Bhutan, Beyond Heaven and the Earth...
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Gasa Valley, Bhutan, 2018.
A glimpse of rural Bhutan with its characteristic terraces.
“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”
― Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution
Paro is effectively the entry point for Bhutan having the only international airport. It is a small town, more famous for the Taktsang Monastery (Flying Tigress), and provides an ideal halt for acclimatization and savoring the beauty that Bhutan is. Paro also has the Rinpung Dzong which is a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley.
Bhutan is “The Land of Happiness” that is known for bliss on earth. Individuals may not be rich, yet they are upbeat. The nation where Gross National Happiness (GNH) is esteemed more than GDP will consistently be special
On the way to the Nyile La Pass, the path up can be seen to the right (still a long way to go!). Chomolhari mountain can be seen in the background.
On our first full day in Bhutan, we attended day 3 of the four-day Thimphu Tsechu, an annual religious festival held in Thimphu's Tashichhoe Dzong in 2006. Each day sacred Cham Dances (Mask Dances) are performed by dancers in a state of meditation, who embody Tibetan Buddhist deities. Folk dances are also performed. The festival was established in 1670 and has been performed every year since then. It commemorates the birth of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Today the Thimphu Tsechu lasts 3 days and is held annually in a purpose-built space adjacent to the dzong.
The Tashichhoe Dzong was built on this site in Thimphu in the 17th century, suffered repeated damage from fires and was struck by an earthquake in 1897. The dzong was renovated and enlarged from 1962-1968 by King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (ruled 1952-1972). Today it houses the throne room, offices of the King, the chambers of the Je Khenpo (the senior Buddhist leader in Bhutan), monks quarters, prayer halls, the secretariat, the ministry of home affairs and the ministry of finance. The dzong's southeastern tower, in which the offices of the King are located, is seen here.
Gasa Tshechu, Gasa Valley, Bhutan, 2018.
Two Atsaras (clowns) entertaining the spectators during the annual buddhist festival.
“There is nothing in the world that is not mysterious, but the mystery is more evident in certain things than in others: in the sea, in the eyes of the elders, in the color yellow, and in music.”
― Jorge Luis Borges
Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley.
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Perched on a cliff-top, Bhutan's Taktsang monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest, is one of the most breathtaking temples in the world.
The Buddhist place of worship is built on a rock around 3,000m (10,000ft) above sea level.
The main temple complex was built in 1692 and is considered to be one of the holiest for the Bhutanese people.
The Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched high up on a mountain in Bhutan. This monastery complex in the Himalayas was originally built in 1692, and is known locally as 'Paro Taktshang'. Some monks live in this monastery and they meditate, study and pray here everyday.
Gasa Valley, Bhutan, 2018.
“So that the Universe felt love,
by which, as some believe,
the world has many times been turned to chaos.
And at that moment this ancient rock,
here and elsewhere, fell broken into pieces.”
― Dante Alighieri, Inferno
Tigernest
Taktshang oder Tigernest - Kloster ist ein berühmtes buddhistisches Kloster im Königreich Bhutan auf einer Höhe von 3120 Metern Höhe ü. d. M. im Himalaya. Wikipedia
Paintings at Punakha Dzong.
The second oldest dzong in Bhutan, it was begun in 1637 also on the order of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The dzong was significantly expanded from 1744-1763 during the reign of the 13th desi (the secular ruler, as opposed to the Je Khenpo, who is the chief abbot of Bhutan, and who holds equal power), Sherab Wangchuk. The dzong has suffered numerous fires and was significantly damaged by the 1897 earthquake. The current king has ordered all repairs to be done using traditional methods and materials.
Thimphu (/tɪmˈpuː/;Tibetan alphabet: ཐིམ་ཕུ[tʰimpʰu]), formerly spelled Thimbu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961. As of 2005 it had a population of 79,185, with 98,676 people living in the entire Thimphu district.
The road leading to this waterfall is poorly maintained, muddy, and unprotected, and I admit I felt uncomfortable as we drove up to the site. However, once you arrive, you are welcomed by green rice terraces, with the silence of the place broken only by the sound of flowing water. This is a very popular spot for locals but remains relatively unknown to most tourists. For me, it was another unique solitude moment of appreciation for the beauty of this country.
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La strada che conduce a questa cascata è mal tenuta, fangosa e priva di protezioni, e ammetto di essermi sentito a disagio durante il tragitto. Tuttavia, una volta arrivati, si viene accolti da verdi terrazze di riso, con il silenzio del luogo interrotto solo dallo scorrere dell’acqua. Questo è un luogo molto frequentato dalla gente del posto , ma rimane relativamente sconosciuto alla maggior parte dei turisti. Per me è stato un altro momento unico di apprezzamento in solitudine della bellezza di questo Paese.