WHY BHUTAN?
Bhutan is how earth should be. Pristine, peaceful, pure. An earth where people live in peace, in harmony with bountiful nature, driven by values. An earth where human is her champion.
Bhutan is peaceful. There is no strife. It has one of the lowest crime rates and it is very unlikely that one would hear of any kind of crime (let alone witness) while traveling here.
To make it safer, people are friendly. Perhaps such friendliness arises from being happy. People are culturally oriented towards being happy. The tantric Buddhist culture have evolved in such a way that coping skills were passed on individual and masses naturally and outlook were managed for greater fulfillment. Managing one’s inner self considered as important, if not more, as changing outer circumstances. With such setting, since the 1970’s, Bhutan has gone on to shift development paradigm by striving for ‘Gross National Happiness’ or GNH as a goal of the country rather Gross National Product. GNH is balanced holistic development of human being and community, recognizing physical, mental and spiritual well-being, besides materialistic achievement.
In order to foster such holistic wellbeing, one of the conducive environments for growth of happiness is the natural environment, whose conservation is one of the main pillars upholding Gross National Happiness. All the Bhutanese land remain pristine – thanks to pre-Buddhist nature worship beliefs of the past and present day conservation policies. Bhutan has more than 70% of its land under forest cover and more than 50% is protected (including biological corridors). Within its constitution, Bhutan is to maintain 60% of its land under forest cover for all times to come. Some say, the percentage is big when actual area is small but then amount of flora and fauna (flora of over 7000 species, 750 species of birds & fauna of 200 mammals – Nature Conservation Division, Department of Agriculture & Forestry Services , 2018 figures) shows the overall effect as same. There are a smaller number of flora and fauna found in bigger area such as North America (70 times bigger than Bhutan). You can find untouched forests in Bhutan– going back centuries.
It is in centuries that we can talk about age of culture as well, with history going to pre-historic times. There has been stone implements and monoliths discovered in Bhutan dating back to pre-historic times. The country has never been ruled by any other than own – never colonized (so the indomitable nature of people). The evolution of the culture have largely been indigenous with some influences, particularly of the Buddhism. Thus evolved culture of nature worship, influenced by Buddhism have given the region the tantric form of Buddhism and its resulting culture, which continues to evolve. It is living heritage of Bhutan. The centuries old fortresses (known as Dzongs, pronounced ‘Zong’ – almost like zonk) and temples predating any kind of statehood in the country that is still houses such beliefs are testament to such continuity. These structures, both physical and institutional (such as monastic system that began in the 17th century) continue to be vessel and manifestation for these values.
The greatest upholder of these values are the monarchs of the country -the Druk Gyalpo or the Dragon Kings. In the last century and little more, since the monarchy began in the country, there has been unprecedented peace and prosperity in the country. The Kings have not only genuinely created conditions for the peace and prosperity but with…
The greatest upholder of these values are the monarchs of the country -the Druk Gyalpo or the Dragon Kings. In the last century and little more, since the Bhutanese monarchy began, there has been unprecedented peace and prosperity in the country. The Kings have not only genuinely created conditions for the peace and prosperity but with their vision, also navigated through the negative effects of development by reaching beyond the materialistic development and ensuring holistic spiritual and mental growth as well. The well being and all of country’s achievements, including few cited above, can be traced to the throne. The subjects are moon eyed about their monarchs, who look after all people as their own and all faiths in the people as same.
Bhutan, thus, remains to be a sanctuary – a respite for your mind, body and soul.