Bhutan Travel
Bhutan is cradled in the deep folds of the Great Himalayas. Very little has been heard of Bhutan and to most people it has been a hidden kingdom shrouded in mystery.
Today when almost all parts of the world has seen a surge in travel tourists numbers, Bhutan has continued to followed a policy of regulated tourism in order to safeguard the country's natural environment, rich cultural heritage and the unique way of life of its people. This has made Bhutan one of the least travel-ed countries in the world.
So travel to Bhutan and unravel the wonders of Bhutan for yourself, of this last Shangri-La - a land of snow-capped mountains, emerald green landscape, fascinating wildlife and gentle people. Come travel to Bhutan and experience the hospitality of the Bhutan Tour with Bhutan Lha-Yul Tour & Travel , Kingdom of Bhutan.
"I have come to Bhutan with a group of seven adventurous friends to travel and trek the Druk Path and to experience the mysterious culture of this place. Drawn to the high mountain passes where prayer flags are planted in auspicious locations & where invocations are heard best by the gods and goddesses of the Himalayas, all of us have our own list of prayer requests for our challenged world, and are eager to set these prayers free. "
"It's easy to like the Bhutan-ese at once. For example, we are told by two Bhutan immigration officials that our group travel visa expired last week. As we explain our itinerary, one official smiles and shrugs, saying something we will hear many more times in Bhutan - 'What can you do?' He extends our legal time in Bhutan with a proper stamp and without a fee."
"Gradually I notice another subtler, equally magnificent quality - the sweet, unassuming silence. No traffic on the ground or in the air, no leaf blowers, and blessed be, no car stereos. In fact, the Paro, Bhutan airport parking lot has exactly 12 cars. 'Listen to that', we whisper to each other. There is literally nothing to hear except the wind and the birds and our lowered voices. Considering myself an aficionado, often a hunter, of quiet, I am now officially in heaven."
More on the Bhutan travel article written by Ms. Hob from Hawaii who visited Bhutan. " Gratitude in the Himalayas,Kingdom of Bhutan " along with amazing facts on Bhutan at Bhutan Tech.
'A Royal View' This article reflects the first interview Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the queen of Bhutan has granted a Western journalist. Ms Hob has had the good fortune to make many trips to Bhutan. A big believer in Gross National Happiness, she wants millions of people to have the word "Bhutan" on their smiling lips. Please feel free to contact her at hob@hawaii.rr.com about Bhutan LhaYul Tours & Travels, or contact Ms. Hob's travel planner Mrs. Tshering Pem at lhayul@druknet.bt
Picture: Hob Osterlund with her hostress Mrs. Tshering Pem in Paro, Bhutan at the Tigers Nest.
Flora and Fauna
Bhutan has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Blessed with unparalleled scenic beauty of majestic snow capped peaks, lush valleys and large tracts of virgin forest, Bhutan is home to numerous rare and endangered species of wildlife such as the blue sheep, musk deer, red panda, snow leopard, black bear, golden langur and the unique Takin, the national animal of Bhutan. The endangered Black Necked Cranes also migrate to Bhutan from Central Asia during the winter.
Bhutan has been identified as one of the 10 bio-diversity hot spots in the world and as one of the 221 global endemic bird areas. Bhutan's eco-system has some of the most exotic species of the Eastern Himalayas with an estimated 770 species of birds and over 50 species of rhododendron, along with an amazing variety of medicinal plants and orchids.
Visit Bhutan - 2008, 101 Years of Moarchy
The Monarchy is Born
The Bhutanese monarchy was founded in 1907 when Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk was unanimously elected by the people as the first hereditary king of Bhutan during a historic assembly of the Clergy, Official Administration and the people. He was succeeded by his son King Jigme Wangchuk in 1926.
The third monarch, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, known as the "Father of the Modern Bhutan", initiated many social, economic and political reforms bringing Bhutan out of its self imposed isolation into the modern era. Among his notable achievements are the planned economic development plans, the reorganization of the judicial system, the setting up of the National Assembly ( Bhutan 's parliament) and entry into the global arena through its memberships to the United Nations and other International Organizations.
In 1972, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the present king became the youngest Monarch in the world. Under his visionary and farsighted reign, Bhutan has within the last four decades made tremendous progress in the social, economic and political arena. There has been significant progress in the fields of communications, hydro electric power development, education, health, environment protection and industrial development. Bhutan has also become a member of an increasing number of international organizations and established diplomatic relations with many countries.
To commemorate this important institution, Bhutan will celebrate its 101 years of Monarchy in 2008. Special tourist packages will be offered and it will be an unique opportunity to see the Himalayan kingdom in celebration. The centenary offers guests a once-in-a- life time opportunity to witness and participate in the nation-wide year-long celebrations. So come and travel to Bhutan and experience a unique Bhutan Tour with Bhutan Lha-Yul Tour's and Travel for a journey of a life time.
We at Bhutan Lha-Yul Tour & Travel specialize in personalized travel services and we cater to the individual needs of our guests. While we do organize tour and trek for large groups, our specialty is on small travel groups to whom we provide personalized services. Please contact us for a private tour to Bhutan .
Contact Information for organizing Bhutan Tour and Trekking:
Mobile Number in Bhutan +975-17110990
Fax in Bhutan +975-2-325035
Postal address in Bhutan: Bhutan LhaYul Tour & Travel, PO Box 483,Thimphu, Bhutan, Kingdom of Bhutan
Electronic mail in Bhutan:
Enquiry and Bhutan Travel bookings: lhayul@druknet.bt
Webmaster: tashi@lhayul.com
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