Today, when the cultural boundaries in almost every part of the world are steadily diluting, this fascinating Dragon Kingdom is credited to successfully retaining its distinct cultural entity in a genuinely original form.

Bhutan is best known to the world today as the last Shangri-La. The few visitors who make the rare journey into this extraordinary kingdom will discover that there is no other destination like this land of pure and exotic mysticism. In this country known as Druk Yul, or the ‘Land of the Peaceful Dragon’, the fortunate visitor will find a rare combination of harmony and accord, amidst a landscape of incredible natural beauty.

Bhutan – the mythical Land of the Peaceful Dragon is as much known for its dramatic landscapes, architecture and fabulous bio-diversity as for its rich and colorful cultural heritage. Every facet of Bhutanese culture is unique, distinct and different, or say – very special and exotic. Being a staunch Buddhist country, the socio-cultural life, art, crafts and traditions to architecture, every aspect of Bhutan is greatly influenced by religion.

Here, the awe-inspiring valleys and passes, daunting heights of the countless Himalayan mountains, sprawling glaciers and huge moraines, stupendous waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes, deep gorges and seemingly unending series of beautiful valleys, verdant slopes and vast undulating flower studded meadows, dense forests and scrub jungles vividly illustrate the varying moods, modes and chores of mother nature. As of now, this Himalayan wonderland is fast emerging as a favored destination of the discerning travelers, especially those interested in experiencing its unique and distinctive culture, hard and soft trekking, wildlife watching, rural and eco-tourism.

Bhutan is a true nature lovers’ dream because it has a diverse flora and fauna. Add to that the greenery and the snow peaked mountains and the unpolluted fresh air and surrounding.

The economy of Bhutan is mainly based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood to more than 60% of the population. Agriculture largely consists of farming and animal husbandry.

Cultural Heritage:

While Bhutan is one of the smallest countries in the world, its cultural diversity and richness are profound. As such, strong emphasis is laid on the promotion and preservation of its unique culture. By protecting and nurturing Bhutan’s living culture its believed that it will help guard the sovereignty of the nation.

Food:

Traditional Bhutanese eating habits are simple and in general, food is eaten with hands. Family members eat while sitting cross legged on the wooden floor with food first being served to the head of the household. It is usually women who serve the food and in most cases, the mother. Before eating, a short prayer is offered and a small morsel placed on the floor as an offering to the local spirits and deities.A typical Bhutanese meal consists of rice, a dish of ema datshi (dish of chilli and cheese), pork, beef curry or lentils.

Dress:

One of the most distinctive features of the Bhutanese is their traditional dress, unique garments that have evolved over thousands of years.Men wear the Gho, a knee-length robe somewhat resembling to Kimono that is tied at the waist by a traditional belt known as kera.Women wear the Kira, a long ankle – length dress accompanied by a light outer jacket known as tego with an inner layer known as wonju.

Festivals:

Bhutan is rich in cultural diversity and this richness is further enhanced by the wide variety of elaborate and colorful religious festivals that are celebrated throughout the country. Every village is known for their unique festival though the most widely known is the annual tshechu, an annual religious festival.Tsechu is a festival in honor of Guru Padmasambhava – “ the one who was born from a lotus flower”, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche “ the precious teacher”. This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan around the year 800 A.D. He is the founder of Nyingmapa, the “old school” of Lamaism which still has numerous followers. The biography of Guru Rinpoche is highlighted by 12 episodes on the model of Buddha Sakyamuni’s life. Each episode is commemorated once a year on the 10th day of a particular month. The dates and duration vary from one district to another, but they always take place on or around the 10th day of a month according to the Bhutanese calendar.

During Tsechus, the dances are performed by monks as well as by laymen. Tsechu is considered as a religious festival in Bhutan and by attending it, it is believed that one gains merits. It is also a yearly social gathering where people come to rejoice dressed in their finery.

Art and craft:

An essential part of Bhutan’s cultural heritage are the thirteen traditional arts and crafts that have been practiced from time immemorial. These arts were formally categorized during the reign of Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay, the fourth temporal rural of Bhutan.

The thirteen forms of traditional arts and crafts is known as Zorig Chosum (Zo means “to make”, rig means “science” and chosum means “thirteen”).

The thirteen art forms are, woodwork, stone work, sculpture, carving, painting, black smithy, silver/gold smithy, fabric weaving, embroidery/applique, bamboo and cane craft, paper making, masonryand leather work.