaving tailoring, sculpting, ornament making.

So, hop on your beast and discover the cultural legacy of land dotted with monasteries and fortresses, a land where Buddhism is deeply engraved in the life and soul of the country and its people and is driven by interesting cultural beliefs with Bikester. Join us at Bikester as we navigate some of the highest mountain passes in the world lined with dazzling rhododendrons in springtime, ride along as we discover this mystical country, and get welcomed by the warm smiles of people of the ‘Land of Thunder Dragon’ and their ‘goodbyes’(used for welcoming people in Bhutan).

By Bhargav Sarkar