Bhutan Special Attraction

FESTIVALS
Many visitors come to Bhutan to witness religious festivals held annually in Dzong throughout the country. The most popular for tourist are those held in Thimphu, paro and Bumthang. They mark the busiest time of the year for tourism and reservations(particularly for hotels) are frequently difficult to come by. The Dzong come to life with colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and towns folk dress in their best clothes and join together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dance and other rituals are performed in the Dzong’s courtyards and temples. Photography should always be discreet. It is generally allowed to take photography at tsechus but not at dromchoes. Most of the dance date back to beyond the middle ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its pwn spiritual importance and can be performed by monks or lay village leaders dressed in bright costume. Certain festivals end with the unveiling and worship of huge religious appliqués or thongdrels. The moment of the unveiling is shrouded in secrecy and creates great excitement amongst all the participants.

TREKKING
Trekking in Bhutan is unlike anywhere else in the Himalayas. The walks are long and arduous but they are complemented by crystal air and views that defy description. Only a handful of tourist trek each year and paths and communication may not be as developed as they are in other Himalayan destinations. However what Bhutan may lack in infrastructural development it makes up for in superb support facilities for trekkers. All parties are accompanied by a trained guide, a cook, a cooking assistant and at least one horseman. All provision and most belongings are carried by horses and yaks; trekkers rarely have to carry more than a day pack with camera and extra film. least four dishes.

NATIONAL PARKS
Apart from the Jigme Dorje Wanggchuck Sanctuary in the far north of the kingdom, all of the national parks are in the lower southern plains where fauna, in particular, is more abundant. The national parks are controlled under a development scheme operated by the world wide Fund for Nature. Many animals are protected under this scheme which developed later than in neighbouring countries and enabled Bhutan to learn from other’s mistakes.

WEAVING
In the far east of Bhutan, it is not uncommon to come across teams of women seated on valley slopes with a heavy leather belt strapped fast to their waists. The women will be heaving a wooden slat across recently dyed fabric; pursuing an age-old custom that creates the vivid patterns and colours that have become synonymous with Bhutanese design. Fabric are dyed and dried for a week before being woven into khos for men and kiras for women. These are the long flowing garments which have become the obligatory national dress for all Bhutanese. Woven products are sold all over the far east of Bhutan.

ARCHERY
Inter village rivalry is common throughout the kingdom and this rivalry is no more fiercely expressed than during annual archery tournaments. They are generally held at Losar (Bhutanese New Year) but smaller competitions are held throughout the year. The revelry beings the night before the contest. Teams employ astrologers to assist in the selection process and to help cast spells on the opposition. Each team spends the night together in an age-old tradition of sleeping in the forest prior to the match. Apart from improving team spirit it is thought that a man should not spend the night before a tournament with his wife as his concentration may then waiver the following day. The tournament itself beings with initiation ceremonies and a traditional breakfast.

GOLF
Thimphu is the unlikely location of one of the highest golf courses in the world. Situated behind Tashichho Dzong and surrounded by mountains, the course is typically very hard and barren but after the monsoon it softens up and turns green. The course may not be particularly challenging to western golfers but it presents a lovely morning of afternoon’s respite after long days of driving.

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