In this World, many countries have their own uniqueness of their traditions, which often are artificially preserved for tourists only. But in Bhutan, tradition is real: The visitor can see and feel it. In a world where a thick cloak of globalization has all but smothered distinctive heritages, this self-reliant kingdom proudly stands alone. Bhutan is different - and you will be too after you become one of the few outsiders to discover personally that such a nation still exists.
Ironically, one of the main points that set Bhutan apart is its fundamental sense of interconnectedness. Because the country is small- only 7’77’824 people - the warmth of an extended family is evident wherever you go.
Even before you land at the country's only airport, you will notice the difference: At the check-in counter, you will find that many of your fellow passengers know each other. Camaraderie is instant with the dignified, ever-polite Bhutanese; you can tell already that you are being admitted to a very special place indeed.
That specialness is particularly embedded in Bhutanese culture, whose heart is the Vajrayana Buddhism that pulses beneath daily life here. Because Bhutan is the only country left to retain such an intact richness. You will visit ancient dzongs - sturdy fortresses that combine monastic and governmental functions - and see Lhakhangs, or Buddhist temples, built in centuries-old style.
Annual festivals, or Tshechus, at which men and women alike wear their most spectacular, intricately hand-woven clothing, highlight both Bhutanese religious devotion and the love of a good time. Elaborate, spellbinding masked and folk dances are performed for days by specially trained monks, while local families chat with neighbors, feast and enjoy the antics of jesters who lighten the reverential atmosphere.
When festivals are not being held, a typical visitor's day might involve exploring the living art of weaving or other traditional crafts, including religious painting, bamboo and cane work, and slate carving; treks, from easy to rigorous, bring you to rustic villages at altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet where life has changed little in the last 100 years and the rhythms of Nature still rule. Whether touring or trekking, travelers will find the kingdom soothingly peaceful spared the frenetic pace of life that threatens to engulf us all.
Tranquility is particularly found in Bhutan's natural splendor, which is never far away. Although the country is only about 100 miles wide by 200 miles long, it is one of the most biologically diverse sites on Earth, from peaks of perpetual snow to dense tropical jungles. Above all, it is impossibly green: Some 72% of the land is enveloped by thick forests, lending even more grandeur to the deep valleys and rugged hillsides. Butterflies, the size of teacups, flutter among more than 5,000 species of plants. Icy waterfalls at seemingly every bend in the road cascade into pools of pure delight. For bird watchers, Bhutan is a dream, with a stunning 770 species found, including many that are globally threatened. Among the country's 165 species of mammals, the highly endangered snow leopard, tiger and golden langur, a small primate found nowhere else are notable.
Perhaps most important, Bhutan is different - and progressive - politically as well: Its belief in "Gross National Happiness", as opposed to Gross National Product, has become an envied global model. His Majesty the King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, is a visionary leader who epitomizes the vibrancy, compassion and restraint that characterizes his people. In a particularly unusual move, His Majesty in 2006, 14th of December, surprisingly announced his immediate abdication. It was the first time in the world history that a monarch, who was initially vested with absolute powers, voluntarily reduces the scope of these powers and eventually abdicated with no other reason than his own dedication to political reforms. In 2008, his son Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk was crowned the 5th Dragon King of Bhutan and head of the state. It's also important to note that the dot barely can see on the world map, Bhutan isn’t Just Carbon Neutral, its Carbon Negative. As always, Bhutan clearly does things its own way.