The Kingdom of Bhutan nestles in the high Himalaya between India and China. Closed to the outside world for centuries, this remote land is now welcoming foreign visitors to experience the natural beauty of its landscapes and the harmony of its traditional way of life. With World Discovery Bhutan tours you will get to explore a unique destination which has come to be known as the ‘Last Shangri-La’.
Bhutan Tours – National Library, Thimphu
Thimphu’s National Library, established in 1967, houses an extensive collection of Buddhist literature, with some works dating back several hundred years. It has been planned as “a major scriptural repository and research facility dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the rich literary, cultural and religious heritage” of Bhutan. The building is very lavishly decorated and is said to represent the finest Bhutanese architecture. On the ground floor, among the highly prized collections, there a book reported to be the heaviest in the world, weighing 59 kilograms (130 lb), known as “Bhutan:a Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom “.
Bhutan Tours - National Library, Thimphu
Most of the books are Tibetan in style, printed or written on long strips of hand-made paper stacked between pieces of wood and wrapped in silken cloth. There are also historic photographs and examples of the carved wooden blocks used for printing books and prayer flags.
The library is circumambulated by devotees as a mark of worship by the devout as it enshrines holy books and images of Bhutan’s famous people such as the Zhabdrung, Namgyal, Pema Linga and Guru Rinpoche.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Taktshang Gompa, better known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery, is the most famous of Bhutan’s monasteries, a sacred pilgrimage site where according to legend the great tantric mystic Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tiger and brought the teachings of Buddha to Bhutan. Every Bhutanese tries to visit Taktshang at least once in his lifetime.
Tiger's Nest Monastery
The monastery clings to a cliff soaring nearly 1,000 metres above the valley floor at an altitude of 3,300 metres. A slow ascent by foot will bring you in about an hour to the Taktsang cafeteria directly opposite the monastery (horses can be provided for those who don’t want to walk up, but not for the return downhill journey). There is an impressive view of the monastery from here. From the cafeteria, for those who wish, it is another 30 to 40 minutes around the valley’s edge to reach the monastery itself. It is possible to enter the monastery but a permit needs to be arranged in advance by your guide.
Here you can find Free Classifieds Ads for Bhutan. Click here to Post Free Ad in Bhutan. From here you can see all the cities in Bhutan and see ads there. You can get the latest Ads in Bhutan RSS Feed directly in your website. These are ads for the largest cities in Bhutan:
Free Classifieds Ads for Deothang – Post free ad in Deothang.
Free Classifieds Ads for Gelaphu – Post free ad in Gelaphu.
Free Classifieds Ads for Phuntsholing – Post free ad in Phuntsholing.
Free Classifieds Ads for Trashigang – Post free ad in Trashigang.
Free Classifieds Ads for Wangdue – Post free ad in Wangdue.
Famous Festivals of Bhutan
Dromche
The festival of Dromche generally includes dances and this festival is dedicated to Yeshe Gompo or Palden Lhamo, the two main protective deities of Drukpas that means people of Druk land or Bhutanese. Punakha Dromche takes place in the first month of the lunar year and ends with ‘Serda’, a magnificent parade which re-enacts an episode of the war against the Tibetan in the 17th century. This festival usually is celebrated in the month of February!
Jambay Lhakhang Drup
Not for one but this festival is celebrated for dual reasons. One is to honor an establishment of Jambay Lhakhang, that is a temple in 7th century and the next is to honor Guru Rimpoche, a saint who introduced Tantric form of Buddhism in Bhutan. A variety of traditional and mask dances are performed and each dance bear significant meaning and importance. This festival is one of the most vital in Bhutan and its high light is the ‘Mewang’, the fire ceremony and the ‘Tercham’, a religious dance. This festival is held in November and usually a fire dance is held in the evening to bless infertile women so that they may bear children!
Famous Festivals of Bhutan
Paro Festival
There is generally a sequence of dances at Paro Tshechu. Most dances are the same as others Tshechus, but the sequence varies. On day one is Shinje Yab Yum,the dance of the lord of death and his consort, where the costume is of buffalo mask and long brocade dress. Then, day two begins with chipdrel traditional reception. The Astara which means a clown welcomes the audience with the marching ceremony and then the mask dances begin. This festival is celebrated either at the end of March or the beginning of April!
Thimpu Festival
Held in September, Thimpu is the festival of dances. Some of these dances are shacham or the dance of the four stag, pelage gingsum or the dance of the three kinds of ging, pacham or the dance of the heroes, shawo shachi or dance of the stags and the hounds, dranyeo cham or dance with guitar, shana or black dance, shaa nga cham or dance of the 21 black hats with drum and, pholeg moleg or dance of the noblemen and the ladies!
