The Land of Gross National Happiness
The first question most people ask when Bhutan is mentioned is “Is that in Africa?” or perhaps “Oh yeah, they measure happiness, right?” Well, no and yes, in that order. Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom sandwiched between China to the north, and India to the South. It’s about the size of Switzerland, with a population of just 700,000 people.
As a traveler coming to Bhutan, the first thing you notice is the stunning views of the Himalayas and the countryside on the plane ride in on Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan and the only airline allowed to fly there. Check out this tricky landing in Paro!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlKApjc9T2U&feature=related
Once on the ground, what else does a traveler to Bhutan notice?
The awesome Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) Monastery, hanging on a cliff wall 2,900 feet above the valley floor
The remarkable architecture that’s used for virtually every building
Monks: Bhutan has a rich, well preserved Buddhist culture
Trekking routes that are less populated than many others in the Himalayas
No plastic bags! (they’ve been banned since 1999)
The beautiful smiles of the people
Why is everyone smiling? Is it Gross National Happiness? And, what is that anyway? A very poor country, Bhutan’s fourth king decided that he would not use economics alone to measure the wealth of his country. The four pillars of GNH are cultural preservation, equitable economic development, good governance and environmental protection. Grouped together, these measures inform virtually every decision that the government makes. The government spends a good deal of money on health care, education and infrastructure, all for the betterment of their country and their people…things you will notice if you visit.
While it has a reputation as being a very expensive place to travel, when you consider that the cost includes everything including the visa fee, transportation, food, lodging, entrance fees and guide services. The daily tariff will increase by 25% starting in 2012, so if you want to get in while the prices are lower, 2011 is the year!
We are offering a couple of hosted tours this fall including Majestic Bhutan: A Journey Back in Time and Sacred Peaks and Valleys: Jhomolhari Trek. We also have a brand new itinerary just posted called Bhutan Backroads and Homestay, which as the name implies affords the opportunity to stay with a local family in a small town for a few days, and get off of the beaten track. If you’re interested in visiting Bhutan, please contact our Bhutan specialist Pam Perry by email at pam@grandasianjourneys.com or at 888-586-7750.