Are you an experienced traveler? Do you think you have seen the world enough? Bhutan is one of the must-go places before you can claim to be an experienced traveler. Unlike Europe, Bhutan does not have beautiful architecture and art crafts you are familiar with, nor is it like South America containing enthusiastic cultural festivals. It’s also unlike some Asian countries having cutting-edge technologies and bustling cities. However, Bhutan has one of the most unique cultures you can’t find anywhere else.
Temples
1. Tiger Nest
Although the architecture and art crafts in Bhutan may not appear as brilliant as those in Europe, the reverence of the temple won’t be any less than one of the most majestic cathedrals in Rome. Bhutan is a Buddhist country. Every aspect of their lives is deeply rooted in their belief; architecture is not an exception. Paro Taktsang, also known as Tiger Nest, is the most famous temple in Bhutan. It is famous for the story behind the name and its location. The temple sat by the cliff 800 meters above the valley and 2950 meters above the sea level. You can only get there on foot or by hiring horses. According to the legend, the Guru, who introduced Buddhist to Bhutan, meditated for more than three years and was carried by one of his followers who transformed into a tigress to this isolated place. Don’t forget to include the lush and breathtaking cliff walk, and the prayerful temple in the photo once you get there.
2. Punakha Dzong
Punakha Dzong, also called "the palace of great happiness or bliss," situates in between two rivers, Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother). It’s like a palace in a fairy tale, separated from all the worries and stress of the world. The building style is similar to Tiger Nest, but it is spiritually and physically more approachable. The other temples to visit are Dochula Pass, Temple of Chimi Lhakhang, and Tashichho Dzong. They all have their own styles and purposes. Like, Temple of Chini Lhakhang is believed to bless couples with fertility, and Dochula Pass are visited by people who want to pay respect to those who fought for the country.
Happiness Outweighs Money
On this planet, most countries use GDP as an indicator to evaluate their growth and development. Bhutan, however, is in the world but not of the world. It seems like they don’t care as much about the economy. Instead of GDP, GNH (Gross National Happiness) is an index of the success and development of the country. You can see the influences of this concept on people’s lives by government regulation. Smoking which can only result in bad health is banned in the country. Also, Bhutan is the only Carbon negative country on earth. Caring more about the mental and physical health of people as well as the environment, the Bhutan government actively protects the forests of Bhutan. If you ever feel lost in pursuing fame and money, take a trip to Bhutan and learn from their life views and tips to be happy.
National Sports
Khuru and archery are the two main sports of Bhutan. Khuru is a team sport with about eight to twelve people. It’s just like darts, so if you are good at it, feel free to challenge them. On the other hand, Archery is a lot more serious and was actually declared to be a national sport in 1971. If you pay attention to the Olympics, you may have seen the Bhutan archery team before. Archery in Bhutan is not just a form of entertainment, but it is deemed as mental and physical training.
Language and food culture
Traveling to a country without the ability to speak the local language can be terrifying. The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha, which means the language of Palace. However, due to the developing tourism industry in Bhutan, most of the signs in Bhutan are written in both English and Dzongkha. The only phrase you may want to learn is “meshu meshu.” In Bhutan, if people offer you food, you have to say “Meshu” and close your mouth, expressing a sense of gratitude and unwillingness to the inconvenience of others. However, if people keep offering you, it’s polite to accept the offers. Also, Bhutanese love spicy foods. If the dish is not spicy enough, people won’t eat it. Thus, you may consider your ability to eat spicy foods before accepting the kindness of the locals.
Women and fertility
Feminism is never a problem in Bhutan. Women are in charge of most of the major businesses in households and are great contributors of the economy. Compared with almost ten percent rate of unemployment for men, there is only a four percent rate of unemployment for women in Bhutan. Also, males are supposed to move in females’ home when they marry. Many factors show the important stand women have in Bhutan. Last interesting fun fact about Bhutan is the way they seek for fertility. Aside from the Chimi Lhakhang temple mentioned earlier, people also draw phallus on the door frame to seek good luck and fertility. It is believed that phallus can drive away evil spirits. This tradition has been a part of the culture of Bhutan for years so you don’t have to worry if you accidentally step in a red light area if you see drawings or art crafts of a phallus.
One thing about learning about a culture is to learn how to see the world from other’s views. We may have our own definition of prosperity, happiness, and goodness, etc, but people growing up from different cultures can have the opposite point of view. Enjoy making a trip with Aacnela and learning about the Bhutanese world.
Post written by Jack Chiu