| Many people have never heard of Bhutan, the country | | | | their Buddhist traditions. |
| that values Gross National Happiness over Gross | | | | Guru Rinpoche is the most important figure in Bhutan's |
| National Product! Bhutan is a landlocked little country | | | | history, regarded as the second Buddha. His miraculous |
| roughly the size of Switzerland. It is bounded on the | | | | powers included the ability to subdue demons and evil |
| north and northwest by Tibet, with India touching its | | | | spirits, and he preserved his teachings and wisdom by |
| remaining borders and Nepal a bit to the west. Virtually | | | | concealing them in the form of terma (hidden |
| the entire country is mountainous, peaking at 24,777ft. | | | | treasures) to be found later by enlightened treasure |
| North to south it features three geographic regions; the | | | | discoverers known as tertons. One of the best known |
| high Himalaya of the north, the hills and valleys of the | | | | of these tertons was Pema Lingpa; the texts and |
| centre, and the foothills and plains of the south. | | | | artifacts he found, the religious dances he composed, |
| For centuries Bhutan has remained isolated from the | | | | and the art he produced, are vital parts of Bhutan's |
| rest of the world. Since its doors were opened in 1974, | | | | living heritage. |
| visitors have been mesmerized by the beautiful and | | | | The largest and most colorful festivals (tsechus) take |
| pristine country and the hospitable and charming | | | | place at Bhutan's dzongs and monasteries once a |
| people. The best time to visit is October and | | | | year, in honor of Guru Rinpoche. Tsechus consist of up |
| November and during major festivals. The climate is | | | | to five days of spectacular pageantry, masked |
| best in autumn, from late September to late | | | | dances and religious allegorical plays. These festivals |
| November, when skies are clear and the high mountain | | | | play a large part in the Buddhist teachings and are also |
| peaks are visible. It's not unusual to experience rain no | | | | social gatherings. The Bhutanese revel and rejoice |
| matter what the season, but I recommend avoiding the | | | | together, dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry, in |
| monsoon season, June-August, when buckets of rain | | | | an infectiously convivial atmosphere where humor and |
| come down. | | | | devotion go hand in hand. These festivals provide an |
| Buddhism was probably introduced in Bhutan around | | | | ideal opportunity to appreciate the essence of the |
| the 2nd century although, traditionally, its introduction is | | | | Bhutanese character. The temple of Jampa Lhakhang |
| credited to the first visit of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th | | | | hosts one of the kingdom's most spectacular festivals, |
| century. Before that the people followed a shamanistic | | | | the Jampa Lhakhang Drup! |
| tradition called Bon that still exists today, merged with | | | | |